CINQUEFOIL. 



endowments. Though majestic and briUiant in appearance, 

 the China Aster does not presume to rival the rose, but 

 follows after her when her charms have fled, as if she would 

 console us for her regretted absence. 



CINQUEFOIL {Potentilla).—'^YA.ONYJ^ Daughter. 



There are many species of Potentilla, so named originally 

 on account of its supposed potency in medicine. They 

 all bear in common the English name " Cinquefoil," but our 

 favourite species, we might say our choice favourite, among 

 the whole range of our native plants, is the common 

 Cinquefoil {P. rcptans). This species is not met with every- 

 where ; we were most pleased with it in the neighbourhood 

 of Cambridge, where it somewhat abounds. Our apprecia- 

 tion of it is pretty fully expressed in the following lines, 

 which first appeared in "Favourite Field Flowers:" — 



"How gracefully the Potentilla throws 



Its trailing branches down the rude bank-side, 



Until they kiss the wavelet as it flows 

 O'er pebbles polished by the crystal tide ; 

 Nor there alone it grows, but far and wide 



Its quinate leaves and golden blossoms lay, » 



And deck the borders of each rural way. 



How beautiful its slender stem, imbued 

 With rich fresh tinge of purple blush and green. 



At intervals with fme-cut leaves indued, 



And bright-hued flower rising them between ! 

 No plant more elegant hath ever been 



Within our native sea-girt island found, 



^Mong those Ijy whicli its hills and dales arc crowncc 



52 



