^be :fi3eaut^ of the jflower 97 



The leaf of the oxalis is three-divided, like the 

 coarser leaf of the clover. Some hold the tradition 

 that it was the oxalis and not the shamrock leaf 

 which good St. Patrick took to prove the possibility 

 of Trinity — one in three. Some think that really 

 the oxalis and not the clover was the shamrock of 

 the ancient Irish. 



In the southern parts of Europe the oxalis blooms 

 very early, soon after Easter, and is called the halle- 

 lujah flower, from the anthems sung in churches at 

 that time. 



The corolla of the oxalis has five petals, the claws 

 forming a tube, the shorter calyx has five sepals ; 

 each flower grows solitary on a stalk. The stamens 

 are ten, and the single pistil has five styles, showing 

 that here are really five pistils united in growth. 

 The golden oxalis is common in some parts of the 

 country, the rose-colored oxalis in others ; the rose- 

 colored oxalis has almost white individuals, and the 

 blossoms are usually larger than those of the yellow 

 variety. As the season advances the plants continue 

 to bloom, but the flower is constantly smaller. The 

 oxalis is one of the flowers which sleejDS at night, 

 rolling up its corolla and folding its leaves. 



May brings us an abundance of wild violets ; the 

 blue violets, and the beautiful tri-colored pansies 

 come in April, but the blue violets linger, growing 

 7 



