WHITE 



DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES. WHITE-HEARTS. 



Dicentra Cucuilaria. Fumitory Family. 



Scape. — Slender. Leaves. — Thrice-compound. FloTuers. — White and 

 yellow; growing in a raceme. Calyx. — Of two small, scale-like sepals. 

 Corolla. — Closed and flattened; of four somewhat cohering white petals 

 tipped with yellow ; the two outer — large, with spreading tips and deep 

 spurs ; the two inner— small, with spoon-shaped tips uniting over the anthers 

 and stigma. Stamens. — Six. Pistil. — One. 



There is something singularly fragile and spring-like in the 

 appearance of this plant as its heart-shaped blossoms nod from 

 the rocky ledges where they thrive best. One would suppose 

 that the firmly closed petals guarded against any intrusion on 

 the part of insect visitors and indicated the flower's capacity for 

 self-fertilization ; but it is found that when insects are excluded 

 by means of gauze no seeds are set, which goes to prove that 

 the pollen from another flower is a necessary factor in the con- 

 tinuance of this species. The generic name, Biceutra, is from 

 the Greek and signifies two-spurred. The flower, when seen, 

 explains its two English titles. It is accessible to every New 

 Yorker, for in early April it whitens many of the shaded ledges 

 in the upper part of the Central Park. 



SQUIRREL CORN. 



Dicentra Canadensis. Fumitory Family. 



The squirrel corn closely resembles the Dutchman's breeches. 

 Its greenish or pinkish flowers are heart-shaped, with short, 

 rounded spurs. They have the fragrance of hyacinths, and are 

 found blossoming in early spring in the rich woods of the North. 



EARLY SAXIFRAGE. 



[PI. VII 

 Saxifraga Virginiensis. Saxifrage Family. 



Scape. — Four to nine inches high. Leaves — Clustered at the root ; some- 

 what wedge-shaped ; narrowed into a broad leaf-stalk. Fleecers. — White ; 

 small ; clustered. Calyx. — Five-cleft. Co)'olla. — Of five petals. Stamens. 

 — Ten. Pistil. — One, with two styles. 



In April we notice that the seams in the rocky cliffs and hill- 

 sides begin to whiten with the blossoms of the early saxifrage. 



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