VERNAL FLOWERS. 20S 



Most species of the poplar are now in blossom ; also the Salix, or 

 willow, which is of the same class ; this genus includes the weeping 

 willow, or Salix tristis* sometimes called Salix Babylonica, alluded 

 to in a beautiful passage in the Psalms, which represents the children 

 of Israel, when carried into captivity, as sitting down by the waters 

 of Babylon to weep, and hanging their harps on 

 " Willow trees that wither'd there." 



Among the forest trees now in blossom, are the maple and the elm. 

 In the meadows and moist grounds is the American cowslip, (Cal- 

 THA. palustris,) a fine example of the class Polyandria ; and the ad- 

 der's tongue, (Erythronium,) having a beautiful liUaceous flower; 

 this affords a good example of the class Hexandria. 



In woods, and b)' the sides of brooks, is to be seen the Sanguina- 

 ria, or blood-root, which bears a white blossom, more elegant and or- 

 namental for a garden than many flowers which are brought from 

 foreign countries, and affording from its root a highly valualDle med- 

 icine. 



The Claytonia, or spring beauty, is also to be found at this sea- 

 son ; the dandelion, too, is found among the earliest flowers of spring. 

 The garden violet, which is an exotic, appears also at this time; 

 the Viola rotuudifolia, or yellow violet, with roundish leaves lying 

 close to the ground, is found in the fields. Besides these, are found 

 several species of Carex, a coarse kind of grass; the trailing ar- 

 butus, Epigea repens, and the Trilluim, which we remarked under 

 the class Hexandria, as a flower exhibiting great uniformity in its 

 divisions. 



In May, many species of the Viola appear ; there is sometimes a 

 difficulty in determining between these species ; the distinctive 

 marks seem often to be blended; we are in such cases obliged to 

 place our plant under that species to which it seems to have most 

 resemblance. 



One of the most inter esting ^owqyh of this season, found in woods 

 and meadows, is the Anemone Virginiaiia, the Wind-flower, a 

 name given, as some say, because the flower expands only in windy 

 weather ; its petals are large and usually white, the stem grows to 

 the height of two or three feet, and contains one terminal flower. 

 Several other species of the Anemone are in blossom about this time. 



The Xijlosleum, or fly-honeysuckle, may be found, by the side of 

 brooks; this is a shrub with blossoms growing in pairs; the Uvula- 

 ria, a plant of the Uly family, having a yellow blossom, grows in the 

 woods ; the strawberry is now found, with its numerous stamens 

 growing on the calyx ; it has also many styles, each one bearing a 

 seed. 



The Aronia is an early flower ; a species of this, the shad-blos- 

 som, is not unfrequently found in April; this is a large shrub, often 

 growin'j; upon the banks of brooks, with white petals, clustering to- 

 gether in the form of a raceme. 



Many of the mosses are now in blossom; these, we trust, you 

 have learned to consider as presenting much that is interesting to 

 those who understand their structure; but you will not be called on 

 to examine the mosses in thecomm'^r.cement of your botanical stud- 

 ies, neither will they be likely to foi-re themselves upon your notice. 

 You no doubt were surprised to learn that they have flowers, and 

 are considered as deserving attention ; but you must recollect that 



* Tristis (Lulin) signincs pensive, or sau. 



Flowers of Mav— Viola— An-jinone, (X,e.— Mosses now in bloom. 



