NEILGHERRY PLANTS. De 3 
ANEMONE, Wind Flower. . 
Involucre 3-leaved, distant from the flower, the leaflets variously cut. Sepals 5-15, petaloid, imbricated in 
wstivation. Petals 0. Stamens numerous. Achenia numerous. Seed Pendulous—Herbaceous plants with a 
perennial root. Leaves radical, stalked, more or less cut or lobed. Scape, when branched, bearing involucres at 
each of its divisions. 
OF this genus nearly 100 species have been described in recent Botanical works. They are for the most 
part herbacious with perennial roots, and, generally, can be at once distinguished by their flowers having no distinct 
calyx, the floral leaves being all petaloid : hence it is called a petaloid calyx. By this mark as well as by habit, or 
general appearance, they are readily distinguished from their next neighbour in the Botanical system, Ranunculus, 
which has a regularly formed Calyx and Corolla. 
Some of them are much cultivated in gardens and under the operation of skilful horticulture have become 
so completely doubled, that all the stamens and pistils have been changed into petals. In this state, however 
monstrous in the estimation of Botanists, they are certainly most beautiful objects and deservedly great favourites 
in the eyes of the florist : many of them, especially the Anemone coronarta, when in that state, being variegated with 
the richest tints. Under such a course of treatment it appears to me, the one here figured might be made to 
undergo that change and become one of the most choice garden flowers to be met with on its native mountains. 
This change might probably be brought about by transferring roots to the rich soil of the garden and preventing 
them, flowering fora season or two, by the simple operation of stopping, a practice which has the effect of strengthen- 
ing the roots. At the end of the season when the leaves wither, they should be taken up and kept fora few weeks 
in a dark place, and again planted. As the roots are perennial this practice would probably in a few seasons effect 
the desired change, after which they can be propagated by dividing the root. For obtaining new varieties, plants are 
raised from seed, taken either from single or partially double flowers, and treated as above, taking up the roots when 
the leaves wither. 
4. ANEMONE ap sina ( Wail.) clothed na Frequent in pastures about Ootacamund, but also 
silky hairs : viet ong petioles, tripartite ; generally distributed over the bills. Flowering in May 
divisions very ira be 3-clef : qe uneate, oe) y ot June. Flowers white within paris exteriorly. Dur- 
3-lobed ; lobes cuneate, irregularly inciso-serrated : in- g these months it is certainly one of the greatest orna- 
pian leaves schaenaile, riage? appeals weearo 3-cleft ; Sete of the hills, I have n oehedie of its being applied 
egments linear-oblong, cu ted ; sepals 6-8, any useful purpose, though it may not be destitute of 
eipic-oong achenia slabrovs : wala hooked, per- - sist ities as some of them are known to possess 
tent.— IV. and A. Prod. p. 3 thes 
RANUNCULUS. Butter Cup. Crow-foot. 
Sepals 5, not free at the base, deciduous, imbricated in zstivation. Petals 5, rarely 10 or more, the claw fur- 
nished inside with a nectariferous concave little scale. Stamens and styles numerous. Achenia ovate, pointed, 
somewhat compressed. Seed erect—Herbaceous plants with annual or perennial roots. Leaves mostly radical ; 
cauline ones placed at the base of the branches and peduncles. 
This genus ranks very near the former in the Botanical system agreeing with it in its herbacious character, 
its perennial roots, the form of its flowers, and structure of its seed, but differs in having a perfect Calyx and Corolla, in 
place of a petaloid or corolla-like calyx, and the seed erect, not suspended in their cells as in Anemone. Like Anemones 
these plants frequent pastures, shady woods, and moist soils near water, and they equally, but more energetically, par- 
ticipate in the acrid properties of the family. Like them under proper cultivation they become double, and in that 
state gre, equally prized as garden ornaments. Of those found on these Hills only one, Ranunculus reniformis, seems 
well adapted for the garden. It grows in open pastures, has thick fleshy roots, is naturally furnished with numerous 
petals, about 12, a probably, treated as above would soon shew a tendency to increase the number. 
The us when thoroughly doubled is a fine flower, especially when richly variegated. Formerly they 
were in much spake repute as garden ornaments than in the present day, when gardens are stocked with such a mul- 
tiplicity of new tlowers brought from all parts of the world, but I almost doubt whether the lovers of fine flowers have 
not sustained a loss in discarding them to so great an extent as they have done from the Flower border: and I should 
not be surprised, ere long, to see them again taken into favour when the fashion for the large and gaudy Dahlia and 
such like has somewhat abated, and that for more modest, but not less beautiful, objects has resumed its place among 
the admirers of really fine flowers. Of this I, at all events, feel quite certain, that I have never on the Neilgherries 
seen a Dahlia that would bear comparison with Ranunculuses and Anemones I have seen in even second rate Cot- 
tager’s gardens in England. 
