I20 THALICTRUM ANEMONOIDES. — WIND-FLOWER MEADOW-RUE, 



tendency to make which is often met with, even in the wild 

 condition, might also be looked for. It seems that this ten- 

 dency has long been noticed and appreciated by cultivators. 

 Thus Peter Collinson, in a letter to John Bartram, dated Jan. 

 31, 1738, and published in Darlington's "Memorials," speaks 

 of having received a plant with double flowers from the lat- 

 ter; and Dr. Barton, in his " Flora of North America," which 

 was published as long ago as 1821-23, says that "when duplica- 

 tion of the petals happens, the plants are highly valued for 

 culture." We have heard of plants which were entirely double- 

 flowered being found in Michigan and elsewhere; and Prof. 

 Thomas C. Porter, in the " Botanical Gazette " for December, 

 1875, gives the following account of a similar specimen: " From 

 the woods in the neighborhood of Lancaster, Penn., I obtained 

 a stock of Thalictrum anemonoides, Michaux, now growing in 

 my garden, whose flowers have nearly all stamens converted 

 into petals. They are very delicate and beautiful, and look like 

 miniature white roses tinged with pink." There is little doubt 

 but these double flowers could be found oftener if looked for 

 more attentively, and the search for them might give much zest 

 to the rambles of the young flower collector. 



The Wind-Flower Meadow-Rue, although an exclusively 

 American plant, seems to have been entirely neglected by our 

 poets ; and this is due, no doubt, to the fact that it has generally 

 been confounded with the Anemone. Material uses, medicinal, 

 economic, or otherwise, it also has none ; and the only excuse 

 for its existence must, therefore, be sought in its beauty. 



Explanation of the Plate. — i. Full-sized flower-stem, with root attached, m early May. 

 — 2. Stems, with half-mature seeds, in early June. 



