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leaves ; and S. peltata, the gigantic species of 

 the Sierra Nevadas, has sent up its tall stalks 

 crowned with corymbs of pale-pink flowers, 

 which appear before the huge, shield-like leaves. 

 Two varieties of this species occur, one found 

 at an elevation of six thousand to seven thousand 

 feet, and the other growing in and along streams 

 through the lower and warmer portions of Cali- 

 fornia. The former is evidently much hardier 

 and also more effective, its leaves in its na- 

 tive habitat often attaining a diameter of from 

 three to four feet. S. longifolia, of the Pyre- 

 nees, is difficult to establish, but its near rela- 

 tion, S. cotyledon, which John Addington Sy- 

 monds singles out as the finest of all the plants 

 of the Alps, forms fine rosettes, although it has 

 as yet refused to bloom for me. 



The jonquils, Trillium grandiflorum, the 

 rue-anemones, the tiarella, the purple and white 

 Phlox sitbulata, the white Erythronium and 

 Trillium erythrocarpum, are all in holiday at- 

 tire. If we had not Narcissus poeticus, the lat- 

 ter might almost take its place, with its swan- 

 white corolla and pheasant's eye. The rosy 

 umbels of the garland-flower (Daphne cneorum) 

 exhale such a delicious, penetrating perfume, 

 that one is loath to leave it. Its opening crimson 

 buds always tell me pleasant weather has come 



