81 



among the grass, and also on many a shady mountain steep* 

 It has no flaring colors, or majestic port, to attract the eye, 

 but is of a pure white, of humble growth, and fragile form, 

 appearing too delicate to bear the storms to which it is exposed. 

 As soon as night approaches it closes its petals, folds up its 

 curious triple leaves, and hangs its flowers towards the earth, 

 thus preserving the more tender parts from injury ; but when 

 the sun rises in the morning they are all expanded, and regain 



their beauty. 



" Flowers shrinking from the chilly night, 



Droop and shut up ; hut with fair morning's touch, 

 Rise on their steins all open and upright." Montague. 



The flowers and leaves are each upon its own stalk, which is 

 purple and hairy. The root is creeping, and covered at the 

 joints with a number of little tubers, or grains. The calyx is 

 five-cleft and green the leaves purplish underneath, and the 

 flower stalks, with two small bracts upon them, an inch or so 

 from the flower. The whole plant is of a very pleasant acid 

 flavor, and although it contains that deadly poison, called oxalic 

 acid, or salt of sorrel, yet a handful of the leaves may be 

 eaten with perfect safety, and will be found excellent to quench 

 thirst, and revive the tired traveller. The least quantity of the 

 pure oxalic acid that would poison a child is the eighth part, 

 (or half a quarter,) of an ounce. This would be yielded by 

 about a pound and a quarter, or perhaps twenty handsful of 

 leaves a much larger quantity than we should either have 

 patience to gather, or inclination to eat. The method of ma- 

 king the acid is very simple ; the juice of the leaves is pressed 

 out, and set aside for some days for the thick parts to settle ; 

 then the clear liquor is again set aside, and in a little while 

 needle-shaped crystals of the acid are found at the bottom of 

 the liquor. It is used in bleaching, cleaning boot tops, taking 

 out ink spots, &c. Most of the acid used is now made from 

 sugar. When the blossoms are past, the seed vessel from its 

 weight bends downwards until ripe, when it is hidden among 



the leaves. 



" Wood Sorrel that hangs her cups 

 Ere their frail form and streaky veins decay, 

 O'er her pale verdure ; till parental care 

 Inclines the short'ning stems, and to the shade 

 Of closing leaves her infant race withdraws." Gisborrw* 



O. S. Yellow Procumbent Wood Sorrel, which is rare. 



G 



