THE PLANT AND THE SEASONS 



867 



most striking examples. It is interesting 

 to see the manner in which the flowers of 

 this plant are protected, so that they 

 may not suffer from the cold rains of 

 December. The bud of the blossom is 

 of a pendulous habit, and even when the 

 flower is fully expanded the essential 

 organs are perfectly sheltered by the 

 encircling sepals. In passing, it may be 

 mentioned that the petals of the Christ- 

 mas Rose are contracted into small hnear 

 bodies, hardly exceeding the stamens in 

 size. The flowers of the Hellebore seem 

 to be able to hold over their own develop- 

 ment for almost any length of time with- 

 out injur}' until a fairly favourable spell 

 of weather arrives. 



The earhest arrivals of the spring- 

 time will often have to cope with spells of 

 bad weather. That typical flower of the 

 new year, the Snowdrop, is well adapted 

 to meet almost any conditions. Owing 

 to its drooping habit the close-fitting 



petals form a most perfect little roof to 

 protect the delicate essential organs. 

 A few weeks later, when the Crocuses put 

 in an appearance, there will be more 

 sunshine, but the weather is still in an 

 uncertain state. Note the white pro- 

 tecting sheath which encloses the whole 

 shoot until wanner conditions makes it 

 safe for the leaves and flower-buds to 

 venture out. When quite open the Crocus- 

 blooms face right up to the sky and are 

 exceptionally exposed, but it is only in 

 direct respcmse to the solar rays that the 

 flower will display its shining corolla. 

 On dull threatening days the floral 

 envelope is tightly closed, so that there 

 is no possibility of any harm coming to 

 the golden anthers. In much the same 

 way the golden-yellow Coltsfoot, one of 

 the earhest of our wild flowers, is so 

 sensitive that it never by any chance 

 opens unless the day is bright and 

 warm. S. Leonard B.\stin. 



THE PRIMROSE, 



Which flowers in the spring, would be in great danger of being overwhelmed by the 

 early summer growth, were it not able to smother the surrounding vegetation 

 by ' flopping " its leaves. 



