114 HELENIUM AUTUMNALE. — AUTUMN SNEEZEWORT. 



from his own experience or from his own fancy. For our part 

 — and, no doubt, we can speak for many of our readers, as they 

 are all diligent collectors of wild flowers — the Hclcnium autuvv- 

 nale is one of the first of tlie plants that come to our mind as 

 we imagine the scene described by the poet ; for not only does 

 it grow " by the sedgy brook," but it is likewise one of the com- 

 monest of our autumn flowers, and one of the last of those 



" that look, 

 From out their sunny nook, 

 At the sky." 



The lateness of the season into which the "Autumn Sneeze- 

 wort" continues to flower, does not, indeed, seem to be recog- 

 nized by the generality of botanists. Prof. Wood says that it 

 blooms in August, Dr. Chapman extends the time from August 

 to September, and Dr. Gray gives September only. Rafinesque, 

 however, tells us that " it is a fine plant, rather ornamental, and 

 adorning in the fall the meadows with its golden blossoms, 

 appearing from September to November"; and this accords 

 exactly with the experience of the writer of this. In Europe, 

 also, the plants belonging to the genus Hclenmm seem to have 

 been known long ago for their late-flowering habits. It used to 

 be the custom to dedicate to the saints some flower that opened 

 about the days consecrated to them ; and from a monkish alma- 

 nac of the last century we learn that this species of Hclcnium 

 was consecrated to Edward the Confessor, whose festival was 

 celebrated on the thirteenth of October. 



The growth " by sedgy brook " is especially applicable to 

 our Autumn Sneezewort, for the testimony on record regard- 

 ing its places of growth is almost unanimous in locating the 

 plant on alluvial soil, or along the banks and borders of streams. 

 The writer of this has seen it, especially on the banks of the 

 Schuylkill River, so low down near the water's edge that the 

 October rains which filled the river entirely submerged the 

 plants, leaving both leaves and flowers covered with the river 

 mud as the waters subsided. 



