64 AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 
5 inches high, bearing only one small flower 
each, the receptacle lengthening out into a long 
tapering spike covered with numerous carpels, 
and thus assuming the appearance of a mouse’s 
tail. The technical scientific description of this 
peculiarity is “closely imbricate upon a long 
filiform receptacle”; imbricate means placed 
over each other like the leaves of ivy upon a 
wall. This plant is distinctly of the Nat. Ord. 
RANUNCULACE&, but has been placed in Linn. 
Cl. V., Pentandria, owing to the fact of its 
having only 5 stamens developed. 
The Hawthorn, Crategus oxyacantha, is now 
in bloom, asserting its well-known claim to the 
name of “May.” It is one of the Rosacga, 
and with it is associated in that order the Pyrus 
Tribe, of which the Pear-tree is such an orna- 
ment of the spring by its plentiful blooms. 
Add to these the Crab-tree, P. JZalus, and the 
Mountain-ash. 
The pretty pink flowers of our native Ger- 
aniums are now seen in every direction. We 
have two Genera of this Nat. Ord. GERANIACEA, 
namely, Geranium, Cranesbill, and Lrodzum, 
Storksbill. Both names are derived from the 
resemblance of the long beak, formed by the 
