STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



the kindly influence of the transient sunbeams of early 

 spring, the deep glossy-green shoots of the hardy Pyrola 

 peep forth, not timidly, as if afraid to meet 



" The snow and blinding sleet ; " 



not shrinking from the chilling blast that too often nips 

 the fair promise of April and May, but boldly and cheer- 

 fully braving the worst that the capricious season has in 

 store for such early risers. 



All bright and fresh and glossy, our Wintergreens come 

 forth as though they had been perfecting their toilet within 

 the sheltering canopy of their snowy chambers to do honor 

 to the new-born yea*r, just awakening from her icy sleep. 



P. elliptica forms extensive beds in the forest, the roots 

 creeping with running subterranean shoots, which send up 

 clusters of evergreen leaves, slightly waved and scalloped 

 at the edges, of a deep glossy green and thin in texture. 



The name Pyrola is derived from a fancied likeness in the 

 foliage to that of the pear, but this is not very obvious; 

 nevertheless we will not cavil at it, for it is a pretty 

 sounding word, far better than many a one that has been 

 bestowed upon our showy wild flowers in compliment to the 

 person who first brought them into notice. 



The pale greenish-white flowers of our Pyrola form a tall 

 terminal raceme; the five round petals are hollow; each 

 blossom set on a slender pedicel, at the base of which is a 

 small pointed bract; the anthers are of a reddish orange 

 color, the stamens ascending in a cluster, while the long 

 style is declined, forming a figure somewhat like the letter J. 

 The seed vessel is ribbed, berry-shaped, slightly flattened 

 and turbinate; when dry, the light chaffy seeds escape 

 through valves at the sides. The dry style in this, and most 

 of the genus, remains persistent on the capsule. 



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