Flora's Lexicon/Convolvulus-2

by Catharine Harbeson Waterman

ONVOLVULUS. WHITE BINDWEED. Calystegia Sepium. Class 5, Pentandria. Order: Monogynia. This perennial twiner is a species of convolvulus, and is a very troublesome plant in the cornfield, where it is very commonly found. It is a simple flower; and probably on account of this quality it has been made the emblem of humility.

HUMILITY.

Lady, I dwell in the shady wood, Beneath the ancient trees;And I hang o’er gnarled bole and branch My dainty tapestries.

I lie on my couch of arrowy leaves, And slumber with closed eye,And only look out from my curtain’d bower, When the sun is rising high.

O’er bank and hedge, like a fairy camp, Gleam tent-like flowers of mine;And elvish folk lie basking there, All through the noontide shine.

I love the river’s sedgy bank, Where purple loose-strife bends,Near fleur-de-lis, and meadow-sweet, All those dear ancient friends.

I love to twine around them all, And with fond arms to clingAround the cluster’d stems and flowers In many a mazy ring.

Twamley