282 FLOWERING OF PLANTS. 



not be called on to examine the mosses in the commencement 

 of your botanical studies, neither will they be likely to force 

 themselves upon your notice. You no doubt were surprised to 

 learn that they have flowers, and are considered as of any 

 importance ; but you must recollect that they are the work- 

 manship of His hand, who is no less wise in the formation of a 

 moss, than in the creation of a world. It is to be hoped you 

 have learned to look upon every work of God as important, 

 and to feel that our ignorance of the uses of many natural 

 productions, is not a proof that the Creator has formed aught 

 in vain, but of our own blindness. 



The ARUM, or wild-turnip, is now in blossom ; it is a curious 

 plant, with the stamens and pistils growing on a spadix, a club- 

 shaped organ surrounded by a spatha ; it is found in shady 

 places. The root is valuable in medicine. The CALLA pa- 

 lustris, or water arum, which is placed in the same class, is 

 now in bloom ; this is of the same genus as the Egyptian lily. 



The AQUILEGIA, or wild columbine, with its horned necta- 

 ries, is found hanging in rich clusters from the clefts of rocks. 



Flowers of Summer. 



The plants which are now in blossom are so numerous, that 

 we can mention only a few of the most common, or most 

 striking. 



A well known shrub, the elder (SAMBUCUS), is now found 

 along the sides of hedges, or on the margin of brooks, and in 

 the meadows ; the RUBUS, or raspberry, the RANUNCULUS, or 

 butter-cup, the CYNOGLOSSUM, or hound's-tongue, and the 

 TRIFOLIUM, or clover. It is recorded in history, that when 

 Saint Patrick went as a missionary, to preach the Gospel to 

 the pagan Irish, " he illustrated the doctrine of the Trinity, by 

 showing them a trifolium, or three-leaved-grass with one stalk ; 

 this, operating to their conviction, the Shamrock, which is a 

 bundle of this grass, was ever afterwards worn upon this Saint's 

 anniversary, to commemorate this event." 



In the meadows is seen at this time the GERANIUM macula- 

 turn^ a showy flower, and almost the only American Geranium ; 

 in the woods, the splendid ladies'-slipper (CYPRIPEDIUM), and 

 the wild mandrake (PODOPHYLLUM), a flower of curious ap- 

 pearance. 



The genus CONVALLARIA, of which the Solomon's-seal is an 

 example, may now be found ; it is usually white, of a funnel- 

 form corolla. Some other species, as the lily of the valley, 



Wild turnip, &c. Flowers of June Elder, &c. St. Patrick's use of the 

 Clover Geranium, &c. Trees in perfection. 



