EVERGREENS. 
205 
not immediately come forward ;— it would seem as if the earth, hav 
ino- poured forth in i^apid succession innumerable treasures, now re- 
quired a suspension of her efforts ; but with recovered energy, she 
soon begins to spread forth new beauties, and to deck herself in her 
most gorgeous attire. 
LECTURE XXXIX. 
AUTUMNAL FLOWERS — EVERGREENS — ANCIENT SUPERSTITION RESPECTING 
PLANTS — VARIOUS PHENOMENA OF PLANTS. 
The. autumnal flowers differ in appearance from those which we 
find in the earhest part of the season. Few examples of the com- 
pound flowers occur until the latter part of July, and beginning of 
August; — this is fortunate for students just commencing the analy- 
sis of plants ; were they to find only the compound flowers at first, 
they would be discouraged ; but nature seems kindly to lead them on 
step by step, reserving the more difficult plants until they have had 
an opportunity of becoming famihar with the easier classes. 
There is little difficulty in learning to distinguish the different fam- 
ilies of compound flowers ; as an Aster from a Solidago or a Heli- 
anthus. But some of these families contain many species ; and the 
chief difficulty consists, not in finding the genus, but in determining 
the species. Indeed it is not to be concealed, that there is, in this 
part of botanical science, some confusion among writers ; and the 
student must not be discouraged if he is not always able to find his 
plant exactly to coincide with any other species described. 
Among the fine flowers v/hich autumn presents, are the scarlet 
Lobelia, or cardinal flower ; the yellow Gerardia, (false fox-glove,) 
and the noble sun-flower, {Helianthus.) The Linnjea borealis is 
found in September; at this time the white pond-lily, (Nymph^a,) 
one of the most splendid of American flowers, is seen whitening the 
surface of the lakes and ponds, sometimes alternating with the yel- 
low water-lily, (Nuphar,) a flower of less striking elegance than the 
former, but perhaps not less curious in its form. 
Another aquatic plant, which, although it blossoms in summer, 
continues in flower until late in the autumn, is the Sagittaria, or ar- 
row-head, with a calyx of 3 sepals, and three white petals. The Eu- 
patorium, or thorough-wort, which blossoms in autmiin, has no ex- 
ternal beauty to recommend it, but as a remedy in diseases, perhaps 
no plant is more useful. 
Among the exotics which grace the decline of the year, are the 
splendid dahlias ; the g3.y chrysanthemums blossom only on the verge 
of winter, but they require protection from frosts. We see among 
the last blossoms of the season, the aster, and some other compound 
flowers ; these seem for a time to endure the autumnal blasts, but 
they gradually give way to the reign of winter ; while the desolate 
fields and meadows present but a gloomy contrast to their former 
verdant and glowing appearance. 
Evergreens. 
During the season of winter in our climate, no flowers appear, ex- 
Autumnal flowers — Are they proper for first lessons in analysis? — Which is most 
difficult to ascertain, the genus or species ?— Various fjowers of autumn — Last flowers 
of autumn— What flowers appear in winter? 
18 
