Evening journal., 1902-04-14
STORY OF KARhY
SPRING FLOWERS
Delaware College Nature
Study Will be Con-
tinued

From the Delaware College nature
study department the following inter- I
,stlng article on Spring Flowem' Is
received:
After the appearance Of the vilely-
named. interesting "skunks' cabbage
In early March there is an interval of
a few weeks when a few blossoms are
seen and those OF such a nature as not
to attract those who seek for beauty
only in flowers.
Few people there are who do not adj
mlre the beauty OF the blossoms that
tell MS that the soil has really begun
to get warm enough TO start the Sleep
ing roots into renewed life. Most OF
us will 30 on appreciatlng their at
tractive colors and delicate grace With
out thinking OF the more minute points
of structure and the reasons why the
plants with their flowers exist at all.
But closer examination of the
parts of the flower and plant would
not only lessen their aesthetic value
to us. but positively add to our interest
and increase our appreciation.
How many have thought of the sig
lnincant fact that none OF the early
blooms come from plants that have
grown from seeds this season? In
order that these blossoms may APP
pear thus early before the soil Is
warmeu below its surface layers. there
lis necessary q store of food laid up
in such form that it may readily be
made available by the first warm rays
OF the SUM- II we examine the under
ground portiOnOf such plants as Hepat-
lea. bl0odrOot, dentaria. Dutchman's
breeches. dogs tooth violet. and others,
we shall find either a bulb or similar
structure. or n mass OF thick neshy
roots In which Is stored the food
which enables the plant to send up iis
first leaves and flowers. and produce
It's seed before the soil whore Il grows
lis thoroughly shaded and It's place
contested By the plants that come with
increasing heat II the early flowers
appear on shrubs or trees you may be
suro that the buds from which thoy
spring were formed during the previous
summer and that stored up I'm tho
branches is a plentiful supply OF
staunch or some similar material ready
TO be easily transformed into food FOR
the little flowers.
When the air has been really warm
for a few days and you have a severe
attack of Spring fever" take a walk
into the nearest piece of woodland and
there on some sunny bank facing the
south or west look for the blue eyes OF
the hepatica. You may find one, two
or half a dozen. funny little stems
two or three inches high. each bearing
on its summit a single flower. usually
blue or purple, but sometimes fading
almost to white The old battered.
three-lobed leaves that have with
stood the winters storm, still remain
almost or quite fiat on the ground,
showing az least on their lower sides
the dark reddish color which may have
suggested the name of "liver-leaf." +"
such an ugly name that we prefer TO
call tho plant by its scientific name,
hepatica.
DO not mistake the three green leaves
OF the involucre Just below the six
purple sepals. for a calyx. but note
that these leaves are not q part of the
flower. and are separated from it by
a very short stem. In the centre OF
the flower you will find the cluster OF
Distils. each forming later single
seed. and just inside the pretty sepals.
the ring or little stamens that furnish.
the pollen for fertilization
One plant you may take up by the
roots TO see where the food was laid
away, but always remember that
another spring is coming and that
other people II not yourself may again
visit the spot and be delighted by these
forerunners of summer. and should you
tear up the roots Of many plants. You
would by so much reduce the possibili-
ties for the increase OF this none too
plentiful plant
A few DAYS after finding your first
hepaticas or II you are little late in
hunting for them. on the same day and
perhaps very close at hand, you will
find the dazzling white blossoms or
the bloodroot. In some OF the plants
you can see how the one large, seal
loped leaf folds around and protects
the flower bud as they together push
Through the rough soil. Look at the
underground parts and see how the
This q