52 
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
FLOS ADONIS (Adonis autumnalis) . Painful recollections. 
Adonis was killed by a wild boar. Venus, who had 
left for him the delights of Cythera, shed tears over his 
fate: they were not lost; the earth received them, and 
immediately produced a slender plant covered with 
flowers like drops of blood. 
LOCUST (Ilobinia pseudo-acacia). Platonic love. 
This fine tree was carried from America to France, 
more than a century ago, by the botanist Robin, who 
gave it his name. Its foliage is exceedingly light and 
fresh, and its white, drooping flowers very fragrant. The 
Indians are said to have made bows of its wood, and 
buried their dead under its shade. 
