170 A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



512. Early Saxifrage. Micranthes virginiensis. (Saxifraga 

 virginiensis.) {Saxifragaccae.) A slender, sticky, herb of 

 rocky places, not usually over 6 in. high. Leaves basal, oval 

 or broadest towards the tip, bluntly toothed, 1-3 in. long. 

 Flowers white, in a loose open cluster, about ^ in. wide, 

 the petals separate. New Brunswick to Georgia, and west- 

 ward. April. Fig. 512. See also No. 522. 



513. SHIN-LEAF. PYROLA. . 



Perennial herbs with thick, dark green, half evergreen 

 leaves. Flowers, nodding, often fragrant, in a terminal ra- 

 ceme. Petals 5, partly united below, slightly concave, sur- 

 rounded by 5 minute sepals. Fruit a dry pod. (Pyrolaceae.) 

 For related plants see Nos. 444 and 518. The shin-leafs are 

 distinguished thus : 



Flower cluster not i-sided. 



Leaves shining; plant 7-18 in. tall Shin-leaf no. 514 



Leaves dull; plant 5-10 in. tall Shin-leaf no. 515 



Flower cluster decidedly i-sided Shin-leaf no. 516 



514. Shin-leaf. Pyrola ame^icana. A smooth plant of rich 

 woods with basal leaves that are stalked, roundish in out- 

 line, faintly toothed and 1^-4 in. long. Flower-stalk 7-18 in. 

 tall, witii 6-20 flowers. Nova Scotia to Georgia, and west- 

 ward. June. Fig. 514. A related species, P, chlorantha is 



