30 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



the little plant-to-be. It is interesting to see how 

 cautiously the plantlet puts in an appearance at 

 first. The small stem arches its way through the 

 ground, and the tender leaves hang down, until 

 they are more developed. During the spring 

 weather, which is usually of a fickle character, we 

 may feel certain that the drooping, huddled bear- 

 ing of the seedling's initial leaves affords a real 

 protection against cold. 



In defiance of weather conditions a few plants 

 have elected to come to perfection right in the 

 middle of the winter season. Of these the Christ- 

 mas Rose (Helleboms niger) is perhaps one of the 

 most striking examples. It is interesting to see 

 the manner in which the flowers of this plant are 

 protected, so that they may not suffer from the 

 cold rains of December. The bud of the blossom 

 is of a pendulous habit, and even when the flower 

 is fully expanded the essential organs are per- 

 fectly sheltered by the encircling sepals. In passing, 

 it may be mentioned that the petals of the Christ- 

 mas Rose are contracted into small tubular bodies, 

 hardly exceeding the stamens in size. The flowers 

 of the Hellebore seem to be able to hold over their 

 own development for almost any length of time 

 without injury until a fairly favourable spell of 

 weather arrives. 



