44 SCUTELLARIA WRIGHTII. WRIGHTS SKULLCAP. 



will show, there is scarcely any difference in our species be- 

 tween the base leaves and those at the apex of the flower-stalk. 

 The flowers, therefore, are axillary, that is to say, they appear in 

 the axils of the leaves. But if we sret tosrether a larsfe number 

 of species of the same genus, and arrange them side by side, we 

 may notice a gradual metamorphosis of the leaves towards the 

 apex of the stem, until they become mere bracts at the base of 

 the flower ; and then the inflorescence is no longer said to be 

 " axillary," but is termed " spicate." Proceeding still further 

 with this systematic arrangement, we come to some species in 

 which the upper leaves have almost entirely disappeared, so that 

 the inflorescence is " sub-racemose." In addition to this suppres- 

 sion of the leaves we find sometimes that the elongating develojo- 

 ment of the upper portion of the stem has been wholly arrested, 

 and in that case we have the flowers in heads, or " capitately 

 clustered." This gradual change from axillary flowers to flowers 

 in heads, brought about solely by changes in, or suppression of, 

 the leaves, and by the arrestation of the elongating development, 

 is exceedingly instructive, as it serves to show clearly how the 

 final form is affected by the varying activity of the growth- 

 forces. 



The derivation of the botanical name, Scutellaria, is not quite 

 certain. It is generally supposed to be derived from a Latin 

 word, signifying a little dish or salver, and to allude to the shape 

 of the calyx. Dr. Gray supposes the allusion to be confined to 

 the form of the appendage. 



The English common name of the genus is " Skullcap," from 

 the resemblance of the corolla to a skullcap or helmet. Our 

 species has no special name of its own, and we must therefore 

 be content with a translation of the botanical name. 



Wright's Skullcap thrives very well in gardens, and makes a 

 very neat ornamental plant. The specimen from which our 

 drawina: was made was sirown at the Botanic Garden of Har- 

 vard University, at Cambridge, and was kindly furnished to us 

 by Prof. Sargent. 



