214 the associations of flowers 
day;, we shall not fail to find some one species or other 
of St. John's wort growing in plenty. The kind to which 
the motto of this chapter particularly refers is very com- 
mon; and we could hardly find a spot in the land, over 
whose lap summer had strewed her blossoms, where either 
this or the next-mentioned kind may not be seen. This 
is the small upright St. John's wort. It grows most fre- 
quently upon dry banks and heaths. The other most 
common sort is the perforated St. John’s wort (Hypericum 
perforatum), which is much larger than the former, but 
has not so great a proportion of flowers. The corolla, as 
w^ell as the foliage of this flower, is often so covered with 
minute dots that, if Ave only observed it casually, we might 
suppose it to be a plant that had been injured by insects. 
Some handsome species of the St. John’s wort are found 
upon gravelly heaths; some upon stone walls; others in 
muddy bogs — each, though in general appearance much 
alike, yet bearing some features of difference which enable 
the botanist, when he sees the plant, to state the probable 
nature of the soil whence it was derived. 
Whoever occupies himself with wild plants soon be- 
comes interested in observing their places of growth — 
habitats, as botanists call them. Some of these are very 
constant. ¥/ho ever thinks of finding the lily of the valley 
growing wild in any spot but the wood or the sheltered 
bank; or if he meet wdth it in a garden, does not think 
how far more lovely it w'ould appear were its bells swing- 
ing in the quiet seclusion of the woodland ? Who ever 
expects to find the wood-sorrel lifting up its pencilled 
flower among the grass of the meadow? The yellow 
poppy of the sea-side never flaunts its showy head by the 
side of the silver streamlet; nor does the aquatic lily cast 
her shadow upon the waters of the ocean. Some plants, 
however, will flourish on any spot. To the nettle no soil 
or climate is unfriendly ; and of any place which plants 
can inhabit it takes possession. In the thickest and 
dampest parts of the forest; on the dry rock or wall, 
which can afford sustenance to little else than moss or 
lichen; on sunny bank, or on the borders of the cool 
rivulet — the nettle may be found everywhere; unhurt by 
the ice and snow of northern regions, and gathering vi- 
gour from the rays of a tropical sun, to rise to the size 
