36 . SWEET WIXTERGREEJ^. 



All bright, and fresh, and glossy, our Wintergrecns come forth as 

 though they had been perfecting their toilet within the sheltering 

 canopy of their snowy chambers, to do honour to the new-born year 

 just awakening from her icy sleep. 



P. eUiptica forms extensive beds in the forest, the roots creeping 

 with running subterranean shoots which send up clusters of ever- 

 green leaves, slightly waved and scalloped at the edges, of a deep 

 irlossv sreen and thin in texture. 



The name Pyrola is derived from a fancied likeness in the foliage 

 to that of the Pear, but this is not very obvious, nevertheless we will 

 not cavil at it, for it is a pretty sounding word, far better than many 

 a one that has been bestowed upon our showy wild flowers, in com- 

 pliment to the person that first brought them into notice. 



The pale-greenish white flower of our Pyrola forms a tall terminal 

 raceme, the five round petals are hollow: each blossom set on a 

 slender pedicle, at the base of which is a small pointed bract • the 

 anthers are of a reddish orange colour, the stamens ascendino* in a 

 cluster, while the long style is declined, forming a figure somewhat 

 like the letter J. The seed vessel is ribbed berry-shaped, slightly 

 flattened and turbinate ; when dry, the light chaflPy seeds escape 

 through valves at the sides. The dry style in this and most of the 

 genus remain persistent on the capsule. 



The number 5 prevails in this plant: the calyx is 5 parted- 

 petals 5 ; stamens 10, or twice five ; stigma one, but 5 rayed ; 5 knobs 

 or tubercles at the apex ; seed-vessel 5.celled and 5-valved. The 

 flowers arc generally from 5 to 10 on the scape. Most of our Pyrolas 

 are remarkable for the rich fragrance of their flowers especially P 

 rotundifolf'a, P. elh'ptica, P. incarnata and P. minor. 



