WHITE 



the rocky ledges where they thrive best. One would suppose 

 that the firmly closed petals guarded against any intrusion on 

 the part of insect-visitors and indicated the flower's capacity 

 for self-fertilization ; but it is found that when insects are ex- 

 cluded by means of gauze no seeds are set, which goes to prove 

 that the pollen from another flower is a necessary factor in the 

 continuance of this species. The generic name, Dicentra, is 

 from the Greek and signifies two-spurred. The flower, when 

 seen, explains its two English titles. It is accessible to every 

 New Yorker, for in early April it whitens many of the shaded 

 ledges in the upper part of the Central Park. 



SQUIRREL CORN. 



Dicentra Canadensis. Fumitory Family. 



The squirrel corn closely resembles the dutchman's breeches. 

 Its greenish or pinkish flowers are heart-shaped, with short, 

 rounded spurs. They have the fragrance of hyacinths, and 

 are found blossoming in early spring in the rich woods of the 

 North. 



FOAM-FLOWER. FALSE MITRE-WORT. 



Tiarella cordifclia. Saxifrage Family. 



Stem. Five to twelve inches high, leafless, or rarely with one or two 

 leaves. Leaves. From the rootstock or runners, heart-shaped, sharply 

 lobed. Flowers. White, in a full raceme. Calyx. Bell-shaped, five- 

 parted. Corolla. Of five petals on claws. Stamens. Ten, long and slen- 

 der. Pistil. One, with two styles. 



Over the hills and in the rocky woods of April and May the 

 graceful white racemes of the foam flower arrest our attention. 

 This is a near relative of the Mitella or true mitre-wort. Its 

 generic name is a diminutive from the Greek for turban, and is 

 said to refer to the shape of the pistil. 



EARLY SAXIFRAGE. 



Saxifraga Virginiensis. Saxifrage Family. 



Scape. Four to nine inches high. Leaves. Clustered at the root, some- 

 what wedge-shaped, narrowed into a broad leaf-stalk. Flowers. White, 

 small, clustered. Calyx. Five-cleft. Corolla. Of five petals. Stamens. 

 Ten. Pistil. One, with two styles. 



In April we notice that the seams in the rocky cliffs and hill- 

 sides begin to whiten with the blossoms of the early saxifrage. 



36 



