46 IVILD, OR NATIVE FLO 1 VERS. 



All bright, and fresh, and glossy, our Wintergreens come forth, as 

 though they had been perfecting their toilet within the sheltering canopy 

 of their snowy chambers, to do honour to the new-born year, just 

 awakening from her icy sleep. 



F. elliptica forms extensive beds in the forest, the roots creeping 

 with running subterannean shoots, which send up clusters of evergreen 

 leaves, slightly waved and scalloped at the edges, of a deep glossy green 

 and thin in texture. 



The name Pyrola is derived from a fancied likeness in the foliage 

 to that of the Pear, but this is not very obvious, nevertheless we will not 

 cavil at it, for it is a pretty sounding word, far better than many a one 

 that has been bestowed upon our showy wild flowers, in compliment to 

 the person who first brought them into notice. 



The pale greenish-white flowers of our Pyrola, form a tall terminal 

 raceme ; the five round petals are hollow ; each blossom set on a slender 

 pedicel at the base of which is a small pointed bract ; the anthers are 

 of a reddish orange colour, the stamens ascending in a cluster, while the 

 long style is declined, forming a figure somewhat like the letter J. The 

 seed vessel is ribbed, berry-shaped, slightly flattened and turbinate ; 

 when dry, the light, chaffy seeds escape through valves at the sides. 

 The dry style in this, and most of the genus, remains persistent on the 

 capsule. 



The number 5 prevails in this plant ; the calyx is 5 parted ; petals 

 5 ; stamens 10, or twice five ; stigma i, but 5 rayed with 5 knobs or 

 tubercles at the apex ; seed-vessel 5 celled and 5 valved. The flowers 

 are generally from 5 to 10 on the scape. Most of our Pyrolas are 

 remarkable for the rich fragrance of their flowers, especially P. elliptica, 

 and P. rotuiidifolia, together with its variety incarnala. 



One-sided Pyrola — P. secunda (L.) 



This little evergreen plant is rather singular than pretty. The 

 flowers which are greenish-white form a one-sided slender raceme, 

 being all turned to one side of the flower-stem ; the style is long and 

 straight, exceeding the stamens and anthers, the latter are very dark, 

 almost dusky black, the stigma, thick and ribbed, forming a turban- 

 shaped green knob in the centre of the flower, stigmas persistent on the 

 capsule. The foliage is dark green, smooth, serrated at the margin of 

 each oval leaf. The leaves are clustered at the base of the flower stem 

 on foot-stalks, leafing the stem upwards a little. The plant is found in 

 dry woods and on banks, under the shade of trees. The flower is 

 scentless. 



