OF THE INVOLUCRUM. I99 



after having first explained all the parts of fructifica- 

 tion. 



In Euphorbia, however, the term bractea would 

 surely be more proper than involucrum or involucel 

 liim, as is evident from a consideration of the inflores- 

 cence of the whole genus, so very different in different, 

 species. In E. Peplis, and many otiiers, the flowers 

 are solitary and axillary ; in others again, as E. 

 amygdaloides, Engl. Bot. t. 256, and Characias, t. 

 442, some flower-stalks are umbellate, some scatter 

 ed ; and the subdivisions of the umbel in all are ulti- 

 mately forked, that is, of a nature between umbellate 

 and scattered. This genus has, moreover, a proper 

 calyx or penanthlum of a most distinct and peculiar 

 nature. Some species o{ Anemone, a genus destitute 

 of a perianthium, are said by Linnaeus to have an invo- 

 lucrum, as A. Pulsatilla, t. S\, for which the name of 

 bractea would be vastly more correct, thouo-h in A. 

 Hepatica, Curt. Mag. t. 10, it is placed so near the 

 flower as to seem a part of it, which, however, is real- 

 ly not the case. 



The name of Involucrum is applied by Gleditsch 

 to the membrane covering the fructification of ferns, 

 / 144, 145 ; nor have I, in studying this part with pe- 

 culiar attention, in order to reform the genera of these 

 plants, see Tracts relating to Natural History, p. 215, 

 found reason to contrive any new appellation. My 

 learned friends Willdenow and Svvartz have judged 

 otherwise, calling this membrane the indusium, or 

 covering; which seems to me altogether superfluous. 



See its various forms in Engl. Bot. t. 1458 60 



1150, 1159, 1160, &:c. 



