EVERGREENS. 
199 
recovered energy she soon begins to spread forth new beauties, 
and to deck herself in her most gorgeous attire. 
303. The autumnal flowers differ in appearance from those 
which we find in the earliest part of the season. Few exam- 
ples of the Composites occur until the latter part of July and 
beginning of August. There is little difficulty in learning to 
distinguish the different genera of this vast natural order, as an 
Aster^ a SoUdago^ or a HeliantJius. These genera contain 
numerous species not always clearly defined. Tlie student 
will learn that there is some confusion among botanical writ- 
ers, and must acquire independence of opinion by close research 
into the book of nature, which contains no errors. Among the 
fine flowers which autumn presents are the scarlet Lobelia, or 
cardinal flower ^ the yellow Geeardia {false fodo-glove\ and the 
sunfloioer {Helianthus). The Linn^ea horealis is found in 
September ; at this time the white fond-lily (J^ymphjea), one 
of the most splendid of American flowers is seen whitening 
the surface of the lakes and ponds, sometimes alternating with 
the yellow water-lily (ISTuphar), a flower of less striking elegance 
than the former, but not less curious in its form. Another 
aquatic plant, which, although it blossoms in summer contin- 
ues in flower until late in the autumn, is the Sagittaria, or 
arrow-head^ with a calyx of three sepals, and three white pet- 
als. The Eujpatoriiim^ or thorough-wort^ which blossoms in 
autumn has no external 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 gay 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 kindred 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 once verdant and glowing appearance.* 
304. Evergreens. — During the season of winter in our cli- 
mate, few flowers appear, except on such plants as are shielded 
from the inclemency of the weather ; even the green-house 
plants can scarcely be made to blossom. The leaves of decidu- 
ous trees, and the stems of all annual plants are dead ; some 
hardy evergreens retain their cheerful verdure. At Christmas, 
the foliage of the laiirel^ pine.^ spruce.^ and the beautiful running 
or ground-pine (Lycopodium), belonging to the family of Ferns, 
* At an tlevation of several hundred feet above the water level, in latitude 39°, at the Patapsco 
Institute, near Baltimore, Chinese roses have continued to blossom in the open air as late as tlie first ot 
December 
303 Autumnal flowers -Which is most difficult to ascertain, the senus or species .'—Lobelia Oe- 
iwdia &t.— 304. Vegetation ia winter. 
