152 PLANTS GROWING IN RICH OR ROCKY SOIL. 



A sweet little flower that cannot but cast a spell of enchant- 

 ment over those that linger near it in its woodland home. Its 

 characteristics remind us strongly of the violet family ; but a 

 taste for numerous stamens has caused it to be classed among 

 the roses. It seems unfortunate that no English or pet name 

 has ever been bestowed upon the flower, which would endear it 

 to us by a feeling of closer friendship. 



EARLY WHITE ROSE. (Plate LXXVIL) 

 Rosa blanda. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Rose. White. Slightly fragrant. Mostly north. Late spring. 



This beautiful wild rose of rocky banks and woods has en- 

 deared itself to all that are friends of the flowers. Its petals 

 are large and wavy, and it is very leafy. Unfortunately, R. 

 blanda is rather rare, and unless we know of some quiet 

 spot where it blows, we may search for it in vain throughout 

 a season. It is native to America only. 



EARLY MEADOW RUE. 



Thalictrum dtolcum. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Crowfoot. Purplish pink. Scentless. New England south- April^ May. 



ward and westward. 



Flowers: growing in loose panicles. Calyx: of four or five petal-like sepals 

 that fall early. Corolla : none. Stamens: indefinite in number. Pistils: four 

 to fifteen, on different plants from the stamens. Leaves: alternate; much di- 

 vided into three to seven-lobed leaflets, the upper ones smooth and pinnate. 



This plant is frequently cultivated on account of its graceful 

 foliage, fern-like sprays of which mingle very prettily with 

 other flowers. The bloom is rather unattractive from the point 

 of beauty, but it is a most interesting study botanically. 



T. purpurdscens, purplish meadow rue, comes into bloom a little 

 later than the preceding species. Its compound panicles are 

 composed of feathery staminate or pistillate blossoms. On the 

 delicate leaflets are often found hairs which are tipped with 

 minute glands. 



T. polygamum, Plate XLVII. 



