CHAPTER XIII 

 Anemones 



THERE is a charm in the simple form of a single Anemone 

 that goes straight to my heart. The central boss of 

 carpels, and the surrounding ring so rich in innumerable 

 stamens, start the flower on pleasantly concentric curves ; 

 then the segments of the coloured floral whorl are 

 generally so ample and delightfully hollowed that their 

 outlines are always bold and good. 



It is botanically correct to deny petals to an Anemone, 

 but I never feel quite happy about considering all the 

 coloured segments as sepals, as it often happens in certain 

 species that the outer ones have a slightly more woolly 

 texture, especially on the outer side, and the inner are 

 rather more perfect in shape and coloration, and look 

 more like petals. On the other hand, I must own that 

 when doubling occurs by the anthers becoming petaloid 

 they as a rule take a narrow lanceolate form quite different 

 from the ample coloured sepals. 



It is rather curious that this particular form of double 

 flower should bear the name of " Anemone-flowered," and 

 be used for any family in which there are double flowers 

 with a ring of large regular outside segments, and the 

 central portion is filled with quilled or narrow rays. 

 The term " Anemone-flowered " surely ought to bring to 

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