lO ENGELMANNIA PINNATIFIDA. CUT-LEAVED ENGELMANN FLOWER. 



not advanced far into botanical technicalities. But the fact is, 

 that even from the popular standpoint, it is a piece of good for- 

 tune that we have been obliged to make this long quotation, as 

 it offers a chance for some popular lessons, not often afforded to 

 us, in relation especially to the structure of composite, or Aster- 

 like plants. 



In the first place we may say, that Engdnmnnia pimiatifida is 

 the only known species of the genus, and as there is no other 

 to compete with it for family honors, no specific characters are 

 given. The generic character includes the specific to some 

 extent, and makes a specific description unnecessary. Hence, 

 what we have given shows how little the description of a species 

 may have to do with a plant's essendal character, and this affords 

 a good lesson. But the main one is to note with what accuracy a 

 careful botanist can describe a plant, and then the faithfulness with 

 which a good ardst can reproduce an original. Occasionally an 

 artist gets some help in his study from a botanical description, 

 and may be tempted to make his drawing agree therewith when 

 perhaps the plant before him would scarcely warrant it. This 

 may arise from a fear that he may not have seen the parts 

 exactly as they are, or not have had a "typical" form to draw 

 from. In this instance our artist had nothing but the livinor 

 plant to work by, and it is interesting to note how the details 

 given fit in with the botanical description of the learned authors 

 quoted. The rough and hirsute character of the herb is very 

 well shown. The corymbous character (the flower stalks all 

 coming out nearly together and all about the same length) is 

 seen at Fig. i. The alternate leaves show at Fig. 2, 2, and they 

 have the exact form and characters described; the root leaf (3) 

 being petiolate or on a stalk, and the upper one (4) being 

 sessile. The manner in which the rays are tardily deciduous is 

 well shown at 5 by the three lingering petals on the faded flower, 

 and the fresh flowers show the number of ray petals as given. 

 How the ray flower is situated in the axils of the inner scales is 

 shown at 6. The three-seried involucre is seen at 7 with the 



