238 



HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



n 





.^x 



Nature's plants which she has restricted 



a to these gardens, the stately Xero- 



Y phyUum setifolium. The fiower- 



>J ., ing stem arises from a thick mass 



;U'V" j of long, grass-like leaves to the 



height of three or four feet, 



and is surmounted with a large 



globular head of showy white 



flowers. 



Until recently this fine plant 

 lias stood with Nuttall's name {X. 

 a.phodeloides), but in the " Revision 

 of the North American Liliacese," by 

 Professor Watson, of Harvard, we 

 find he has restored Michaux's name 

 f setifolium. Of the smaller shrubs 

 now in bloom we find the sand- 

 myrtle, with its terminal umbel -like 

 clusters of small, pinkish flowers, 

 and gaylussacia (named in honor 

 of the distinguished chemist Gray- 

 Lussac), with its lovely racemes 

 of open bell -shaped white and 

 pink flowers. The pitcher-plant 

 and golden-winged iris also add 

 their charms to this May-day attire. 

 As summer advances we find a 

 constant succession of beautiful shrubs 

 and herbaceous plants, the fragrant 



