140 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



becomes a clump. Though not a conspicuous plant in the gar- 

 den, it is still worth room for the cheerfulness with which it 

 meets the chill days of autumn, lighting up the scene until the 

 last mild day. 



WINTER FLOWERS IN MASSACHUSETTS 



By Mrs. Ixe;z P. Mayhew 



T l'' one found the witch hazel or winter-bloom tree (Hauianic- 

 •^ lis Virginiaiia ) in blossom frpm October fourth until the 

 \ery last day of January and the skunk's cabbage (Sytnplocar- 

 pus foetidus) dusty with pollen on March fifteenth, big patches 

 of snow being thickly scattered about, he would naturally ask 

 "Can T find a wildflowcr for every winter month?" 



Having myself made the foregoing observations, I have 

 interestedly and patiently watched for as many wildflowers 

 as could be found blooming in their natural haunts and making- 

 friends with the ice and snow. What a pleasant result ; the 

 year's circle does meet without omitting a single month. 



These flowers are easily found in the dooryard in Novem- 

 ber : blue aster (Novi-Belgii,) charlock {RapJiauus rapJiau- 

 islniui.) golden aster {Chrysopsis falcata) , wild pepper-grass 

 {Lcpidiiiin Virginiciim), and common clover {Trifoliuni 

 pratcnsc.) On the seashore is found liie handsome sweet- 

 scented Angelica purpurea. 



After a long tramp on December fifth, the reward came 

 in a flower of the lavender sea rocket {Cakilc edentula) found 

 growing at the foot of a sheltered bank and upon reaching 

 home an a!)undance of the little white chickweed (Stellaria 

 media) was noticed in bloom right bv mv door. This tiny 

 member of the Pink family was also in full bloom on Christ- 



