NATIVE WILD FLOWERS 



Longfellow's stanzas to the Iris are very characteristic of 

 that graceful flower: 



" Beautiful lily dwelling by still river, 



Or solitary mere, 



Or where the sluggish meadow brook delivers 

 Its waters to the weir. 



" The wind blows, and uplifts thy drooping banner, 



And around thee throng and run 

 The rushes, the green yeomen of thy manor 

 The outlaws of the sun. 



*' O fleur-de-luce, bloom on, and let the river 



Linger to kiss thy feet ; 



O flower of song, bloom on, and make forever 

 The world more fair and sweet." 



SHIN-LEAF SWEET WINTERGREEN Pyrola elliptica (Nutt.). 



(PLATE XVII.) 



" Wandering far in solitary paths where wild flowers blow, 

 There would I bless His name." 



Heber. 



The familiar name Wintergreen is applied by the Cana- 

 dians to many species of dwarf evergreen plants, without 

 any reference to their natural affinities. The beautiful 

 family of Pyrola shares this name, in common with many 

 other charming forest flowers, on account of their evergreen 

 habit. 



Every member of this interesting family is worthy of 

 special notice. Elegant in form and coloring, of a delicate 

 fragrance and enduring verdure, they add to their many 

 attractions the merit of being almost the first green things 

 to refresh the eye long wearied by gazing on the dazzling 

 white of the snow for many consecutive months during 

 winter. 



As the dissolving crust disappears from the forest beneath 



63 



