Plants Growing in Light Soil : Open 



Woods. 



Perhaps it is the lively spring wind that wakes the flowers 

 in the open woods, and laughs loudly while they take their 

 places. They creep in as quietly as spirits , and seek the spots 

 where they will be warm in the sunshine that falls through 

 the trees and stains them with a ruddy richness. The dew 

 absorbs their fragrance and lingers lovingly about as though 

 loth to seek the sky. Knowijig birds weave their nests beside 

 tJiem and peep out a sharp, round eye to see if any harm is 

 near. The whole commimity know the country boy a little 

 better than do those of the deep woods ; but they are not 

 afraid, and cajole him with their merri7nent, 



PYXIE. FLOWERING flOSS. 



Pyxidanthera barbuldta. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Diapensiacecs. White or pink. Scentless. NeTu Jersey southward. March-May. 



Flcnuers : small ; sessile on delicate branches. Calyx: of five sepals. 

 Corolla: of five petals. Sta?nens : five. Pistil: one; stigma, three-lobed. 

 Anthers: opening like the lid of a little box. Leaves ; lanceolate ; pointed; 

 scale-like ; pubescent. Stem : prostrate ; creeping. 



Little can be imagined that is more truly sweet and dainty 

 than the flowering moss which begins to creep through the pine 

 woods just as the spring is opening. When handled it is found 

 to possess quite an amount of vigour ; and the anthers under 

 a microscope are a revelation. Each one is a tiny box and 



