viii FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



POPPY ANEMONE.— The generic term Anemone, or wind- 

 flower, is from anemos, the wind, or from the river Anemo, that flowed past 

 the city of Ravenna, where probably anemones grew abundantly in ancient 

 times. In its relationships the anemone comes near to the ranunculus. One 

 of its peculiarities is an involucre of three pieces usually distinct from the 

 flower, and there is no pore or nectary as in the ranunculus. p. 13. 



DIANTHTTS, from dios, divine, and anthos, a flower, the "flower of 

 Jove." N.O., Caryophyllaeeee. Linn^ean: 10, Beeandria ; 2, Bigyina. 



p. 17. 



TACSONIA is named from tacso, by which one of the species is 

 known in Peru. N.O., Passifloraeece. LiNNiEAU: 16, Monadelphia; 2, Pen- 

 tandria. — The passion flowers constitute a magnificent family of herbs and 

 shrubs, mostly of rampant growth and climbing habit. The flowers are 

 unique in structure as well as in beauty ; the fruits are often handsome, and 

 make even more show than the flowers in some instances, while a certain 

 number of them are edible, though as regards wholesomeness sometimes a 

 little doubtful. The botanists are not agreed as to the structure of the 

 flowers, for it is a question if there are any proper petals ; but the view that 

 appears to prevail is that the outer series of floral envelopes are sepals, 

 and those within them petals. There is yet another view possible : to 

 consider that there are no sepals, but the whole series within and without 

 are petals. p.2\. 



TKITOMA, from treis, three, and temno, to cut, in allusion to the 

 three sharp edges of the hard-textured leaves. N.O., Liliacea. Linxjean : 

 C, Hexandria; 1, Monogynia. p. 25. 



DAHTjIA, named after Dahl, a Swedish botanist. N.O., AsUraeetc. 

 Linioban: 19, Syngenesia; 2, Superflaa. p. 29. 



LYCHNIS, from lychnos, a lamp, in allusion to the colour of the 

 flowers. N.O., Caryophyllaceee. Linn.ean: 10, Beeandria ; i, Pentagynia.— 

 As a near relative of the pink, carnation, and silene, the lychnis sustains the 

 honours of the family by producing brilliant flowers. All the members of 

 this order are herbaceous plants, or sub-shrubby ; none of them are trees in 

 any proper sense of the word. We have had clove carnations ten years 

 old with stems as hard as flint, and as thick as a large man's thumb ■ but it 

 is not often any of the pink tribe attain to so mature a condition. One of 

 their constant characters is the jointed and forked growth of the stems- 

 another is the simple form of the leaves, which are opposite, and often 

 unite and clasp the stem. The flowers are usually hermaphrodite, consisting 



