5<D ANEMONE PATENS. NUTTALLS PASQUE-FLOWER. 



half-transformed leaves, the intermediate stage between perfect 

 leaves and the sepals. 



Our plant was discovered when the section just alluded to 

 was known as the genus Pulsatilla, and was dedicated to the 

 great American botanist, Thomas Nuttall ; but it was soon 

 found, on a better acquaintance with it, that it was no more 

 distinct from the European and Asiatic form of A. patens than 

 Pulsatilla is from Anemone, and it was, therefore, called " Ane- 

 mone patens, var. Nuttalliana," to indicate that it is considered 

 simply as a variety of the same species. 



It seems to thrive remarkably well in gardens, and, although 

 not of a bright color, attracts by the large size of the sepals. 

 The earliness of its flowers is also a valued peculiarity. Our 

 drawing was made in the middle of April from a specimen origi- 

 nally brought from the Rocky Mountains. It is said to flower 

 before the leaves come out ; but under culture, it has the leaves 

 tolerably well developed before the flowers mature, as seen in 

 our plate. 



The Anemone patens commences its career as a "wild flower" 

 on the western shores of Lake Michigan, reaches clown into 

 Illinois, and then extends northwest by the Rocky Mountains 

 into British America, and, by connection with the typical species, 

 into Siberia. The common name given to this plant is "Pasque- 

 Flower," from the time of its flowering, it being looked for about 

 Easter, or, as it was called in olden times, about the Paschal 

 season. 



The poets seem to have united in associating the idea of 

 expectation with Anemone; not, however, from anything sug- 

 gestive in the flower itself, but rather from the circumstances of 

 its mythological history. (See Anemone nemorosa, p. 21.) The 

 flower is of too transitory a character to be considered the sym- 

 bol of " expectation," which should rather hope on to the last. 

 Instead of being enduring and constant, our flower soon drops 

 its petals. Its true character is better expressed in the follow- 

 ing lines, the author of which we do not know : — 



