198 STTM^fER FLOWERS. 



Bucus), is now found along the sides of hedges, or on the margin 

 of brooks, and in the meadows ; the Rubus, or raspherry^ the 

 Ranunculus, or hutter-cup^ the Cynoglossum, or kouncVs-tongue^ 

 and the Tkifoltum, or clover. It is recorded in history, that when 

 St. Patrick went as a missionary to preach the Gospel to tho 

 then pagan Irish, " lie illustrated the doctrine of the Trinity by 

 showing them a trifolium, or three-leaved grass with one stalk ; 

 this operating to their conviction, the Shamrock, which is a 

 bundle of this grass, was ever afterward worn upon this saint's 

 anniversary to commemorate this event." In the meadows is 

 seen at this time the Geranium maculatum^ a showy flower, 

 and almost the only American gercmium ; in the woods, the 

 splendid ladies' -slipper (Cypripedium), and the wild-mandrake 

 (Podophyllum), a flower of curious appearance. The genus 

 CoNVALLARiA, of whicli the Solomon'' s-seal is an example, may 

 now be found ; it is usually white, with a funnel-form corolla. 

 Some other species, as the lily -of -the^ alley ^ have a bell-form 

 corolla. The various sj^ecies of Yaccinium, of which the toJiortle- 

 herry is an example, are now in blossom ; the woods are orna 

 mented by the snowy-white Cornus, or dog-wood flowers. 



302. In the early part of June the foliage of the trees usual- 

 ly appears in perfection ; among the earliest are the willow^ 

 f^oplar^ and alder ^ next are the hass-wood^ liorse-cliestnut^ oak^ 

 eech^ ash, wcdnut, and 7nidl>erry, which are not all usually in 

 full leaf before the middle of June. At the summer solstice a 

 new race of blossoms appears — the roses, pinJcs, and lilies, with 

 many other exotics. The Iris is found in stagnant waters and 

 in gardens. Among native plants we now find the Asclepias, 

 or milh-iveed, of which there are some very showy, and some 

 delicate species. The little hell-floioer (Campanula) may be 

 seen nodding over the brows of the rocks. The brilliant laurel 

 (Kalmia) is now in bloom. The climbing m^gin'' s-hower (Cle- 

 matis) hangs in graceful clusters of white flowers from the 

 boughs of shrubs and trees, growing by the side of brooks. 

 The curious side-saddle floioer (Sarracenia) is now to be found 

 in swam2:>s and wet grounds. Tlie nmdlein, with its long yellow 

 spike, is very consj)icuous in old fields and by the road-side. 



More flowers are in blossom about the time of the summer 

 soltice than during any period of the year, until the blossoming 

 of the autumnal plants. Tlie hot breath of summer withers the 

 expanding flowers, the earlier ones Aide away, and the late ones 

 do not immediately come forward ; — it would seem as if the 

 earth, having poured forth in rapid succession innumerable 

 treasures, now required a suspension of her efibrts ; but, with 



Elder, &c.— St. Patrick's use of the clover.— Geranium, &c.— Convallaria.— 302. Trees— Blossoms 

 appearing at the summer solstice. — Wliat effect does tiie Iieat of summer have upon flowers ? 



