FLORA AND THALIA. 



MEZEREON. 



(^Daphne mezereum.) 



This beautiful and hardy shrub is a native of 

 England, and is found growing wild in the woods 

 near Andover, in Hampshire, and about Laxfield, in 

 Suffolk. The colour of their blossoms varies in hue 

 from deep red to peach-coloured and white. 



This shrub, which is valued for visiting us when 

 few others are in bloom, flowers in February and 

 March; the blossoms surround the stem, and the 

 leaves, which are lance-shaped, appear at the ter- 

 minations of the branches after the flowers are 

 expanded. 



There is a different sort found wild in woods and 

 shady hedges, called spurge laurel, (Daphne lau- 

 reola,) which is evergreen ; but it will not bear a 

 comparison with the Daphne mezereu'm, the corol- 

 las being of a dingy green, and not having the agree- 

 able odour of that more beautiful shrub. The 

 germen, which is oval, becomes a beautiful red berry, 

 and is said to be poisonous both to man and beast, 

 but birds eat freely of it. 



Class, OcTANDRiA. Order, Monogtxia. 



