The Snowflake 



place, on account of the vivid contrast 

 of the leaves, which are not glaucous as 

 the Snowdrop's, but are bright deep green. 

 In the next place, because the shape of 

 the corolla has been entirely changed, 

 made shorter, and more widely bell-shaped, 

 so as to get the utmost possible expanse 

 of colour, and impress us as a globe ,or 

 seal of white, just green-touched at the 

 edges for relief. And the petals are now 

 all white and similar. In the Snowdrop 

 there was a clear distinction. There, 

 only the three outermost were truly white ; 

 and these were longer, and were of softer 

 and lighter make, having a varied outline 

 of indescribable beauty, as graceful as that 

 of a sea-shell. The three innermost and 

 shorter lay within the others, united into 

 a stout conical cup, the most visible part 

 of which was green. Now in the Snow- 

 flake, these innermost petals, which are 

 white, as we have already stated, are 

 thrown into the circumference with the 

 others, so as to fill it out to the utmost. 

 And hence a marked change in the in- 

 terior of the flower. The stamens have 

 wider space afforded them, and produce 

 a most lovely effect in connection with 

 the delicate veining of the petals. And 

 if you invert the flower, you will find that 

 79 



