VERNAL FLOWERS. 197 



is among the earliest flowers of spring. The garden molet ap- 

 pears iu bloom ; the Yiola rotundifolia^ or yellow moiety with 

 leaves lying close to the gromid, is found in the meadows. 

 Several species of Carex are now in blossom ; the trailing 

 arhutus (Epigea repens) and the Trillium decorate the woods. 



300. In May many species of the Viola appear ; as there is 

 sometimes a difficulty in determining between these species, the 

 study of the natural characters is the more important ; if the 

 student cannot fully determine the species of a plant, it is much 

 to know its genus and natural family ; the Violacem can scarce- 

 ly be mistaken. One of the most intei^esting-^OY^Qv^ of this sea- 

 son found in woods and meadows, is the Anemone Virgin- 

 iana^ the vnnd-floioer^ a name given as some say because 

 the flower expands only in windy weather ; but as another rea- 

 son might be given, its very caducous petals which are swept 

 away by the lightest zephyr ; the petals are large and white, 

 the stem grows to the hight of two or three feet, and contains 

 one terminal flower. Several other species of the Anemone are 

 in blossom about this time. 



The Xylosteum^ or fiy-lioneysucMe may be found by the side 

 of brooks ; this is a shrub with blossoms growing in pairs ; the 

 UvuLARiA, a plant of the lily family having a yellow blossom, 

 grows in the woods ; the strawberry is now found, with its nu- 

 merous stamens growing on the calyx ; it has also many styles, 

 each one bearing a seed. The Aronia is an early flower ; a 

 species of this, the shad-hlossom^ is not unfrequently found in 

 April ; this is a large shrub, often growing upon the banks of 

 brooks, with white petals clustering together in the form of a 

 raceme. Many of the mosses are now in blossom ; these are in- 

 teresting subjects of stud}^, though their structure is not so well 

 understood as that of the phonogamous plants. It may sur- 

 prise the beginner in Botany to learn that onosses have hlos- 

 soms ; science teaches us that every plant has its own perfec- 

 tion, is good after its kind, and " its seed is in itself" The 

 Arum, or wild turnip^ is now found in shady places ; the root 

 is valuable in medicine. The Calla palustris^ or water ariim.^ 

 abounds in wet grounds. The Aquilegia, or icild columhine^ 

 with its horned nectaries, is found hanging in rich clusters 

 from the clefts of rocks. Among the early garden flowers are 

 the snow-drop^ crocus^ crown4'mperial^. moiety primula^ poly- 

 anthus^ daffodil^ narcissus^ &c. 



301. Flowers of Summer. — The plants wlMch are now in 

 blossom are very numerous ; we will miention a few of the most 

 common and interesting. A well-known shrub, the elder (Sam- 



300. Flowers of May— Viola— Anemone, &c.— Mosses now in bloom— Wild turnip, &C--301. 

 Flowers of Summer. 



