44 BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



E. The Dogwood Genus Comus, most beau- 

 tifully ornaments our woods in May and June. 

 They are of all sizes, from a few inches to the 

 height of small trees and shrubs. Willis speaks 

 of toting loads of dogwood blossoms. There is 

 a remarkable plant in this class which you may 

 remember my pointing out to you last March 

 near the wood, it was almost covered with snow 

 and looked somewhat like you said, a huge frog 

 half buried. It was the Skunk Cabbage Sym- 

 plocarpus, called such from its disagreeable odor 

 exactly resembling that of the animal from 

 which it is named. The Witch Hazel, is an- 

 other curious plant found here, noted for its flow- 

 ering late in the fall, when its leaves are falling 

 off, the yellow fringe-like blossoms being devel 

 oped on naked branches. The Teasel Dipsa 

 cus, is cultivated for dressing cloth to which it 

 gives a finishing nap ; one of the species is known 

 as the Shepherd's Staff. With the yellow flow 

 ers of the Ladies Bed Straw Galium, you are 

 acquainted, as well as the Ladies Mantle Al- 

 chemilla, with which we will dismiss the Te- 

 trandrian Class after hearing your song. 



