12 EANUNCULACE^ 



not now, however, required, as it was in the days of Edward I., when, as 

 ancient records tell, 400 eggs were bought to be stained and gilded for the 

 royal household ; and the flower is not frequent enough to afl'ord us a dye 

 available for any more important purpose. The Pasque-flower is a rare 

 plant, growing naturally on chalk downs and limestone pastures, its range in 

 these islands being restricted between Yorkshire, Essex, and Gloucestershire. 

 It is found still further north than the wood anemone, and Sir John Franklin 

 saw it in blossom on the shores of Hudson's Bay on May 10. Like most of 

 its tribe, its properties are of a very acrid nature, and when laid upon the 

 skin it will raise a blister far more difficult to heal than that of the Spanish 

 fly. If the leaves and flowers be taken with distilled water, they prove 

 emetic ; but the root has a sweet flavour. Cattle refuse this plant, though 

 the goat, which seems able to eat the most poisonous herbs, appears to relish 

 this. It is perennial, and is the only one of our wild anemones which has 

 silky or feathery awns. These are very beautiful, and float upon the winds 

 of the early summer, as does the thistle-down of the later season. It is also 

 worthy of note that the outer stamens are imperfect, having been converted 

 into stalked nectaries, producing honey for the attraction of certain bees, flies, 

 moths, and beetles that help to fertilize it. 



3. Blue Mountain Anemone {A. apennina). — Leaves thrice ternate, 

 segments lobed and cut ; involucres stalked, ternate and cut ; sepals or petals 

 twelve or more ; tails not feathery. This Anemone, which is of a most brilliant 

 blue colour, is in blossom in April and May ; Ijut it is very rare, and not a 

 real native of our woods. It has been found in Wimbledon Park, Surrey ; 

 near Harrow ; Luton Hoc, Bedfordshire ; near Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire ; 

 and Cullen, Banff. It is sometimes a border-flower of the garden, whence it 

 has probably strayed into the wood. 



4. Yellow Wood Anemone (J. ranunculoidcs). — Leaves ternate or 

 quinate ; leaflets cut and toothed ; involucres shortly stalked, ternate, cut and 

 toothed ; sepals or petals 5 — 6 ; carpels not feathery. This flower, like 

 the last, is rare, and certainly not truly wild. The blossoms appear in June, 

 and are of a bright yellow colour. It has been recorded from near AA-'rotham, 

 Kent ; and at Abbott's Langley, Herts, it still grows abundantly in one or 

 two places. 



4. Pheasant's Eye (Jddnis). 

 Corn Pheasant's Eye (A. autuiimdlis). — Petals concave, forming the 

 blossom into a cup ; stem branched ; leaves much divided. This plant 

 is the only British species, and is by many writers considered a dou))tful 

 native, but it occurs in some corn-fields. It has been found aliout London, 

 Isle of AVight, Norfolk, (xloucestershire, Glasgow, and Dul)lin ; and the 

 author has gathered it from corn-fields near Maidstone. It blossoms in June, 

 and remains till autumn, the deep crimson flowers resembling the buttercup 

 in shape. It had the old English names of Rose a rubie, and Eed Maythes, 

 by which Gerarde says it was known to the " herbe women " in his time, but 

 it is called by the name of Adonis throughout Europe, and connected with 

 the classic fable which tells that the blood of the youth Adonis stained its 

 petals. It was a favourite flower with our old poets, sometimes for the sake 



