in Heath (Rricacece.) [No. 14 



Leaves, evergreen, two to two and one half inches in 

 length, simple, alternate, entire, from rounded to egg- 

 shaped. Apex, rounded or with a slight point. Base, 

 heart-shaped ; the older leaves coarse and rough, in 

 strong contrast to the delicate blossoms. Leaf-stem, 

 hairy. 



Fruit, rounded, five-celled, many-seeded. A capsule. 



Found, oftenest in sandy woods, from Newfoundland west- 

 ward, and southward to Pennsylvania and Kentucky, 

 or, less frequently, to Florida. 



A trailing woody evergreen, ten to fifteen inches in 

 length, rough, with bristly, reddish hairs. It is coarse in 

 aspect, the old worn and broken leaves clinging long after 

 the appearing of the blossoms and the new leaves. Often- 

 est the whole is hidden away, and sometime wholly cov- 

 ered from sight by the winter's drift of dead leaves. 



In New England the Mayflower, as it is there called, 

 is among the earliest of the spring flowers, and is the best 

 loved of them all. In some localities it figures promi- 

 nently in the May-day festival. The children search, and 

 bring it in quantities from the woods. Then at dusk they 

 take little baskets, sometimes made of paper for the 

 occasion, neatly trimmed with moss and heaped with the 

 fragrant blossoms, and carrying them to the homes of 

 their special friends, hang them on the door knobs, knock 

 and run. At least, years ago the New England children 

 did so. I hope they do so yet. 



