96 ANEMONE VIKGINIANA. TIIIM15LE-WEED. 



Specific characters. On one occasion, the writer found a specimen 

 in which the central flower was stalkless, or sessile. In this case 

 it had but three petals, and these were protruded between the 

 three flower-stalks growing from the flow'er's base, and which, as 

 we have already seen, are transformed branches from three axil- 

 lary buds. By this lesson we can comprehend why the middle 

 stalk has no leaves, or involucels, as the three laterals have. If 

 it were to have them, they w^ould have to be formed of the five 

 leaves now used to make the sepals. 



Lesquereaux tells us that in Arkansas the species is knowm as 

 "Tall Anemone," and this indeed is a very characteristic name; 

 the plant growing in many cases from two to three feet high. 

 Darby says in his " Botany of the Southern States," that in that 

 section of the country it is known as "Thimble-weed," the name 

 obviously derived from its almost mature head, which, in many 

 cases, has a very thimble-like appearance both in form and 

 marking. 



It is found somewhat frequently in most of the eastern part 

 of our territory, from Canada to South Carolina, being, however, 

 most at home in the northern latitudes, where it has travelled 

 completely across the condnent. The color as usually seen is 

 greenish; but forms have been found with pure white flowers, 

 and a judicious selection might reward the florist with showy 

 improvements. 



Explanations of the Plate. — i. Upper portion of a flower-stnlk, made from a Pennsyl- 

 vania specimen in July. 2. The central branch arrested to form a flower-stalk with its 

 naked peduncle. 3. Axillary branches, finally bearing each a weaker flower-stalk. 4. 

 Axillary leaves, transformed to involucre and involucel. 5. Longitudinal section showing 

 the receptacle, with carpels attached. 



