It is a great delight to discover this dainty plant. It is not very
common, but in summer and autumn you find it blooming on heaths in many
parts of the country.
The Wintergreen flowers are not unlike Lily-of-the-Valley. They are
delicate, creamy white bells, which hang from short drooping stalks near
the top of a slender stem.
These bells have five ivory petals slightly tinged with pink, which form
a dainty fairy cup.
Within the cup there is a ring of ten stamens with heavy yellow-heads,
clustered round the tip of the green seed-vessel. This green tip rises
in the centre, like a slender pillar, a good way above the stamens.
Behind the ivory cup is a green star, with five points. These points are
the sepals. Notice that wherever a flower-stalk joins the main stem a
tiny pointed green leaf appears.
The soft juicy stem is twisted near the top and is four-sided. It grows
straight from the root.
The dark glossy leaves of the Wintergreen are spoon-shaped, with wavy
edges. They spring from the ground with very short stalks, and they
remain on the plant all winter.
PLATE XXV: 1. GRASS OF PARNASSUS. 2. COMMON BLADDER CAMPION.
3. SEA CAMPION.