OF FLOWERS 289 



after Circe, the enchantress, and is called Enchanters 

 night shade. It grows in shady places, and about the rums 

 of old buildings, where such characters were supposed to 

 dwell. 



CLEMATIS. Your influence favors mental accomplishments. 

 The common name is Virgin's bower. It is a vine which 

 screens the sun, and forms a refreshing place of study in 

 the hot season. 



COLUMBINE. I see folly marked upon your face. The nec- 

 tary turns over so as to resemble, it is said, the caps worn 

 by those who were fools and jesters by profession, in an- 

 cient times. 



COCKSCOMB. Fops cannot but befools. 



CONVOLVULUS. Thou lovest darkness better than light. Some 

 of the species sleep, or close their petals, during the day, 

 and spread them only during the night. 



CORNUS. Precocity often comes to naught. The Dogwood 

 sends forth a profusion of white flowers in the spring, while 

 the green leaves of its neighbors are just opening, thus 

 forming a fine contrast. But these flowers are mere invo- 

 lucres, falling off and coining to nothing. 



CROCUS. You are a constant enigma to all your acquaintance 

 The semination of the crocus is a wonder. When it is in 

 flower, the germen is situated under ground, near to the 

 bulb, but some weeks after the flower has decayed, the 

 germen emerges on a white peduncle, and ripens its seeds 

 above the ground. In this, it differs from all other vegeta- 

 bles. 



COWSLIP. Thou art a gem in the midst of the desert. It ex- 

 pands its beautiful white petals in May, amidst the most 

 worthless and disgusting weeds of the morass. Each foot- 

 stalk is said to bear twelve flowers, and hence it was named 

 by Linnaeas, Dodecatheon, that is, twelve divinities. No 

 one can avoid surprise, on beholding so modest a beauty in 

 such society. 



CYPRESS. An emblem of mourning. It is an evergreen, 

 which the ancients delighted to place among the tombs of 

 their friends. Many of the chests containing Egyptian 

 mummies, are of this wood ; and gates made of it at Rome, 

 are said to have lasted 1100 years. 



DAHLIA. Beauty and variety. They often last but for a 

 season. 



DAFFODIL. Self love is thy besetting sin. It is a variety of 

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