THE PLANT WORLD 239 



Cambridge, Mass., in 1896, and the idea of having the flower as the 

 national emblem has met with the approval of many representative people, 

 including artists, writers, horticulturists, and botanists in various parts of 

 the country. The claims of the columbine to the honor sought are 

 numerous and suggestive. In the first place its name comes from the 

 same root as Columbia, the name which is so dear to the American heart. 

 Its other name, " Aquilegia," is, of course, another form of the word for 

 eagle, and was given it because its petals end in spurs, very like the 

 talons of the American bird of freedom. Its petals are five, which, it has 

 been pointed out, correspond to the five points in the star on the United 

 States ensign. These points are grouped around a central shaft, which 

 might be compared to the dependency of the States upon the National 

 Government. It is indigenous to the North American Continent and 

 gi'ows wild in every State in the Union. There are in the United States 

 nine species, two varieties, and one introduced species. For use in floral 

 decorations it is claimed the columbine is particularly well suited to our 

 needs, as there are a wonderful variety of colors : brilliant red, pure white, 

 exquisite cerulean blue occurring among the strictly American sorts, and 

 besides these national colors there is pale and golden yellow, orange, 

 scarlet, and purple. The wild forms are for the most part in bloom by 

 Memorial Day, and here not all disappear by July 4. 



No reasonable objection could be raised to the adoption of the rose as 

 a national flower if it were not for the fact that it is commonly thought 

 of in connection with England. Red and white roses were in the badges 

 of the Lancastrians and Yorkists during the civil war known as the War 

 of the Roses. Many have favored it as our national flower, as we have 

 a number of wild species which are exquisite, and strong pleas have been 

 made for the sweet brier. As to the violet, we have a large number of 

 native species, and perhaps no flower is more popular with the masses, 

 but it is not peculiar to this country. Prophets and warriors, as well as 

 poets, have favored the violet ; Mahomet preferred it to all other flowers 

 and it was chosen by the Bonapartes as their emblem. 



The common white daisy, which is usually thought of as a very 

 modest and unassuming plant, but which in reality belongs to a highly 

 distinguished family and is technically known as Chrysayithetmim Leu- 

 canthemum, has been earnestly advocated by some as the floral emblem 

 of the Union, but there are reasons why it is claimed to be ineligible. 

 One reason is that the plant is not a native of this country, but was 

 brought from the old world by the early colonists, and another is that it 

 is not in favor with farmers, as it is considered hurtful to pasture-land. 

 In England our flower is called "ox-eye" and "moon daisy," and in 

 Scotland " dog daisy." 



The pansy has a host of admirers and friends, and there is no gain- 



