TRADESCANTIA VIRGINICA. SPIDERWORT. 3 



and this could well be echoed by this flower. It is hardly 

 called to the enjoyment of the light of day before its doom is 

 sealed, and it becomes 



" Like a frail shadow seen in maze, 



Or some bright star shot o'er the ocean." 



The flowering of the plant is of great interest to the close 

 observer. The buds in the umbel are recurved ; just before 

 they flower they become erect, and after fading they bend down 

 and perfect their seed, although sometimes, as Dr. Darlington 

 remarks, failing in that particular. Under a lens the stamens 

 exhibit remarkable beauty, being clothed in the lower part with 

 long, jointed hairs, looking like threads of the richest twisted 

 silk. The kidney-shaped anther, with its golden tint, hung to 

 the filament by the slenderest of connectives, will also attract 

 attention. 



The flowers of our plants are found of many beautiful colors. 

 The most common color is a reddish violet, but a pale rose, as 

 well as a deeper rose, and vermilion, carmine, light purple, and 

 white arc by no means uncommon in gardens. Those we 

 picture are from specimens gathered for us by Mr. Sternberg, 

 near Fort Hays, in Kansas. The smooth forms of the stalk and 

 leaf will occasionally come out from the same stock with the 

 hairy forms ; the smooth forms, however, usually prevail in the 

 East. In o-ardens the flowers are often found double. There 

 are few plants more deserving the florist's attention. It is a 

 remarkably easy plant to cultivate. When once In good garden 

 soil, it will take care of itself, and continue year after year, in 

 spite of accidents, which, as every cultivator knows, seem succes- 

 sively to destroy more delicate species ; yet it does not spread 

 annoylngly, as some do, but waits for the gardener to divide the 

 root stocks when he desires more plants. The tendency to vary, 

 already noted, and to produce double flowers, shows how easily 

 improvements might be directed by a skilful hand. Even as we 

 find it, it is one of the best border plants we have. It is in 

 flower most of the month of May. 



