188 Neilgherry Plants. 



hence it is called a petaloid calyx. By this mark as well as by 

 habit, or general appearance, they are readily distinguished from 

 their next neighbour in the Botanical system, Ranunculus, which 

 has a regularly formed calyx and corolla. 



Some of them are much cultivated in gardens, and under the 

 operation of skilful horticulture have become so completely doubled, 

 that all the stamens and pistils have been changed into petals. In 

 this state, however monstrous in the estimation of botanists, they 

 are certainly most beautiful objects and deservedly great favourites 

 in the eyes of the florist : many of them, especially the Anemone 

 coronaria, when in that state, being variegated with the richest tints. 

 Under such a course of treatment it appears to me, the one here 

 figured might be made to undergo that change, and become one of 

 the most choice garden flowers to be met with on its native moun- 

 tains. This change might probably be brought about by transfer- 

 ring roots to the rich soil of the garden, and preventing them flower- 

 ing for a season or two, by the simple operation of stopping, a 

 practice which has the effect of strengthening the root. At the end 

 of the season when the leaves wither, they should be taken up and 

 kept for a few weeks in a dark place, and again planted. As the 

 roots are perennial, this practice would probably in a few seasons ef- 

 fect the desired change, after which they can be propagated by 

 dividing the root. For obtaining new varieties, plants are raised from 

 seed, taken either from single or partially double flowers, and treated 

 as above, taking up the roots when the leaves wither. 



4. Anemone Wightiana, Frequent in pastures about Oo- 

 (Wall.) clothed with silky hairs ; tacamund, but also generally dis- 

 leaves on very long petioles, tri- tributed over the hills. Flowering 

 partite ; divisions very deeply 3- in May and June. Flowers white 

 cleft ; segments cuneate, deeply within purple exteriorly. During 

 3-lobed; lobes cuneate, irregu- these months it is certainly one 

 larly inciso- serrated : involucral of the greatest ornaments of the 

 leaves subsessile, deeply 3-cleft; hills. I have not heard of its be- 

 divisions 3-cleft ; segments linear- ing applied to any useful purpose, 

 oblong, cut and serrated ; sepals though it may not be destitute of 

 6-8, elliptic-oblong: achenia gla- useful qualities as some of them 

 brous : style hooked, persistent, are known to possess these. 

 — W. and A. Prod. p. 3. 



