BOSAGEyE. 



347 



AlchemiUa (Aphanes) arvensis. 

 {Parsley Piert.) 



Fig. 395. 

 Flower. 



length to the sepals, and quite similar to them. The number of 

 stamens may be reduced to one or two ; this is usually the case in 

 Apluiiies' (figs. 395, 396), formerl}^ made into a distinct genus. 

 Finally, there may be two, three, or four carpels in each flower. 

 About thirty species of this genus" 

 are known, especially common in 

 the Andes", from Mexico to Chili,' 

 more rare at the Cape,^ in Australia" 

 and Madaijascar, and in Eurone" and 

 Asia^ in the northern hemisphere. 

 They are herbs, more frequently 

 perennial than annual, possessing 

 alternate leaves with two cauline 

 stipules forming a sheath, and digi- 

 tate or palmatipartite blade. Tlie 

 flowers are small and greenish, grouped on a common peduncle into 

 ramified cymes, often becoming uniparous by abortion towards their 

 extremities. 



In the Burnets" (Fr., Piiiiprenelles — figs. 397-406) there is nothing 

 occupying the place of a corolla. The receptacle still forms a sac, as 

 in the preceding plants ; it persists around the fruits, and is thinly 

 membranous, corky, or sometimes even slightly fleshy. Its surface is 

 smooth, as in the Alchemils, or is covered with prickles, which, though 

 smaller, recall those of the Agrimonies ; but the number of carpels is 

 much reduced, and there are normally four perianth-leaves. The num- 

 ber of stamens is sometimes well defined, as in certain Alchemils ; and 

 this, indeed, is the peculiar character of the species of Sanc/msorba,^'^ 

 from which genus, as we shall soon see, it is impossible to separate Po- 

 terium properly so-called. If, for instance, we examine the flowers of 



FiCr. 396. 

 Flower opened out. 



1 L., Gen., 166. 



= DC, Prodi:, loc. cit.— Walp., Hep., ii. 42, 

 914; V. 653; Ann., i. 280; ii. 519; iii. 855. 



3 Wedd., Chlor. And., ii. 244, t. 75. 



" H. B. K., Nov. Gen. at Spec, vi. 223, t. 

 560, 561.— C. Gay, Fl. Chil., ii. 301.— Tokk. 

 & Gr., fl N. Am., i. 432; ap. WirPL., 164. — 

 A. Gray, 3Ian. of Pot., ed. 5, 151. — Chapm., Fl. 

 S. Unit.-States, 122.— Seem., Herald, 282.— 

 PiiESL., Fpimel., 199. 



* Hart. & Sonu., Fl. Cap., ii. 291. 



^ Benth., Fl. Austral., ii. 432. 



7 Gren. & GoDE., Fl. de Fr., i. 564.— 

 llEiCHB., PL CrlL, i. t. 4. 



« Wight, Icon., t. 229. 



^ Pimphiella T., Inslit.,\^Q, t. 68. — Adaxs., 

 Fam. des PL, ii. 293.— Gj:utx., Fruct., i. 161, 

 t.32 (nee L.). — Puterium L., Gen., n. 1069. — 

 J., Gen., 336.— Lamk., Diet., v. 327 ; Siippl., 

 iv. 415 ; ///., t. 777.— DC, Prodr., ii. 594.— 

 Spacii, Suit, a Buff., i. 487. — Exdl., Ge»., n. 

 6374.— Payer, Organog., 512, t. ciii.— B. II., 

 Gen., 624, n. 57. 



'0 L., Gen., n. 1 1C>.— J., Gen., 336.— GiEHTN., 

 Fruct., \. 161, t. 32.— Lamk., BicL, \\. 496; 

 III., t. 85.— TURP., Diet, des Sc. Nat., t. 2W.— 

 DC, Prodr., ii. 593.— Spach, Suit, a Buffun,\. 

 486.— Endl., Gen., n. 6373. 



