( 7 .) 
ADO'NIS* *. 
Linnean Class and Order Poi.ya'ndkia f, Polygy'nia. 
Natural Order. Ranuncula'ce/e. Juss. — Lindl. Syn. p. 7 ; 
Introd. to Nat. Syst. p. G. — Rich, by Macgilliv. p. 465. 
Gen. Char. Calyx inferior, of 5 blunt, concave, converging, 
somewhat coloured, deciduous sepals (leaves). Corolla of from 
5 to 15, oblong, blunt, shining petals (fig. 3), without nectaries 
on the claws. Filaments (fig. 4.) numerous, awl-shaped, very 
short. Anthers terminal, indexed, of 2 round lobes. Germens 
superior, numerous, incurved, arranged in a round, or egg-shaped 
head (fig. 2.) Styles none. Stigmas pointed, spreading. Seeds 
( cariopsides of Lind.J (fig. 6.) numerous, angular, gibbous at the 
base, pointed at the summit, without any appendage. Receptacle 
(fig. 7.) cylindrical. 
Distinguished from other Genera in the same class and order, 
by the 5-leaved calyx, the corolla of from 5 to 15 petals without 
nectaries, and the numerous awnless seeds. — The want of a 
nectary at the base of the petals will distinguish this genus from 
that of Ranunculus. 
One species British. 
ADO'NIS AUTUMNA'LIS. Pheasant’s-eye. Adonis- 
flower. Flos-adonis. 
Spec. Char. Petals about 8, concave. Seeds reticulated, 
collected into a egg-shaped head. Stem branched. 
Engl. Bot. t. 308. — Curt. FI. bond. 1. 135. — Iluds. FI. Angl. (2nd ed.) p. 23!). 
— Sm. FI. Brit. v. ii. p. 586. Engl. FI. v. iii. p. 43. — With. (7th ed.) v. iii. p. 
676. — Lindl. Syn. p. 9. — Hook. Brit. FI. p. 264. — Gray’s Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 724. 
— Sihth. FI. Oxon. p. 171.— Hook. FI. Scot. p. 172.— Walk. FI. Oxf. p. 154.— 
Don’s Gen. Syst. of Gard. and Bot. v. i. p.23. — Flos Adonis, Kay’s Syn. p. 
251. — Flos Adonis f lore rubro, Johnson’s Gerarde, p. 387. — lllackstone’s 
Specimen Botanicum, p. 22. 
Localities. — In corn-fields, but not common. — Oxfordshire ; In corn-fields 
near the Observatory, Oxford: Dr. SmTiionp, in FI. Oxon. — Dorsetshire; 
In several cornfields near Blandford, in a field opposite the first milestone on 
the Dorchester road, and in Stour Paine-field ou the borders of the Camp Down : 
Dr. Pulteney, in Bot. Guide. — In Gloucestershire; Miss Lysons, in Sm. 
FI. Brit. — Hampshire; Matterley Farm: Dr. Pulteney, in Bot. Guide. — 
Kent ; In the closes between Stoncchurch and Qucenhithe, plentiful : Mr. J. 
SiienARD. in Ray’s Syn. — In the corn-fields about Hartford, but more abun- 
dantly in the marshes by the side of the Thames between Hartford and Green- 
hitlie : Mr. J. Woons, jun. in Bot. Guide. — Middlesex ; Among the corn at 
Acton: Mr. Watson, in Blackstone’s Spec. Bot. Frequent about London: 
Fig.l. Calyx and Petals removed, showing the situation of the stamens. — 
Fig. 2. Germens. — Fig. 3. A Petal. — Fig. 4. A Stamen. — Fig. 5. A Head of 
Seeds. — Fig. 6. A Seed. — Fig. 7. The Cylindrical Receptacle. 
• From the deep red colour of the Corolla, which gave the idea of its being 
stained by the blood of Adonis, who was killed by a boar while hunting. Dr. 
HooKEn. 
+ The 13th class in the Linnean Artificial System ; it comprehends all those 
plants which have perfect (lowers with 20 or more distinct stamens in each, in- 
serted into the receptacle below the pistil, (hypoyynous) . 
