CROWFOOT FAMILY 33 



endure an April snowstorm, a peril that they 

 bravely withstand. Even fire does not subdue 

 them, for they are among the few flowers which 

 appear in spring in woods that have been burned 

 over. One may sometimes see railroad embank- 

 ments on which the singed and blackened turf is 

 lighted up in early spring with clusters of these 

 blossoms. In such cases one can but wonder how 

 the buds have managed to escape destruction, 

 when even the last year's leaves have been seared 

 by fire. It is true, however, that these last year's 

 leaves have served their purpose, so that their 

 destruction matters little to the plant. The new 

 leaves, snugly folded and densely covered with 

 whitish hairs, just beginning to push up, look like 

 flower buds as they are massed together at the 

 bases of the blossom stems. This velvety cover- 

 ing is an excellent protection in preventing the 

 drying out of the young leaves in winter, and it is 

 evident that it admirably serves this purpose. 



As if to show that the procession which it leads 

 is not to be monotonous in its color tones, the 

 Hepatica reveals a charming variation of tints. 

 Many of the blossoms are pure white ; others have 

 a pinkish lilac hue; and others, especially those 

 exposed to direct sunshine, exhibit lovely tones of 

 lavender and mauve. 



The habitat of the Liverwort seems largely de- 

 termined by the supply of water. One may fre- 

 3 



