Eff THE WOODLANDS. 61 



One of the most common and at the same time one 

 of the prettiest woodland flowers is the "Wood-Sorrel 

 (Oxalis acetosella) . In a warm spring it rises to receive 

 the kisses of the first April shower; but it is frequently 

 later ere its delicately beautiful triple leaves and the 

 pencilled beauty of its blossoms are to be seen. No Eng- 

 lish plant has any greater right to claim affinity to the 

 sensitive plant than this woodland beauty. Its foliage 

 droops at the approach of rain equally with the evening 

 dews. It shrinks when roughly handled in gathering, 

 and it folds up its leaves when the " storm sings in the 

 wind." It is said to be the original shamrock which 

 St. Patrick plucked to convert the Irish, and it is so 

 common in the " Island of Woods," as to give every rea- 

 sonable probability to the suggestion. The Savoyard 

 calls it the Pain de dieu, for it, like the manna of the 

 Israelites, is scattered by the wayside. It is plentiful 

 in Lapland, where it forms one of the principal vege- 

 tables. In Norway it is the primula the first flower 

 of spring. It bore in old times the names of " Wood- 

 sower," " Stubwort," and " Wood Trefoil." Dear old 

 G-erarde tells us that "apothecaries and herbalists 

 call it AUeluya and cuckowes' meat." It yet bears 

 the name of Alleluia in Italy and Spain. Its delicate 



