82 THE SUN-DEW FAMILY. 



But oh ! approach it not, poor thoughtless fly, 

 Touch but that sparkling trap, and thou must die ! 



THE GRASS OF PABNASSUS. 



. ..." A little flower, milk white, 

 Which sportive fancy often fondly thinks, 

 May once have sprung beneath the Muse's feet, 

 And heard Apollo's Lyre." 



THE GRASS OF PABNASSUS (Parnassia palustris,) 

 bears no resemblance to grass, but lias a delicate white 

 flower, veined with green, about the size of a butter- 

 cup. It has 5 petals, and 5 stamens, with 5 beautiful 

 nectaries, alternate. These nectaries are fringed 

 with white silken hairs, each tipped with a tiny golden 

 ball. These balls are glands, filled with a clear fluid : 

 examine the flower with your lens for every part is 

 very beautiful. The stems are 6 or 10 inches high 

 with heart-shaped leaves, on long footstalks, one 

 (which may be called a bractea) clasps the stem. 

 This plant only grows in bogs and wet places ; and is 

 more frequent in the north. Its name tells us that it 

 sometimes takes an elevated station ; but the plant is 

 by no means peculiar to "Mount Parnassus." The 

 stamens rising forward, to shed their pollen on the 

 stigma, is thus described by Bishop Mant : 



