48 THE PLANT WOKLD 



orcliid-like blossoms are more ornamental tlian useful, most of the seed 

 being produced by tlie more humble cleistogamous flowers. Six of the 

 violets are to be found; at least four of them occur in almost any situa- 

 tion ( V. cucidlata, V. hlamia, F. pubescens, and V. canina). Two, V. 

 ovata and V. rostrata are more rare; V. ovafa is considered by some 

 botanists to be only a variety of V. cHcuUata. The common arrow- 

 leaved violet and also the Canada violet are consi)icuous by their ab- 

 sence. It is in May that the violet season is at its height, and a rich 

 profusion of the first four species mentioned make up for any lack of 

 the others. 



In dry places the wood rush (Liizula vernalis) can usually be found, 

 as also the better known early saxifrage, the latter clinging to some 

 crevice in the rock where there would appear to be little soil for any 

 flowering plant, but the poverty of its surroundings does not seem to 

 affect this sturdy little plant. In more moist places the gold-thread 

 (Coptis frifolia) is present, and sometimes, though not always, that 

 prince of the trilliums, the painted trillium (Trillium erythrocarpuni). 

 Its more common relative the purple species [T. eyectum) is, however, 

 sure to be found, and sometimes also the white trillium ( T. grandiflorum) 

 is also present. Tne nodding trillium {T. cernuiim), having a modest 

 white flower tucked away under its whorl of leaves, is occasionally 

 found. 



Out in the open fields the omnipresent dandelion has made its ap- 

 pearance, and along brook sides a flower much resembling it has 

 opened; it is the coltsfoot {Tussilago Farfara). The coarse leaves of 

 this plant are not such early risers as the flowers, and it will be some 

 time before they appear in the world. In the meadows the bluets 

 {Houstoiiia coendea) grow in great patches that rival the sky in color, 

 A little later in the same spots may be found another flower, the 

 robin's plantain {Erigeron hellidifolius) somewhat resembling the au- 

 tumnal asters in form and color. 



In some favored localities the spring beauty {Cloy ton in Virginica) 

 can be noticed. Somehow the dull linear leaves of this fine little plant 

 do not seem in keeping with the cluster of delicately- beautiful floAvers 

 that it puts forth. The ground-nut {Aralia frifolia) is plentiful, espe- 

 cially in open woodlands, its white flowers marking the spot where 

 snug and warm, under six inches or more of mould, the nut itself 

 lies. 



The sturdy everlasting (Anfennaria planfaginifolia), the earliest of 

 our Composites, is to be seen almost anywhere, varying from an inch 

 or so in height on barren rocky spots to a foot or more in richer soil. 

 Somewhat later than t]ie antennaria comes the golden ragAvort {Se)iecio 

 aureus), and the UAiilarias. In the open woods and on dry banks the 



