HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



157 



the birds twitter on every side in a manner suggestive 

 of nest-building operations. On the branches above, 

 we may note a dozen or more of the singular little 

 crested tit (P. cristatus) ; it is remarkable for its 

 wise-looking face, for all the world like a miniature 

 owl. The crest stands well forward, curling over the 

 head ; the eyes are rendered prominent by light 

 brown, surrounded by dark rings, giving a singular 

 appearance to the bird. 



But we might pause to note a thousand objects of 

 interest on every side. Our present concern is to 

 describe the several species of Dentaria, plants of the 

 cruciferous order, which are possibly unfamiliar to 

 many English botanists. 



Even before the severe frosts have departed, we may 



contained in each scale. It is true that only a few of 

 the larger scales throw up a vigorous plant, but many 

 tiny shoots are visible. Sever a portion of the root, 

 and a fresh plant will soon be developed. This 



species, but 



common to all the 

 D. bulbifera there 



is a further 



root-structure is 

 with regard to 

 peculiarity. 



On the stem of the plant, at the axils of the leaves, 

 buds or bulbuies are produced, which fall off at the 

 mature stage, become buried in the ground, and form 

 a future separate plant. It appears to us that we 

 have here a modification of the same power, differently 

 developed in different species. The fleshy scales and 

 the bulbuies are surely of the same character. It may 

 be that the stem bulbule was, in the first place, but 



Fig. 82. — Roots of 

 D. digitata. 



Fig. 81. — Dentaria digitata, half natural size. 



Fig. 83. — Dentaria bulbifera, 

 half natural size. 



search, in the more sheltered corners, where the 

 leaf-mould has accumulated, almost in the very bed 

 of the ravine torrent, with the certainty of rinding at 

 least one species of Dentaria. The first indications 

 of the plant consist of a strong, upright stem, which 

 might well belong to the bracken. It forces its way 

 through the frosty ground in a wonderful manner, the 

 head is curled up, and we must wait a few days till 

 the leaf structure unfolds itself, revealing the digitate 

 or palmate, deeply cut leaves, which again prove 

 somewhat puzzling. We begin to think of Hellebores, 

 and yet fail to recognise the characters. If we scrape 

 away the soil, however, the genus of the plant is 

 evident. The curious fleshy scales of the spreading, 

 irregular roots can only belong to a Dentaria. These 

 coral-like scales are deserving of notice. A reference 

 to the drawing will show that an incipient plant is 



the accidental freak of nature, a fragment of the 

 tooth-like scale being produced at the axil of the leaf 

 and stem. The variety was perpetuated, and we have 

 the separate species. These species of Dentaria are 

 well marked and readily identified, chiefly by the 

 bold characters of the leaves. 



A little later, in March and April, the lower hill- 

 sides, under spreading chestnuts and walnut trees,, 

 the mossy ground will be covered with tiny forests of 

 Dentarias — strong, vigorous plants, standing 1 ft. or 

 more above the ground. The foliage is ample, 

 surrounding the delicate heads of the flowers with 

 varied shades of green. The flowers are large, 

 sometimes lilac or pink, but more generally white. 

 The stems are somewhat succulent, requiring a shady 

 situation and moisture ; they fade quickly when 

 gathered, but revive in a basin of water. The pressed 



