758 Retrospective Criticism, 



energy had become weakened. — J. E, L. Richmond, York- 

 shire, August 4. 1832. 



The Flowers of Drosera rotundifblia L. expanded, (p. 110.) 

 — In reply to C. P. (p. 110.), I may quote the assertion of 

 Linnaeus, in his Flora Suecica, No. 273., which is thus ex- 

 pressed : — *' Flos mense Julio evigilat hora ix. ; clauditur 

 hora xii. ante meridiem :" " the flower appears in July, and 

 opens at nine in the morning, and shuts at noon." Linnaeus 

 is right, as I have proved in the following manner : — I had 

 gathered the plant many times for three successive years at 

 Lechley Car (the habitat of the rare Scheuchzerz« palustris 

 Z/.), as well as three times this year on a moor near Rich- 

 mond ; but, like C. P. (p. 1 10.), I had never seen an expanded 

 blossom, owing, in my own case, to my not having visited the 

 habitat of the plant at so early an hour as those mentioned 

 by Linnaeus, although, I believe, I have once observed ex- 

 panded flowers on Drosera longif61ia. To facilitate observ- 

 ation, I transferred from their native abode into pots, in my 

 garden, plants of the Drosera rotundifblia; and on July 26., 

 at half-past ten o'clock in the morning I perceived a single 

 flower fully expanded, and at one o'clock the flower closed, as 

 did also four flowers which expanded on the following day, 

 July 27. The divisions of the calyx, when viewed through 

 the microscope, appear extremely cellular, like the leaves and 

 capsules of mosses ; the bracteas also taper into a fine thread- 

 like point, which is tipped with a gland. I suspect, but am 

 not certain, that each blossom expands but once, and that only 

 when the sun shines. In Lindley's Synopsis, the styles are 

 stated to be from three to five in number : they are, I believe, 

 always six. In the Fncyclopcedia of Plants (p. 233.), Drosera 

 rotundifolia ( fig. 3941.) is figured with flowers expanded ; all 

 the old herbalists figure it with flowers unexpanded. — J". F* L, 

 Richmond, Yorkshire, August 4. 1832. 



The Scent of Anemone nemorosa L., and Peculiarities in the 

 Scent of some other Flox<oers. — 



" Thickly strewn in woodland bowers, 

 Anemones their stars unfold." 



Sir, That beautiful little plant, Anemone nemorosa, which 

 studs over the whole surface of the woods in this neighbour- 

 hood with its lively white blossoms, is now in full perfection. 

 I have been looking, with some degree of interest, for the 

 unfolding of its flowers this sprhig, in order to put to the test 

 a remark of Mr. Turner (Vol. IV. p. 442.), who states that 

 " the blossoms of v4nemone nemorosa are very fragrant, so 

 much so, that a wood in which it abounds is as fragrant as a 



