LINN^US. 371 



general highly expressive. With him, the various 

 means by which Nature ensures the reproduction of 

 plants are their nuptials ; the changes in the posi- 

 tion of their parts at night are their sleep; the 

 periods of the year at which they flower form the 

 calendar of Flora." 



As an example of his manner, when treating of a 

 subject not technically described, we may present 

 his account of the plant to which he gave the name 

 of Andromeda : '' This most choice and beautiful 

 virgin gracefully erects her long and shining neck 

 (the peduncle), her face with its rosy lips (the co- 

 rolla) far excelling the best pigment. She kneels 

 on the ground with her feet bound (the lower part 

 of the stem incumbent), surrounded with water, 

 and fixed to a rock (a projecting clod), exposed to 

 frightful dragons (frogs and newts). She bends 

 her sorrowful face (the flower) towards the earth, 

 stretches up her innocent arms (the branches) to- 

 ward heaven, worthy of a better place and happier 

 fate, until the welcome Perseus (summer), after 

 conquering the monster, draws her out of the water 

 and renders her a fruitful mother, when she raises 

 her head (the fruit) erect." The analogy that gave 

 rise to this fanciful description, which is contained 

 in the Flora Lapponica, suggested itself to Linnaeus 

 on his Lapland journey. " The Chamaedaphne of 

 Buxbaum," says he, " was at this time in its highest 

 beauty, decorating the marshy grounds in a most 

 agreeable manner. The flowers are quite blood-red 

 before they expand, but when full grown the co- 

 rolla is of a flesh-colour. Scarcely any painter's art 

 can so happily imitate the beauty of a fine female 

 complexion ; still less could any artificial colour 



