VEEK AL FLO WEES. 
197 
is among the earliest flowers of spring. The garden violet ap 
pears in bloom ; the Yiola rotundifoUa^ or yellow violet^ with 
leaves lying close to the ground, is found in the meadows. 
Several species of Carex are now in blossom ; the trailing 
arbutus (Epigea repens) and the Teillium decorate the woods. 
300. In May many species of the Viola appear ; as there is 
sometimes a difficulty in determining between these species, the 
study of the natural characters is the more important ; if the 
student cannot fully determine the species of a plant, it is much 
to know its genus and natural family ; the Violaceco can scarce- 
ly be mistaken. One of the most interesting lowers of this sea- 
son found in woods and meadows, is the Anemone Virgin- 
iana^ the wind-flower^ a name given as some say because 
the flower expands only in windy weather ; but as another rea 
son might be given, its very caducous petals which are swept 
away by the lightest zephyr ; the petals are large and white, 
the stem grows to the hight of two or three feet, and contaiiis 
one terminal flower. Several other species of the Anemone are 
in blossom about this time. 
The Xylosteum^ or flAj-honeymcMe may be found by the side 
of brooks ; this is a shrub with blossoms growing in pairs ; the 
UvuLAEiA, a plant of the lily family having a yellow blossom, 
grows in the woods ; the strawberry is now found, with its nu- 
merous stamens growing on the calyx ; it has also many styles, 
each one bearing a seed. The Abonia is an early flower ; a 
species of this, the shad-blossom^ is not unfrequently found in 
April ; this is a large shrub, often growing upon the banks of 
brooks, with white petals clustering together in the form of a 
raceme. Many of the mosses are now in blossom ; these are in- 
teresting subjects of study, though their structure is not so well 
understood as that of the phonogamous plants. It may sur- 
prise the beginner in Botany to learn that mosses have blos- 
soms ; science teaches us that every plant has its own perfec- 
tion, is good after its kind, and " its seed is in itself." The 
Aeum, or wild turnip^ is now found in shady places ; the root 
is valuable in medicine. The Calla palustris^ or water arum^ 
abounds in wet grounds. The Aquilegia, or wild columbine^ 
with its horned nectaries, is found hanging in rich clusters 
from the clefts of rocks. Among the early garden flowers are 
the snow-drop,^ crocus^ crown-imperial^ violet^ primula^ !poly 
anthus, daffodil^ narcissus^ &c. 
301. Flowers of Summer, — The plants which are now in 
blossom are very numerous ; we will mention a few of the most 
common and interesting. A well-known shrub, the elder (Sam- 
300. Flowers of May— Viola— Anemone, &c.— Mosses now in bloom— Wild turnip, &o,— 
Flowers of Summer. 
