16 Nature threatened 
Plants 
Many plants are threatened with 
extinction, some by thoughtlessness 
and others by trade. Every Sunday, 
crowds return from excursions bearing 
great bundles of flowers destined to 
wither in a few hours, or even to 
be thrown carelessly by the roadside. 
People have not yet learned that nature 
can be best appreciated in her secluded 
haunts, and that her treasures are too 
sacred to be carried into the withering 
atmosphere of the city. They should 
always remember that, whilst thou- 
sands may look at a beautiful plant, 
only one may pluck it. Some species 
which are especially subject to extir- 
pation may be mentioned here. 
The parsley fern {Cryptogramme 
crispd) is frequently removed in great 
quantities from its native haunts in 
