. DESCRIPTIVE IJST OF FLOWERS. 145 



abundant bloom in the green grass. This plant, in its 

 tender state, is gathered for greens and is brought to 

 market under the name of Coioslip. It is a plant well re- 

 membered in our juvenile days as being one of the most 

 conspicuous May-day flowers, and for wet feet, caused in 

 gathering it. It is also a native of England, and the 

 north of Europe, where it makes the same brilliant ap- 

 pearance in their meadows as it does in our own. The 

 flower buds, gathered before they expand, are said to be 

 a good substitute for capers, and their juice, boiled with 

 alum, stains paper yellow. In Lapland it is the first 

 flower that announces the approach of spring, although 

 it does not appear there till the end of May. There is a 

 double variety which is quite ornamental, and succeeds 

 very well in garden soil, if not very dry. It flowers 

 most of the season, and is more dwarfish than the wild 

 single variety. The flowers are very fiill double, and 

 have some resemblance to the TroUius. It is propa- 

 gated by parting the roots ; it likes the shade, and if in a 

 wet place, so much the better, for its natural place of 

 growth is — 



— " Not the sunny plain. 

 But where tlie grass is gieen with shady trees, 

 And brooks stand ready for the kine to quaff," 



C AL YSTEGIA. — Bracted Bindweed. 



[From the Greek for calyx and to cover in reference to the bracts which en- 

 close the calyx.] 



Calystegia sepium. — Hedge or Large Bindweed. — A 

 native species w^hich climbs over fences and bushes in 

 low grounds. Stem twining, a little angular, smooth ; 

 leaves large, arrow-shaped ; the upper ones with the 

 lobes mostly cut off". Flowers large, white or rose color, 

 blooming in June and Julv. A beautiful perennial, which, 

 7 



