98 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



blossoms during a period of six weeks. These are the 

 flowers which have generally rewarded my earliest 

 botanical rambles, and every year I behold them with 

 increased delight. They are often seen in crowded 

 clusters, half concealed by some dry oak leaves, that 

 were elevated by the flowers as they sprang up from 

 the bosom of the earth. They vary in color, from a 

 dark purple and lilac, to lighter shades of the same tints. 

 Appearing in clusters that often contain more than 

 twenty flowers, they form a pleasing contrast with the 

 little wood anemone that spangles the mossy knolls 

 with its solitary drooping blossoms, scattered somewhat 

 evenly over the green surface. While we admire the 

 splendor and elegance of the liverwort in clusters of 

 various shades, some purple or lilac, some of a pale 

 blue, and others white, the wood anemones are still 

 more charming, on account of their expression of meek 

 ness and delicacy. The rue-leaved anemone differs 

 from each of these. More lively in its appearance than 

 either, it bears several upright flowers upon one stalk, 

 with such a look of cheerfulness that they seem almost 

 to smile upon us from their green shady nooks. 



Not the least charming of our vernal flowers is one, 

 which having no standard English name, is known by 

 a different appellation in almost every place. This 

 flower is the Houstonia ccerulea. It sometimes appears 

 in the latter part of April; but, in this vicinity, its 

 blossoms are closely identified with the month of May, 

 when they are so thickly strown over the fields, as, at a 

 distance, to resemble a flight of snow spread lightly 

 over the green pastures. The whole plant is almost as 

 delicate as the finer mosses ; and the flowers, though 

 minute, are rendered conspicuous by the brilliant golden 

 hue of their centre, that melts imperceptibly into the 



