184 



THE AMERICAN 



have two sepals, five small rose-colored petals, 

 five stamens and a pistil with a three-cleft style, 

 and the base or ovary of which becomes a cap- 

 sule or box containing a few small, shining, 

 black seeds. 



[Fig. 115.] 



Claytoiiiii Carol iiilunii. 



The two species resemble each other closely, 

 but are distinguished by the oval pointed leaves 

 and the larger sejjals of Claytonia Caroliniana, 

 Michx., and the long, narrow, nearly grass-like 

 leaves, and short sepals of 6Vai/fom»'a Virginica, 

 Linn. 



The specific names would indicate that one is 

 a Carolinian and the other a Virginian species. 

 In the early history of our country all the At- 

 lantic coast, with the country stretching back 

 indefinitely, was claimed by the English and 

 Fi-ench, under the names of Virginia and Caro- 

 lina. Many of the plants of the New "World 

 were named by Linnoeus from specimens and 

 descriptions sent him by the early explorers, 

 and frequently the portion of country from 

 which they were received was indicated by the 

 specific names we have mentioned. 



One of the plants we have under consideration 

 was named by him Claytonia, in honor of John 

 Clayton, an American Botanist fiien living in 

 Virginia; and the specific name Virginica was 

 applied to indicate the portion of country where 

 it was obtained. The other species was named 

 by a French Botanist, Michaux, probably from 

 specimens procured in that portion of the coun- 

 try then called Carolina. By further explora- 

 tions it was discovered that neither of the specific 

 names were strictly appropriate ; but, according 

 to the prevailing rules, they have to be retained. 



There are several other species of Claytonia 

 in the United States. One (called Claytonia 

 chamissonis, Esch., or C. aquatica, Nutt.) is 

 found in Colorado and other portions of the 



Rocky Mountains. It is very delicate, three to 

 six inches high, with five to ten pairs of leaves, 

 and grows in springs and cold brooks. The 

 stems are weak, reclining, and frequently root- 

 ing at the joints. 



The most singular species we have is a Clay- 

 tonia growing on high peaks in the Rocky 

 Mountains, above the tree limit or timber line, 

 which is generally at an altitude of 12,000 feet or 

 more. It has a thick root, six to twelve inclies 

 long, frequently growing in crevices of rocks 

 and among masses of granite blocks, where it 

 would seem that it could obtain no nourish- 

 ment. From the summit of the root proceeds a 

 mass of leaves and flowering stems. The leaves 

 are three or four inches long, thick and succu- 

 lent, with a broad obovate summit, tapering 

 below to a long, narrow margin. The flowering 

 stems are ranch like those of Claiitonia Caro- 

 liniana, but thicker and more juicy, with rather 

 larger flowers and capsules. Frequently one 

 root produces twenty or thirty leaves and stems. 

 which when in full bloom (about the first of 

 August) presents a beautiful appearance. It is 

 more robust in its habit than any of the genus, 

 and, on account of its long, thick root, was called 

 by Dr. Parry (who discovered it several years 

 ago) Claytonia megarrhiza, or large rooted 

 Claytonia, but Dr. Gray considers it a variety 

 of Claytonia arciica. 



Another Claytonia is found in California and 

 Oregon. In this the pair of stem leaves usually 

 grow together at the base so that they seem to 

 be one leaf with the stem growing through the 

 middle, and hence it is called Claytonia perfoli- 

 ata, Donn. 



THE SOFT MAPLES. 



There are two trees which are indiscrimin- 

 ately called Soft Maple, namely : 1st. The Silver- 

 leaf or White Maple (Acer dasycarpum, Ehrh) ; 

 2d. The Red Maple {A. rubrum, Linn.) They 

 are called Soft Maples on account of the com- 

 parative softness of their wood, which is due 

 to their vigorous and rapid growth. They stand 

 foremost in the rank of trees adapted to cultiva- 

 tion either for the lawn and garden, or for fuel 

 and timber. In general appearance these trees 

 resemble each other so closely that many people 

 fail to disciirainate between them. In order to 

 aid in their distinction we will give a short 

 account of them. 



The Maples, in their flowering arrangement, 

 are polygamous; that is, the flowers may be 

 either perfect, or the staminate or pistillate kinds 

 may be separated in the same or in dififereut 



