MABCH. 3! 



than the mezereon m our woods, and, like the 

 former plant, blooms very early in the year. 

 This plant, the spurge laurel, (Bajjhne lau- 

 reole,) is about three feet high, and having cir- 

 cular rows of leaves around its stem, its mode 

 of growth somewhat resembles that of a palm- 

 tree. It has pale yellowish drooping flowers, 

 which hang in clusters under its dark glossy 

 leaves. Like the mezereon, it has an acrid 

 property, and its bluish black berries are poi- 

 sonous. It is also an evergreen, and looks as 

 bright in the winter wood, as when summer's 

 sun shines upon it. 



The bright cehandine (liamincuhts Jtcfma) is 

 showing its golden glossy stars by the middle 

 of this month. A large number of flowers 

 spring from one root, and its heart-shaped leaves 

 are spotted witli a whitish green colour. Very 

 beautiful it is, but very injurious to most lands. 

 Linnaeus thought that agriculturists should 

 endeavour to extirpate this pretty flower, as he 

 considered that it injured all the plants growing 

 near it. Its blossoms shut up before rain, and, 

 even in fine weather, are late in unclosing, for 

 they never look out upon the sun before nine 

 o'clock ; and by five in the evening, they are 

 folded up for the night. The roots are highly 

 valued as a medicine, in Cochin China; but they 

 are very bitter and acrid, and must require 

 caution. 



On old walls, and on pastures where the soil 

 is of a rocky nature, may now be found the 

 small white blossoms of the common whitlow 



