POTENTIL^LA RUSSELLIA'NA. 
RUSSELL’S HYBRID CINQUEFOIL. 
Class. Order. 
ICOSANDRIA. POLYGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ROSACEA . 
Origin. 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Raised 
Hybrid. 
2 feet. 
June, Sep. 
Perennial. 
in 1827. 
No. 304. 
The name Potentilla, is deduced from the Latin 
word potentia, signifying- power, in allusion to its 
medical properties. Russelliana, is given as a trivial 
name, on account of this being a hybrid plant, raised 
by Mr. William Russell, Nurseryman, of Battersea. 
For the production of perfect seeds of any vege- 
table, it is necessary that the farina, or powder-like 
substance, which is found in flowers, should be ap- 
plied to the stigma or summit of its style. This is 
generally the natural consequence of their position 
and contiguity, but sometimes it is effected through 
the instrumentality of insects, or even the atmo- 
sphere. The anthers which contain such farina may, 
by the curious florist, be removed, previously to its 
dispersion, and the farina of some other species of 
the same genus may be applied instead of its own, 
In such case, if seeds are thereby perfected, they 
are foimd to produce hybrid plants, partaking of 
characters intermediate between the two which have 
been the object of experiment. By this means has 
our present plant been originated, between Potentilla 
formosa and Potentilla atrosanguinea. It may be 
divided at the root for increase. 
Sweet’s FI. Gat'd. 279. 
