LEAVES FROM AN APRIL JOURNAL. 5 1 



below; these, in turn, drawing from still lower 

 cells, and so on, thus effecting a steady flow 

 upward, from the little fibers underground, to the 

 smallest tooth-point of the leaf above. Veritable 

 fountains are these trees, which are now beginning 

 to throw up green spray and clouds of blossom. 



Those sessile clusters of bright yellow flowers on 

 the spice bush (Lindera Benzoin) are very pretty 

 and conspicuous against the almost black bark of 

 that shrub. It is the earliest non-catkin-bearing 

 shrub of this woodland. The aromatic blossoms 

 have the odor of an apothecary shop, and appear 

 several weeks before the leaves. A simple magni- 

 fier discloses the curious arrangement of the flower 

 which has really no corolla, it being the six parted 

 calyx which is so brightly yellow, and which answers 

 the purpose of attracting the honey and pollen 

 gatherers. The flowers are not all perfect on each 

 individual plant. On some there is a majority of 

 pistillate blossoms with a great many abortive 

 stamens crowded around the well-developed ovary 

 and stigma ; while on other branches there is a 

 larger number of flowers having nine complete 

 stamens, but no pistil. The anthers have two cells, 

 the doors of which are already opened and turned 

 over the apex of the anther, with the pollen grains 



