131 



flowers with the first return of Spring even in February it is 

 expanded and gay. The leaves grow in tufts around the root, 

 spreading out like a star, each leaf lance-shaped, and a little 

 toothed. The flower stems are an inch or two in height, and 

 without leaves. Petals deeply cleft, the seed vessels oval, 

 throwing off' their two sides, and leaving on the stalk only the 

 thin white membrane which divides the seed vessel. 



' I love thee pretty nursling 



Of vernal sun and rain, 

 For thou art Flora's firstling, 

 And leaclest in her train," 



O. S. Yellow Alpine Whitlow-grass, Rock Whitlow-grass, Twisted - 

 podded Whitlow-grass, and Speedwell-leaved Whitlow-grass, all of them 

 rare. 



BITTER-CRESS. CARDAMINE. 

 COMMON BITTER-CRESS. Cardamine pratensls. 



Plate 9, fig. 20. 



From the early season of the year in which this plant blos- 

 soms it is often called the Cuckoo Flower, while from the 

 purity and delicate white color of its flowers it has most com- 

 monly the name of Lady's Frock ; all country children know 

 it by one or other of these names, and after Winter has passed 

 and the springing grass, the budding trees, and the opening 

 flowers entice them from the fireside, these Lady's Frocks 

 offer themselves already decked in beauty, and with the early 

 Yellow Pilewort, and Red Nettle, and the Blue Veronica, tend 

 to form a charming rustic nosegay of simple flowers indeed, 

 but not less perfect nor less brilliant than those of a later 

 period. Our present plant grows upright, eight or ten inches 

 high, tufted with flowers, or loaded with long round seed- 

 vessels, and bearing at intervals pinnate leaves, of narrow 

 sections on the upper part, but wider below, so that at and 

 round the root each small leaflet is shaped like an Ivy leaf. 



O. S. Large Flowered Bitter-cress, Narrow-leaved Bitter-cress, Hairy 

 Bitter-cress, and Daisy-leaved Bitter-cress. 



WINTER CRESS. BARB ARE A. 

 BITTER WINTER-CRESS. YELLOW ROCKET. Barbareamilyaris. 



Plate 10, fig.l. 

 An upright, slightly branched, smooth herb, growing from 



