56 PLANTS GROWING IN MUD. 



cleft lobes. Stamens: five; exserted; the anthers highly coloured. Pistil: 

 one ; protruding. Leaves : oblong ; in terminal groups. A shrub three to ten 

 feet high. 



Little can be imagined in plant-life which is more truly 

 beautiful than the azaleas in the fullness of their bloom. The 

 varieties here given resemble each other very closely; and fol- 

 low in continuous succession, so that the swamps and some- 

 times the moist woods are radiant with their variable colours 

 until well on in the season. It would seem as though the 

 warmer atmosphere of summer coaxed out a stronger fragrance 

 than the cool air of spring ; as the A. viscosa lades the air 

 for a great distance with its luscious, honey scent. On both 

 species may be found those modified buds that are so dear to 

 the heart of childhood and which are called May-apples. The 

 plants are especially desirable for cultivation and we are famil- 

 iar with seeing them come into bloom early in the year. 

 The characteristics of each plant can be readily seen from the 

 illustrations. 



CREEPING SNOWBERRY. 



Chidge7ies hispidula. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Heath. White. Fragrant. Mostly north. May. 



Flowers : small ; nodding ; axillary. Calyx : of four sepals with two large 

 bractlets underneath. Stamens : eight. Fistil : one. Fruit : a small, globular, 

 white berry. Leaves : ovate and, like the bractlets, bristly underneath ; ever- 

 green. Stem : delicate and trailing. 



It may be regarded as a matter of good fortune if we find this 

 delicate little creeper spreading its carpet of snow-white berries, 

 in the peat bogs. We then sit down and enjoy to the full its 

 invigourating breath of spicy aroma ; and nibble at the leaves, 

 which are uninjurious and have the same pleasant taste as 

 sweet birch and wintergreen. It is abundant in the Adiron- 

 dacks and at times we find it straying to visit such cool, damp 

 woods as the AUeghanies. 



