. St. Nicholas [serial] . oung beech-growth for instance,while the ginseng chooses moister places. The little goldthread (Coptis trifolia, crowfootfamily, the English name coming from thebright yellow, thread-like roots) is so small, sofine and delicate in growth, and so near theground, that without looking closely you willscarcely notice it. The whole tiny plant (it isonly four inches high) seems to shine; thepetals look as if polished ; the stamens are likespun glass. The leaves shine ; they have threerounded leaflets, notched along the edge with 646 IN THE WOODS THE FLOWERS OF MAY. [May, sl
. St. Nicholas [serial] . oung beech-growth for instance,while the ginseng chooses moister places. The little goldthread (Coptis trifolia, crowfootfamily, the English name coming from thebright yellow, thread-like roots) is so small, sofine and delicate in growth, and so near theground, that without looking closely you willscarcely notice it. The whole tiny plant (it isonly four inches high) seems to shine; thepetals look as if polished ; the stamens are likespun glass. The leaves shine ; they have threerounded leaflets, notched along the edge with 646 IN THE WOODS THE FLOWERS OF MAY. [May, slender, juicy stems, lookingsomewhat like young celeryplants in the garden. Theplant is evergreen, and youcan find the bright-greenleaves under the snow. The maianthemum (Mai-anthemum Canadejise,\\\y fam-ily) takes us back to the openpastures, where it grows inclose colonies through thesweet-fern, and about oldstumps and ant-hills. It is asmall plant, about five incheshigh. The creamy white flow-ers grow in a sort of close. spike or raceme; the leaves arebroad and shining, of a beautifulwarm green. It is pretty stiff ingrowth, but this is made up forby its lovely contrast of color. Ido not know any English namefor the maianthemum, though itis sometimes mistakenly calledwild lily-of-the-valley from itsbroad, smooth leaves. False miterwort is too clumsy DVVAKF GINSENG. 1902.] IN THE WOODS THE FLOWERS OF MAY. 647 downy, shaped a little like those of thewhite maple, and the stems have softwhite hairs. The flowers are pure white,with ten long, slender stamens, andbright yellow or orange anthers, grow-ing in an open raceme. Anything moregraceful, more feathery and delicate, itwould be impossible to imagine; it isas if the fairies breath had crystallizedof a moonlight night. All through May the wild flowers arealmost countless, each more lovely than
Size: 1326px × 1883px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidstnicholasserial292dodg
