128 breck's new book of flowers. 



ANTHEMIS— Chamomile. 



[From a Greek word, signifying a. Jlov:er, on account of the multitude of 

 flowers with which the plants are covered.] 



Anth^mis nobilis* — Garden Chamomile. — Is in consider- 

 able repute, both in the popular and scientific Materia Me- 

 dica. The flowers are well known or should be well known 

 to every housekeeper, on account of their valuable medicin- 

 al qualities. In its double variety it is quite handsome, and 

 a mass of it with its pure white flowers, springing from 

 their bed of mossy-like foliage, are certainly quite charm- 

 ing. It is easily propagated by dividing the roots. A 

 bed of Chamomile is improved in its appearance if occa- 

 sionally rolled or pressed down. The flowers rise from 

 the bed three or four inches high. 



ANTIIIIIHINUM.-SNAP-DRAGOX. 



[Derived from words in Greek, which express " similar to a nose."'] 



The flower bears a perfect resemblance to the snout or 

 nose of some animal ; by applying the thumb and finger 

 to the side of the corolla, it opens and shuts, as with a 

 spring. 



Antirrhinum majUS, the Great or Purple Snap-Dragon, 

 is described by Gerarde in his Herbal, thus : — " This pur- 

 ple Snap-Dragon hath great and brittle stalks, which di- 

 videth itself into many ,fragile branches, whereupon do 

 grow long leaves, sharp-pointed, very greene, like unto 

 those of wild flax, but much greater, set by couples and 

 set one opposite against another. The flowers grow at 

 the top of the stalkes, of a purple color, fashioned like a 

 frog's mouth, or rather a dragon's mouth, from whence 

 the women have taken the name Snap-Dragon. The seed 

 is black, contained in round husks, fiishioned like a calf's 

 snout, — whereupon some havec ailed it Calf's snout, — or 



