196 VERNAL FLOWERS. 



at the same time; but usually the leaves appear before the 

 flowers, probably having a greater force to draw up the sap 

 than the flowei-s, into which it rises by slow degrees. We see 

 little appearance of vegetable life (except among the Cryptoga- 

 mous plants and evergreens) as early as March ;"^' sometimes 

 snow covers the ground nearly or quite through the month; 

 but if we examine the trees and shrubs, even then we may 

 perceive by the swelling of their buds that they have already 

 felt the vivifying influence of heat, and that a little increase of 

 temperature Avill cause the embryo flower or leaf to burst its 

 prison and come forth. 



299. Vernal Floivers. — In April, the leaves of trees and 

 shrubs begin to expand ; a few flowers show themselves amid 

 the damp," chilly atmosphere with which they are surrounded. 

 Among the most interesting of these harbingers of sjiring is the 

 IIepatica triloba^ or liver-leaf ; a lowly, modest flower of a 

 pale-blue color, with beautifully formed three-lobed leaves. 

 The loio anemone (Anemone oiem.orosa)^\ with its pale blossoms, 

 is found in shady woods and damp pastures. The bright yel- 

 low flowers of the colt's-foot {Tiisilagd) brave the cold winds of 

 early spring, while the reluctant leaves wait for warmer breezes. 

 Most species of \}i\^ jpoplar are now in blossom ; also the Salix, 

 or willoiD ', this genus includes the weejping-willow^ or Salix 

 tristisjX sometimes called Salix Babylonica ; it is alluded to 

 in a beautiful passage in the Psalms which represents the chil- 

 dren of Israel, when in captivity, as sitting down by the waters 

 of Babylon to weep, and hanging their harps on 



" Willow-trees that -withered there." 



Among the forest-trees now in blossom are the maple and 

 elm. In the meadows and moist grounds is the American 

 cowslip {Qkuui^ palustris).^ a flne example of the class Polyan- 

 dria ; and the adder^ s-tongue (Ekytheoniu:m) having a beantiful 

 liliaceous flower. In woods and by the sides of brooks is to be 

 seen the Sanguinaria, or Mood-root^ which bears a white blos- 

 som more elegant and ornamental for a garden than many 

 flowers wdiich are brought from foreign countries, and aflbrding 

 from its root a highly valuable medicine. The Claytonia, or 

 sjyring heaiUy is also to be found at this season ; the dandelion 



• Reference is marie here to the region about Troy, New York, where the first edition of this work 

 rt-as prepared for publication in the year 1829. In the region near Baltimore, in Maryland, lat. 39°, the 

 author finds vegetation about a month earlier ; thus the remarks made respecting vegetable life in 

 March, may for the latitude of Baltimore be referred to February, and so on through the blossoming of 

 plants in the other months. 



t This little flower may be seen raising its head amid surrounding snows on the banks of the Poesten- 

 kill, a streamlet which flows into the Hudson, near Troy. 



X Tristis (Latin) signifies pensive, or sad. 



296. Why do the leaves usually appear before the flowers ? — Vegetation in March. — 299. Vernal 

 F]owci>. 



