EPIGYNEiE 311 



Montgomery calls it 



" The morning star of flowers," 



and further writes of it : 



" Winter's gloomy night withdrawn 

 Lo ! the young romantic hours, 

 Search the hill, the dale, the lawn 

 To behold the Snowdrop white start to light.' 



The stigma and anthers ripen at the same time 

 The stamens are not as long as the pistil. Honey is 

 secreted by the green inner perianth-leaves, but is 

 not abundant. Hive-bees are the chief visitors. As 

 the flowers are drooping the honey and pollen are 

 protected from rain. The anthers, which end in 

 rigid points, form a cone. A bee touches these 

 points and disturbs the stamens, causing the pollen 

 to fall on it. If insects do not visit the flower the 

 anther-stalks unbend, the anthers open and pollen 

 falls on the stigma, which is sticky, and self-poUin- 

 ation results. 



The capsule when ripe opens and releases the 

 seeds, which fall near the plant. 



Candlemas Bells, Fair Maids, Fair Maids of 

 February, French Snowdrop, Purification Flower, 

 Snow-flower, and White Ladies are names given to 

 the Snowdrop. 



In the name Snowdrop, the word *' drop " denotes a 

 snowy drop for wearing as an ear ornament. It was 

 regarded as a sacred flower piercing the snow (French, 

 perce-neige). It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. 



