10 ENGELMANNIA PINNATIFIDA.—CUT-LEAVED ENGELMANN FLOWER. 
not advanced far into botanical technicalities. But the fact is, 
that even from the popular standpoint, it is a piece of good for- 
tune that we have been obliged to make this long quotation, as 
it offers a chance for some popular lessons, not often afforded to 
us, in relation especially to the structure of composite, or Aster- 
like plants. 
In the first place we may say, that Exge/mannia pinnatifida is 
the only known species of the genus, and as there is no other 
to compete with it for family honors, no specific characters are 
given. The generic character includes the specific to some 
extent, and makes a specific description unnecessary. Hence, 
what we have given shows how little the description of a species 
may have to do witha plant's essential character, and this affords 
a good lesson. But the main one is to note with what accuracy a 
careful botanist can describe a plant, and then the faithfulness with 
which a good artist can reproduce an original. Occasionally an 
artist gets some help in his study from a botanical description, 
and may be tempted to make his drawing agree therewith when 
perhaps the plant before him would scarcely warrant it. This 
may arise from a fear that he may not have seen the parts 
exactly as they are, or not have had a “typical” form to draw 
from. In this instance our artist had nothing but the living 
plant to work by, and it is interesting to note how the details 
given fit in with the botanical description of the learned authors 
quoted. The rough and hirsute character of the herb is very 
well shown, The corymbous character (the flower stalks all 
coming out nearly together and all about the same length) is 
seen at Fig. 1. The alternate leaves show at Fig. 2, 2, and they 
have the exact form and characters described; the root leaf (3) 
being petiolate or on a stalk, and the upper one (4) being 
sessile. The manner in which the rays are tardily deciduous is 
well shown at 5 by the three lingering petals on the faded flower, 
and the fresh flowers show the number of ray petals as given. 
How the ray flower is situated in the axils of the inner scales is 
shown at 6. The three-seried involucre is seen at 7 with the 
