14 PLANTS: THEIR NATURAL GROWTH 



meaning to the costermonger, is perverted by him into Sparrowgrass, a name that is in reality 

 and entirely meaningless. 



The Evening Primrose, or Evening Star (CEnotkera biennis, fig. 40), though really a 

 North American plant, appears to be fully establishing itself in many parts of England. Its only 

 title to the name of Primrose consists in the delicate yellow of the large and fragrant flowers : it 

 is, in all other respects, very different to the true Primrose (Primula vulgaris). It flowers 

 throughout the summer and autumn, the blossoms opening in the evening. It has long been 

 cultivated in gardens, but it is not known at what period precisely it was introduced into Eng- 

 land. Parkinson, in his Garden of Pleasant Flowers, published in 1679, is the first author who 

 refers to it In that book it is called the Tree Primrose of Virginia. It first reached Europe 

 in 161 9, plants in that year being sent from Virginia to Padua. The poet Barton (i 784-1849) 

 thus alludes to it — 



" Fair flower, that shunn'st the glare of day. 

 Yet lov'st to open, meekly bold, 

 To evening's hues of sober grey 

 Thy cup of paly gold." 



It is a highly ornamental plant, and one well worthy the regard of the ornamentist. 



The Ginkgo (Salisburia adiantifolia, fig. 41) is a native of China ; there is a great variety 

 of form in the foliage, though all the forms agree in general character. It is sufficiently hardy to 

 stand our climate — the flourishing tree from whence this leaf was taken being in the open border 

 at Kew. The leaf is very similar in form to that so characteristic of the Adiantum Ferns, of 

 which the Adiantum Capillus- Veneris, or Maiden-hair, is a familiar species, hence the specific 

 name adiantifolia. 



The Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara, fig, 42) is very conspicuous from its large leaves on 

 most waste ground of a gravelly or clayey nature. The flowers, large and of a golden yellow, 

 appear in early spring before the leaves are developed. It has many synonyms in rural districts, 

 as, for instance. Cough-wort, from its supposed medicinal qualities; Foal's-foot, Horse-heof, BuU's- 

 foot, from the shape of the leaf A plant admirably adapted for stone-carving, though we are 

 unable to cite any instance of its application to decorative art. 



Black Bryony ( Tamus communis, fig. 43). This striking plant is not uncommon in our 

 hedge-rows and thickets, though it does not occur in either Scotland or Ireland. It is a doubtful 

 native. The flowers are greenish white : the berries that succeed them, a brilliant red. Its long 

 trailing stems and masses of large glossy leaves make it one of the most ornamental plants of the 

 hedge-row, and one every way worthy of the ornamentist's regard. It must not be confused, from 

 similarity of name, with the White Bryony (Bryonia dioica, fig. 90), another equally beautiful 

 hedge-climber, but of very different form in all its parts to the Black Bryony, our present plant. 



PLATE B. 



" The Lord is good to all ; and His tender mercies are over all His works." — PsalM cxlv 9. 



" Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : and yet I say unto you, that even 

 Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." — Matt, vi 28, 29. 



The opening buds of spring frequently present very beautiful and suggestive forms : of 

 these the Sycamore is a very good example. Two views of the same bud are shown in figs. 48 and 

 59. The imbricated arrangement (Lat. imbrex, a tile, overlapping like the tiles of a roof) of the 

 scales, and their gradual increase in size, are note-worthy points, as also the abrupt transition from 

 scaly to true foliate form. The Horse Chestnut bud (JEscuIus Hippocastanum) affords another 

 very beautiful study of form and development of growth. The arrangements of young leaves 

 within their buds, or as it is technically termed, vernation, are often very curious. Several very 

 distinct varieties of arrangement are to be found ; thus in the Sycamore, our present plant, the 

 vernation is plicate — from the 'LzX... plica, a fold — the parts being folded together, like a closed 

 fan. The Vine is another instance of this plicate arrangement. In Ferns, the vernation is a very 

 characteristic feature : it is termed circinate (Lat. circinatus; rounded), the whole leaf, from 

 apex to base, being tightly rolled into a spiral and rounded mass. Many other such distinctive 

 forms of growth are recognised ; but a due consideration of the space at our disposal compels us 

 to abstain from any further comment, lest haply, in endeavouring to exhaust our subject, we may 

 still more effectually succeed in exhausting our readers. Scales are rudimentary leaves : we may, 

 therefore, in the Sycamore, as in most other plants, meet with transitional forms. The function 

 of the scales is to protect the tender bud during the cold of winter, hence the plants of cold 



