120 WOOD- SORREL FAMILY. 



seed-vessel, is the cause of its distant range, no 

 doubt. It has 5 petals, 5 sepals, 10 stamens, the 

 5 inner ones, larger than the others, anthers distinct 

 and 2 celled. The flowers are of a delicate shade of 

 lilac with purple veins, and hang their heads pen- 

 sively, except for one half hour each morning when 

 they raise them to the sun. This peculiarity has 

 given them the name of "Allelujah," in Italy. 

 Their stalks are brittle, shaded with pink, and the 

 root, (a tuber,) is coral-like in form, and of a clear 

 red. The leaves are of a brilliant green when 

 young on red stalks : spreading in the day-time (if 

 sunny) but folded closely to the stalk, in the early 

 evening hours, or in rainy weather. " They are in 

 form like the Shamrock, and are supposed to be 

 the original shamroy of Ireland, though that name 

 has been long applied to the less beautiful leaf of the 

 white or DUTCH CLOVER." (Trifolium repens). Its 

 name ' Oxalis,' signifies sharp or acid, and it contains 

 a deadly poison called Oxalic Acid ; and yet, so useful 

 is this acid, in many chemical preparations, that we 

 should not wish the little plant to be without it. The 

 leaves have an agreeable acid, and are sometimes 

 put into salads. 



