THE CANADIAN RHODORA. 19 



flection of its own beauty on the surface of the still 

 water. Though it bears no fruit, every rambler in the 

 woods is grateful for the perfume it sheds around him 

 while wandering in quest of its flowers. These are ex- 

 tremely delicate in texture and closely resemble those of 

 the common white honeysuckle or woodbine of our 

 gardens, not only in their general shape, but also in the 

 appearance of several wilted flowers in the same cluster 

 with perfect flowers and buds. A pulpy excrescence is 

 often attached to this plant, which is familiarly known 

 by the name of " swamp apple." It is slightly acidulous 

 and sweet, and, though nearly insipid, is not disagreeable 

 in flavor. 



A more beautiful but less common species, with pale 

 crimson flowers, is found in certain localities, that tends 

 to multiply into varieties. It is a smaller shrub than 

 the white Azalea, and does not show the same prefer- 

 ence for wet places. All the species are more remark- 

 able for their flowers than their foliage, which is of a 

 pale glaucous green and small in quantity. 



THE CANADIAN RHODORA. 



IN the latter part of May, when the early spring 

 flowers are just beginning to fade, and when the leaves 

 of the forest trees are sufficiently expanded to dis- 

 play all the tints attending the infancy of their growth, 

 no plant attracts more admiration than the Canadian 

 Ehodora. The flowers, of a purple crimson, are in um- 

 bels on the ends of the branches, appearing before the 

 leaves. The corolla, consisting of long narrow petals, 

 very deeply cleft, the stamens on slender hairy fila- 



