By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



173 



eight or nine inches ; sometimes they are so full as to force 

 the calyx to turn back on the peduncle, and then the outer 

 parts of the flower also turn downwards ; but both this, and 

 probably all the Moutans, vary as to the number of petals 

 they produce, according to the soil they are placed in, and 

 the degree of establishment in that soil. Sometimes the 

 Banksii produces flowers totally destitute of petals at all, 

 and many are intermediate between that state and the fullest 

 flower. The petals are slightly tinged with blush, becoming 

 nearly white at the edges, and are marked at the base with 

 purplish red ; this darker colour sometimes regularly mixes 

 with the paler parts of the petals, and sometimes has a 

 slight appearance of running into it in rays, or featherings. 

 The petals gradually diminish in size as they approach the 

 centre of the flower, and have there more of the purple 

 colour diffused over them ; the edges of the internal petals 

 are also more jagged or broken. The germens are numer- 

 ous, growing in a thickened mass, surrounded by the yellow 

 anthers, and are conspicuous when the blossom is semi- 

 double, which is occasionally, as above observed, the case. 

 When the flower is very full, the petals are mixed with the 

 stamens, and a considerable number of petals, much longer 

 and larger than those which are ranged outside and amongst 

 the stamens, rise from amidst the germens. Variations in 

 the characters of the flowers, from semi-double to full double, 

 take place on the same plant, and in the same season ; but 

 in general, the older plants produce fuller flowers. This 

 kind also, under different circumstances of exposure to 

 weather and warmth, varies in the intensity of its general 

 colour ; the blossom having sometimes more of the purple 



