YELLOW STAR GRASS 



Hypoxis hirsuta ( L. ) Covillc 



April - May There is a ehanii in little thin«;s whieh is all out 



Dry wooded hills of |)ro|)()rtion to their siz^e and importance in the 



world. In contrast to the lush weediness of the 

 horseweed whiib. urows loiirteen feet tall in a ^^ood season and is uu- 

 adniircd, the little yellow star .i:rass stands as a ])ei-fe<.-t small plant which 

 grows no t<iller than tliivf inciies or so, and is just as efficient in hloom- 

 ing and living as is the more tremendous horseweed. 



The yellow star grass is an Amaryllis. From a small hairy conn 

 rather deeply set in the heavy clay of an oak hillside, the tiny Anuiryllis 

 in April thrusts foith three to six yellow-green, grass-like, hairy leaves 

 and a few stalks with clusters of huds. Then when the rose-hreasted gros- 

 heaks are hack and the orioles flash in the cherry tre«'s heneath the sun- 

 shine of an April sky, the yellow star grass on a sunny morning opens 

 it* llowers. They are as hiilliant as nuirsh marigolds, as yellow as butter- 

 cups, as golden as daiuhdions. They are jK'rfect little lilies with six oval 

 ])etals and upstanding stamens, and they seldom last more than a <lay. 

 The time of hlooming of the yellow star grass is brief but bright. They 

 star the slopes with sunshine. Tlien they are gone and the leaves .and seed 

 .stalks arc inconspicuous in the heavy growth of sunmier. But inconspicu- 

 ous or not. the leaves produce plant food which is stored in the conn, and 

 then they (pnetly (lisap|)ear and nothing more is seen of the yellow star 

 grass nntil the following A])ril. 



