58 WILD FLOWEES. 



The woodsorrel approaches nearest of all our native 

 productions to a sensitive plant ; not only shutting 

 up, or unfolding, its pale, though bright, green 

 leaves with every change of atmosphere, but even 

 closing if the stem be repeatedly or rudely struck. 



There are but two British species of the oxalis, 

 namely, the 0. corniculata, or yellow woodsorrel, 

 which occurs in several places in the south of 

 Devonshire, and perhaps in Cornwall, as well as in 

 Sussex : and our own dear woodsorrel (0. acetosella) 

 which makes bright and beautiful our hedgerows ; 

 and copses ; and dense woods ; and broken banks 

 in spring ; recalling the words of the old Welsh 

 " Triad of Wisdom," 



" Three things, let no one trust such as shall dislike them 

 The scent of trefoils, the taste of milk, the song of birds." 



