LX. 
ASTRANTIA HELLEBORIFOLIA. 
Hellebore-leaved Astrantia. 
ORDO NATURALIS. 
Umbelliferee. Juss. Gen. b. 218. 
Sect. IV. Anomalz, involucello et umbella florem compositum constituentibus. 
Umbella 3-5-radiata preter centralem pedunculum longiorem, lateralibus rarius decompositis : 
practeis foliaceis. Umbellula multiflora, plus minus pm er pedicellis gracillimis : 
bracteis coloratis, extus vari egatis. alyx profunde 5-fidus. Petala valde inflexa. Pericar- 
pium ellipticum, jugis 10 crispo-muricatis. Jerbe perennes, 1-2-pedales.. Folia radicalia, 
longe petiolata, palmata digitatave, serrata, mitius spinulosa. Flores lygami, in umbellulis 
lateralibus nunc omnes masculi, fertilibus sepe brevius pedicellatis. In serie naturali Eryngio 
proximum genus. 
A. foliis 3-fido-palmatis ; laciniis subintegris; serrulatis: bracteis involucelli 9-12, late lanceo- 
latis, serrulatis: floribus omnibus longe pedicellatis: pericarpii commissura lata. 
Sponte sascentend in regionibus Caucasi, legit D. Adams. 
Floret Junio, Julio. 
Some valnable observations are made by Jussien in his 12% class, respecting the difficult genera 
of Umbellifere: but though I agree with him and Crantz, that the primary characters should be 
taken from their fruit, surely Artedi’s distinctions afford excellent secondary characters. Indeed 
in several genera, as t this of Astrantia, the structure of the partial sig eee is so singuiar as 
to overpower every other char ops and when there is no Involucrum at all, that circumstance 
ought to be mentioned: for, as one of the most learned botanists now a lity ‘has remarked, it is 
sometimes of as much Paice A to know what parts are absent, as what parts are present, in a 
genus. 
In the 16th number of. Exotic Botany, that author tells us he must dissent from Linné, re- 
specting this genus, by considering the soarae asa single umbel. Now analogy, which. is 
the only reason = assigns for this notion, leads me to describe it with Linné and all other writers, 
mbel: for even in A. Minor, the peduncles if carefully examined will not be 
found truly alternate, and in the other species they evidently proceed from one common centre. 
Gertner’s authority on this point, is too ambiguous to be brought | forward, for though he does 
say ** Umbella simplex,” he immediately contradicts those words by adding *¢ Involucrum utrum- 
que polyphy!lum.” 
_ For this new species, Mr. ease is indebted to his em friend Mr. Bell. 1t may be in- 
cap ae from .4- Major, which it most resembles, by the serratures of the partial . 
rvolu t tuberous. Stein n my specimen 14 dake high with only 2 small leaves, 
fur eats hee ~ Leaves 3-cleft, the lateral divisions much larger, all age f undivided and 
serrulated. Umbel of only 3 or 4 peduncles, lateral ones short. Bractes of the Involucrum 
large. Partial Umbel an inch and a half in diameter. Pedicells capillary yee the fruitful ones 
longer than in other species. Bractes of the partial Involucrum wide-lanceolate, upbeat pale 
pink, their under surface variegated with green and white. Pericarpium somewhat obova e and 
compressed with 10 longitudinal furrows and as many ridges, which are minutely sadalited 
and rough. Divisions of the Calyx wedge-shaped. Petals whitish, narrow, exceedingly vase 
the mid-rib shining. Anthers naire Lae Styles whitish, a little —S— and somew 
narrower towards the top. Stigma 
eee 
REFERENCES TO THE PLATE. 
sterile Flower magnified. 
A 
2. A fertile Flower magnified. 
3. A Petal highly magnified. 
