140 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



sub-membranous, silky, with a few large triangular teeth at the 

 apex ; those of the uppermost leaves with the free portion entirely 

 herbaceous, and longer than the tubular part. Flowers \ inch 

 across, greenish-yellow, with the segments ovate, spreading in the 

 form of a cross. Calyx and pedicels sUky. Achene ^5 iich long, 

 broadest a little above the base, then narrowing gradually to the 

 point. 



This plant grows freely in gardens about London, in the open 

 ground and ripens its seeds ; while A. aljiina can scarcely exist 

 except under the treatment necessary for Alpine plants. 



Silvery Ladj/'s-Mantle. 



SPECIES IV.— ALCHEMILLA ALPINA. Linn. 

 Plate CCCCXXV. 



Rootstock rather slender, elongated, somewhat woody, produc- 

 ing several ascending or decumbent stems slightly branched above. 

 Radical leaves on long stalks, reniform, silvery and sUky-white 

 beneath, divided into 5 to 7 lobes ; lobes distinct to the base, 

 oblong, serrated only close to the apex ; the exterior ones sepa- 

 rated by an angle greater than a right angle. Lower stipules 

 tubular-funnelshaped, acutely lobed at the apex ; uppermost ones 

 widely funnel-shaped, with a palmate-cleft free portion. Flowers 

 stalked, in small irregular cymes arranged in interrupted spikes, 

 which form the branches of a lax irregular panicle. Achene oblong- 

 ovoid, suddenly acuminate, roughened with minute glandular points. 



On Alpine rocks. Common, and often brought down from the 

 mountains by rivers to the low grounds. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Rootstock branched. Stems several, decumbent at the base, 

 then ascending, 2 to 8 inches long ; pilose. Radical leaves on 

 petioles, 1 to 4 inches long ; lamina f to If inch across, with the 

 lobes blunt, but scarcely rounded at the apex ; sharply serrated for 

 a very short way down ; plicate when young, Hat when mature ; 

 deep-green above, with an edging of silky hairs, slightly shining, 

 silky beneath. Stipules of the lower stem-leaves sub-membranous, 

 pilose, with a few large acute teeth at the apex ; those of the upper- 

 most leaves with the free portion entirely herbaceous and longer 

 than the tubular part. Flowers ^ inch in diameter, greenish-yellow, 

 with the segments ovate, spreading in the form of a cross. Calyx 

 and pedicels pilose. Achene about p^ inch long, nearly the same 

 width for about two-thirds from the ba^e, after which it is sud- 



