BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
301 
“ Instinct with life thy fibrous root, 
Which sends from earth th’ ascending shoot. 
As rising from the dead, 
And fills thy veins with verdant juice, 
Charged thy fair blossoms to produce, 
And berries scarlet red. 
“Who forms thee thus with unseen baud ; 
Who at creation gave command, 
And will’d thee thus to be ; 
And keeps thee still in being, through 
Age after age revolving, who 
But the Great God is He ? 
“ Yes ! He who made and fosters thee, 
In Reason’s eye perforce must be 
Of majesty divine: 
Nor deems she that his guardian care 
Will He in man’s support forbear, 
Who thus provides for thine.” 
2. — SOLOMON’S SEAL. (Convallaria multiflora, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 279 ; 2nd ed., t. 493 ; and owe fig. 3, in PI. 60. 
Specific Character. —Leaves alternate, clasping the round stem. Stalks axillary, many-flowered. Stamens downy. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This species is common in many parts of England. Its stems rise from a foot to 
eighteen inches high, and its flowers are white, tipped with green. The berries are blackish. The name of 
Solomon’s Seal alludes to the root, which, when cut, shows a curious mark, like a Hebrew letter. 
THE ANGULAR SOLOMON’S SEAL. (C. polygonatum, Liu.) 
This species bears considerable resemblance to the last, but the flowers are larger, more fragrant, and solitary, 
or in pairs, and the stem is angular, instead of round. The flowers appear in May and June, and they are suc¬ 
ceeded by berries that are quite black. This species is comparatively rare, as it is only found in woods in moun¬ 
tainous situations. The young shoots of both this and the preceding species may be eaten like Asparagus, and 
their underground stems, which are large and fleshy, are very good to eat when baked. 
THE NARROW-LEAVED SOLOMON’S SEAL. (C. verticillata, Lin.) 
The stems of this species are two or three feet high, and naked below, though they are clothed with whorls of 
leaves in the upper part. The flowers, which are small, appear in June, and the berries are blue. 
GE^US IX. 
THE BUTCHER’S BROOM. (Ruscus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DICECIA TRIANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Sepals three. Petals three, spreading. Filaments united in a tube, which is either with or without anthers. Style one. 
Stigma one. Berry globose, three-celled, with two-seeded cells. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c.— The name of Ruscus is said to have been derived from two Celtic words, signifying 
Box Holly. 
1.—THE COMMON BUTCHER’S BROOM. (Ruscus aculeatus, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 560 ; 2nd. ed., t. 1385 ; and our fig. 5, in PI. 60. 
Specific Character. —Leaves ovate, sharp-pointed, flowering on the upper side without a leaflet. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This very curious plant affords a striking illustration of the theory, which states that 
