SWISS FLOWERS. 21 



is one of the first to open its star-like flower and welcome the 

 spring all round the Mediterranean. None of these, though 

 Stellata is mentioned by some under the name of Hor- 

 tensis, as occasionally seen in Valais and Vaud, are found in 

 Switzerland, but a number of curious and interesting kinds 

 take their place. To begin, ranged with them is the well- 

 known Hepatica of our gardens, which is found in moun- 

 tainous woods, foot of Saleve, Nyon, Thonon, &c. It will 

 be well to notice the involucre of this plant, which is very 

 near to the flower, and at first sight looks like a calyx. It 

 should be compared with those of other species of 

 Anemones, as this involucre is one of the characteristics 

 of the family, and, when closely examined, it will be found 

 to be separated into three divisions, which are united at 

 the base. As in A. hepatica it looks like a calyx, so in 

 many of the other species it resembles leaves, being leaf- 

 like far down the stem, and so much sub-divided that it is 

 easy to pass over the three-fold main divisions. The 

 Anemones of Switzerland may be divided according to their 

 seeds. In the first division this seed is very curious, having 

 a lengthened tail, which gives the plant, after the flower is 

 over, somewhat the appearance of a mop ; or, if the 

 expression be preferred, it may be called a feathery plume. 

 These may be again divided into the Pulsatilla branch, the 

 general characteristics of which are petal-like sepals and 

 many stamens, common to the whole family. Flower from 



