APRIL. 49 



blue flower, which, though called the autumnal 

 gentian, (Geiifiana amavella,) blooms in spring, 

 may now be found in the meadow, esjjecially 

 where the soil is composed of limestojie. It is 

 about three inches high, and its bell-shaped 

 flowers grow in clusters. It is not quite so 

 common as the species called field gentian, 

 {Gentiana campestris,) which much resembles 

 this, and is very abundant on chalky, hilly pas- 

 tures, in the month of October. AVe have seve- 

 ral other wild species of gentian, but all are rare. 



The little wild pansy, or heartsease, {Viola 

 tricolor,) is now in blossom on banks and culti- 

 vated fields. It is sometimes purple, at other 

 times, yellow with purple streaks, but most 

 commonly all its petals are of a pale sulphur 

 colour. It is a species of violet. The numerous 

 and beautiful pansies cultivated by florists, are 

 mostly natives of Siberia, and the northern 

 countries of Europe, and America ; though a few 

 like our sweet violet, are found within the tropics. 



The early scorpion grass, (Mijosotis collina,) 

 with very small but very bright blue blossoms, 

 is also a sjiring flower, and is common both on 

 sterile fields and cultured lands ; and now, on 

 marshy meadows, we may see the buttcr-buf, 

 {Petasites rulyaris) which may easily be de- 

 scribed. This plant has a thick stem, with 

 a crowded cluster of pink, or rather flesh- 

 coloured flowers, and is ai)parently destitute of 

 leaves. Like the coltsfoot, to which plant it is 

 nearly allied, its blossomslongprecede itsfoliage; 

 but when this aj)pcars, it is very conspicuous. 



