EVERGREENS. 205 



not immediatel}' come forward ; — it would seem as if the eartli, hav 

 ing poured forth in rapid succession innumerable treasures, now re- 

 quired a suspension of her efforts ; but with recovered energy, she 

 soon begins to spread forth new beauties, aiid to deck herself in her 

 most gorgeous attire. 



LECTURE XXXIX. 



AUTUMNAL FLOWERS — EVERGREENS — ANCIENT SUPERSTITION RESPECTING 

 PLANTS — VARIOUS PHENOMENA OF PLANTS. 



The autumnal flowers differ in appearance from those which we 

 find in the earhest part of the season. Few examples of the com- 

 pound flowers occur until the latter part of July, and beginning of 

 August ; — this is fortunate for students just commencing the analy- 

 sis of plants; were they to find only the compound flowers at first, 

 they would be discouraged ; but nature seems kindly to lead them on 

 step by step, reserving the more difficult plants until they have had 

 an opportunity of becoming familiar with the easier classes. 



There is little difficulty in learning to distinguish the different fam- 

 ilies of compound flowers ; as an Aster from a Solidag-o or a Heli- 

 ■anthus. But some of these families contain many species ; and the 

 chief difficulty consists, not in finding the gp.mis, but in determining 

 the species. Indeed it is not to be concealed, that there fe, in this 

 part of botanical science, some confusion among writers ; and the 

 student must not be discouraged if he is not always able to find his 

 plant exactly to coincide with any other species described. 



Among the fine flowers which autumn presents, are the scarlet 

 Lobelia, or cardinal flower; the yellow Gerardia, (false fox-glove,) 

 and the noble sun-flower, (Helianthus.) The Linn.i;a borealis is 

 found in September; at this time the white pond-lily, (Nympha;a,) 

 ■one of the most splendid of American flowers, is seen whitening the 

 surface of the lakes and ponds, sometimes alternating with the yel- 

 low v.'ater-lily, (Nuphar,) a flower of less striking elegance than the 

 former, but perhaps not less curious in its form. 



Another aquatic plant, which, although it blossoms in summer, 

 continues in flower until late in the autumn, is the Sagittaria, or ar- 

 row-head, with a calyx of 3 sepals, and three white petals. The Eu- 

 patorium, or thorough-wort, which blossoms in autumn, has no ex- 

 ternal beauty to recommend it, but as a remedy in diseases, perhaps 

 no plant is more useful. 



Among the exotics which grace the decline of the year, are the 

 splendid f/a///ias ; the gay chrysanthemums blossom only on the verge 

 of winter, but they require protection from frosts. We see among 

 the last blossoms of the season, the aster, and some other compound 

 flowers ; these seem for a time to endure the autumnal blasts, but 

 they gradually give way to the reign of winter ; while the desolate 

 fields and meadows present but a gloomy contrast to their former 

 verdant and glowing appearance. 



Evergreens. 



During the season of winter in our climate, no flowers appear, ex- 

 Autumnal flowers — Are they proper for first lessons in analysis? — Wliich is most 



difficult to ascertain, tlie genus or species ?— Various flowers of autumn— Last Ho wera 



■of autumn— What flowers appear in winler? 

 18 



