in the Vicinity of Boston. 15 



Viola debilis Spreading Violet. Stem weak, angular, 

 branching below. Leaves reniform-cordate [or kidney- 

 shaped and heart-shaped combined], upper ones indented on 

 the rim, and ending in a sharpish point. Flowers pale pur- 

 ple, small, with stems longer than those of the leaves ; the 

 two lateral petals bearded inside. — Concord turnpike, Cam- 

 bridge. — June. 



Viola pubescens Yellow Violet. Stem erect, leafy towards 

 the top, and having long soft hairs. Leaves broad, heart- 

 shaped, indented on the margin. Petals yellow, streaked 

 with dark purple. — Dry stony woods. — Found at Newton ; 

 likewise on the Concord turnpike, Cambridge. — June. 



Dr. Eaton says, that Viola pubescens varies much in height 

 — usually from six to eight inches ; but that he has found it 

 twenty inches high ; and that Dr. Solon Smith showed him 

 a specimen four feet high, which he found in New Hamp- 

 shire. 



Professor Nuttall informs us that, excepting the Viola con- 

 color, all the North American species of violets, after their 

 blossoming season is over, produce flowers without petals, 

 through the rest of the summer. 



" According to Lightfoot, the Highland ladies of former 

 times used the violet as a cosmetic, the old Gaelic receipt 

 being, ' Anoint thy face with goats' milk in which violets 

 have been infused, and there is not a young prince upon 

 earth who will not be charmed with thy beauty.' " 



FLOW^ERING SHRUBS. 



Andromeda. 

 Andromeda polyfblia Water Andromeda. A most delicate 

 shrub, from twelve to eighteen inches high. The leaves are 

 slender, lance-formed, very short stemmed, sn)ooth and 

 veined above, convex, rolled outward at the margin ; of an 

 evergreen aspect, a fine bluish, or glaucous dark green above, 

 and a pure bluish white beneath. Calyx white, in five di- 

 visions, tipped with red. Flowers round, pitcher-formed, 

 five angled, pale flesh-colored ; on short, terminal, nodding 

 stems, divided, or subdivided. — Wet, mossy bogs. Edges of 

 Hammond's Pond, east part of Newton. — Blossoms in May. 



Aronia. 

 Arbnia batrydpium L. Pyrus batrydpium Wood Pear, June 

 Berry. This plant is sometimes taken for a pear tree, which 

 it resembles. Occasionally, it forms a small tree ; but blos- 

 soms profusely, and bears fruit, when a yard or two high. 

 The leaves, when first expanded, are lanceolate, and covered 

 with a silky down ; but when mature, they are hairless on 



