4 5 



THAI [CTRUM DIOICUM. — EARLY MEADOW-RUE. 



species is a denizen of woods or partially shaded places. It 

 grows in the Atlantic States from Canada to North Carolina, 

 and, according to Torrey and Gray, westward to Oregon. Sev- 

 eral very closely allied species grow in the Rocky Mountains. 



This the Early Meadow-Rue — has no brilliant colors to 



recommend it, but its graceful foliage always attracts the early 

 spring-flower gatherer, by whom it is made to do duty for ferns 

 in the ornamental arrangement of the gathered treasures. It is, 

 however, not without interest to the closer student. The sexes 

 are on separate plants in most of the American species, while 

 the European branches of the family have hermaphrodite flowers. 

 These facts have acquired great interest for the botanist since 

 the publication of Mr. Darwin's works. Where the flowers are 

 dioecious, — that is, having the male flowers on one plant and the 

 female on another, — the latter, of course, can only be fertilized by 

 the pollen from a distinct individual, and this would be regarded 

 by Mr. Darwin as so much in favor of the vigor and powers of 

 endurance of the progeny. It might be instructive to students 

 to examine how far inferior the hermaphrodite forms may be in 

 these respects. At first sight it would seem that the hermaphro- 

 dite forms of Europe have succeeded just as well, in the struggle 

 for life, as the dioecious ones of this continent ; but this should 

 be made the subject of direct examination, for the faithful student 

 of nature takes nothing for granted until he has the facts in 

 detail before him. 



The most showy plants are not always the most interesting. 

 They may have beauty and yet teach little. Plain-looking 

 plants, on the contrary, may be very instructive, and this is the 

 case with the Early Meadow-Rue. 



In many plants there are leafy appendages at the base of the 

 leaves, called stipules. In general they appear as if they were 

 small leaves, and in a measure distinct from the main leaf. In 

 the class of plants now described there are appearances at the 

 base of the leaves somewhat similar, but they are formed by the 

 flattened and expanded base of the leaf itself. These are not 



