Part 46

*Trailing Arbutus.* Epigæa repens. *May flower.* *Ground Laurel.*

Found in the woods, or clearings near woods, and upland pastures, during April. It particularly favors pine woods.

The branching leafy stalk is low, and trailing close to the ground under dry leaves and dead grass; it is tough and woody-fibred, and rough-hairy to the touch; rather slender. Its color is rusty brown, and very rich in tone.

The oval leaf is heart-shaped at the base, with a strong midrib which is somewhat taut and gives the entire margin usually an undulating character; the fibre is tough, and rough to the touch. The color is a strong positive green, more or less worm-eaten, and rust-spotted; it is evergreen. The leaves are set, on slender rough stems, alternately, at irregular intervals, and more closely near the flowers. The new leaves come after the blossoming time.

The flower has a tubular corolla, spreading into 5 rounded points; its color varies from an exquisite white to a deeply tinted rose; the inconspicuous stamens show only as a feathery, pale yellow ring in the centre. The 5-parted, pale green calyx is set around with 5 similar leafy bracts. The blossoms, on their little foot-stems, are gathered in close clusters along the ends of the stalk and branches. They exhale a sweet and spicy fragrance.

The plant, with its green and rusty leaves, hugs the earth so closely that often only the tips of the flowery clusters show here and there among the dried leaves, which almost conceal them from their friendly enemies, whose love of their beauty knows no better manner of exhibiting itself than by tearing the vine up by its roots. This selfish ignorance is fast exterminating the lovely flower in the populous districts of New England,--already it has become in certain place as mere tradition. As though in revenge, nature keeps fast the secret of its growth, and the Arbutus refuses to live in man’s care for more than one or two seasons.

*Cassandra.* Cassandra calyculata. *Leather-leaf.*

Found in April and May, in marshes and swamps, sometimes standing in water to the depth of two feet.

This shrub, about 3 or 4 feet high, branches often, and is tough-fibred; the bark when new is smooth, but is inclined to become frayed and to split when it is old. The color is brown, of a golden hue.

The leaf is oval, widest near the tip, the midrib is prominent beneath, the margin is entire and slightly thickened on the edge, the texture is coarse grained and tough, but not thick; while the upper surface is smooth and shining, the underside is dull. It is evergreen; in color green, rusty underneath. The arrangement is alternate, and close together, and the leaves are so set as to point upwards; their short stems are often reddish.

The corolla is a small 5-pointed bell, curved inwards at the throat and spreading its points to show the thread-like, green pistil; of a fine smooth texture and pure white; the 5-parted calyx is curved closely to the bell,--white, or yellow, or tawny-tinted; at its base are found 2 little rusty, or white bracts. The flowers are set on short rusty stems which grow from the angles of the leaves, and turn downward.

It is worth the effort to discover the shy Cassandra’s haunts, in order to see the bush, its slender branches set close with pretty hanging bells beneath the alert leaves, that stand upright above them, in watchful military rows.

*Marsh Andromeda.* Andromeda polifolia. *Wild Rosemary.*

Found in swamps and marsh lands, in May.

This shrub grows between 1 and 2 feet high; it is branching, leafy, and slender, with a woody fibre. The bark on the young shoots is smooth and firm, when old it is rough and inclined to split.

The leaf is evergreen. In shape it is long and needle-like, a resemblance caused by its closely rolled edges which give it a stiff erectness of bearing; the texture is firm and dry, its upper surface being slightly grained, though it is smooth underneath. In color it is a dark, rich green, pale beneath. The leaves are set, on very short tawny stems, close together, and alternately.

The mouth of the small bell-shaped flower is almost closed; its oval form is diversified by the little pinched folds which run up from between its 5 little tips. In color it is a rosy tinted white; the little 5-parted calyx being colored like the corolla. The bells are set on short white foot-stems that are enfolded by tiny greenish-pink bracts; they are close gathered in small groups, and nod at the ends of the branches.

The fine-pointed leaves, whatever the angle from which they spring, all turn upward, giving a curious flat and conventionally decorative effect to the branches.

*Privet Andromeda.* Andromeda ligustrina.

Found in moist wayside thickets and swamps; blossoming in June.

The tough, woody stalk, erect, branching, and leafy, is covered with a smooth, light gray bark. It grows from 3 to 6, or more, feet in height.

The small leaves are from 1 to 2 inches long, tapering at both ends; they are alternate, on very short foot-stems. The margin is entire, or very finely notched, surface smooth, and texture firm. Color, green.

The small, bell-shaped flower is nearly round, with 5 tiny, recurved points at the top. It is inconspicuous in color, being of a dull greenish white, the tawny stamens showing within. The flowers, on short, curved stems, hang from one side of the twigs, on the ends of the branches.

The seed-case is small, round, brown, and 5-parted; it is especially noticeable in winter and early spring, and is at all times more attractive to the eye than the colorless flowers,--it adds a graceful touch to the winter bouquet gathered by the twig-loving wayfarer.

*Pink Azalea.* Rhododendron nudiflorum. *Swamp Pink.* *Honeysuckle.*

Found in swamps, moist woods, and on hillsides in May.

This woody-fibred, branching, and leafy shrub, varies in height from 3 to 6 feet; it has a light, warm-gray bark, nearly smooth to the touch.

The charming leaf is oval in shape, tapering at both ends, with an entire margin; its texture is thin, and the fine surface bears a few soft short scattering hairs. In color it is a light pure golden green. The growth is alternate, and somewhat clustering.