254 
FLOWERING OF PLANTS. 
er, and vegetation is somewhat earlier than in New England in 
the same latitude. 
In some cases, a plant puts forth leaves and blossoms at the 
same time ; but usually, the leaves appear before the flowers, 
probably having a greater force to draw up the sap than the 
flowers, in which it rises by slow degrees. We see little appear- 
ance of vegetable life as early as March ; sometimes snow cov- 
ers the ground nearly or quite. through the month ; but if we 
examine the trees and shrubs, even then, we shall see the leaf 
buds swelling, and ready to expand with the first vivifying in- 
fluences of heat. 
VERNAL FLOWERS. 
In April, the leaves of trees and shrubs begin to put forth ; 
a few flowers show themselves, amid the damp chilly atmos- 
phere with which they are surrounded ; among the most inter- 
esting of these harbingers of spring is the Hepatica triloba , or 
liver-leaf; a lowly, modest flower, of a pale blue colour, with 
beautifully formed three-lobed leaves. 
The low anemone, (Anemone nemorosa ,*) with its pale blos- 
soms, is now found in shady woods and damp pastures. 
Among the blossoms now to be seen are most species of the 
poplar, a plant in the class Monacia, having stamens rnd pistils 
on separate plants. The salix, or willow, is of the same class 
which includes the mournful weeping willow, or Salix tristis , 
sometimes called Salix Babylonica, in allusion to a beautiful pas- 
sage in the Psalms, which represents the children of Israel 
when carried into captivity, as sitting down by the waters of 
Babylon to weep, and hanging their harps on “ willow trees 
that withered there.” 
Among the forest trees now in blossom, are the maple and 
the elm ; in the meadows and moist grounds, the yellow cow- 
slip, (Caltha pahistris ,) a fine example of the class Polyandria ; 
and the adder’s tongue, (Erythronium c/e?is-ca?iis,) having a 
beautiful liliaceous flower, which affords a good example of the 
class Hexandria. 
In woods, and by the sides of brooks, is to be seen the san- 
guinaria or blood-root ; which bears a white blossom, more ele- 
gant and ornamental for a garden, than many flowers which are 
brought from foreign countries, and affording from its root a 
highly valuable medicine. 
♦This little flower I have seen raising its head amid surrounding snows, 
on the banks of the Poesten kiln, a romantic little stream which flows into 
the Hudson, near Troy. 
Little appearance of vegetation in March — Flowers of April — Hepatica — 
Willow— 
