WHITE AND GREENISH WILD FLOWERS 



possessed some mystic charm to ward off fever, and 

 with this faith they sought the earliest flower of the 

 year with more or less ceremony, and wore it attached 

 to their clothing with much the same spirit probably 

 as we of to-day seek and wear the four-leaf Clover. 

 The Anemone is also an oriental dignitary, having some 

 celestial significance among the Chinese, who make 

 use of it in connection with their funeral rites, and it is 

 referred to as the Death Flower. How times have 

 changed! If any one dared to advance similar sup- 

 positions in the present era, they would, in all proba- 

 bility, be assailed with ridicule. Nevertheless, the 

 Ancients, though lacking much definite botanical 

 science, were undoubtedly sincere in their belief. The 

 roots have some medicinal value, and one species fur- 

 nishes a remedy for sore eyes. It is said that cattle which 

 have fed on the Anemone have experienced poisonous 

 symptoms therefrom. The Anemones follow closely 

 upon the heels of the Hepaticas, Bloodroots, and Yellow 

 Adder's Tongues in the floral contest for early blossom- 

 ing in the springtime. They are commonly found in 

 colonies along the margins of low woods, or in some- 

 what open places along hillsides where the soil is light 

 and partially shaded, during April, May and June. 

 They are often clustered near the base of old trees or 

 stumps. The beautiful, delicate blossoms are faintly 

 fragrant and measure an inch in diameter. Four to 

 nine oval, petal-like sepals take the place of petals — 

 they have no true petals — and in this respect they 

 resemble the flowers of the Marsh Marigold. They 



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