OF THE INVOLUCRUM. 547 



would surely be more proper than involu- 

 crum or involuceUum^ as is evident from 

 a consideration of the inflorescence of the 

 whole genus, so very different in different 

 species. In E. Peplis, and many others^ 

 the flowers are solitary and axillary ; in 

 others again, as E. amygdaloides, Engl. 

 Hot. t. 256, and Characias, t. 44^, some 

 flower-stalks are umbellate, some scattered; 

 and the subdivisions of the umbel in all 

 are ultimately forked, that is, of a nature 

 betvreen umbellate and scattered. This 

 genus has, moreover, a proper calyx or 

 perianthium of a most distinct and pecu- 

 liar nature. Some species o^ Anemone^ a 

 genus destitute of a 'perianthium^ are said 

 by Linnaius to have an involucrum^ as 

 A. Pidsatilla, t. 51, for which the name 

 of hractea would be vastly more correct, 

 though in A, Hepatica, Curt. Mag. t. 10, 

 it is placed so near the flower as to seem a 

 part of it, which, however, is really not the 

 case. 



The name of Invohicrum is applied by 

 Gleditsch to the membrane covering the 

 fructification of ferns,/. 144, 145 ; nor have I, 

 8 



