SCUTELLARIA JAPON'ICA. 
JAPAN SCULLCAP. 
Class. Order. 
DIDYNAMIA. C YM NOSPEHM i A . 
Natural Order. 
l.ABIAT«. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Japan. 
6 inches 
October. 
Perennial. 
in 1828. 
No. 778. 
The convex appendage attached to the calyx 
of this plant has been compared to a little dish or 
shield, — hence the name, from the Latin scutella 
or scute! lum. Tournefort called the genus Cassida 
(a helmet) — a name equally applicable to its calyx. 
Very few plants exhibit to human eyes a more 
serviceable application of the calyx than is seen in 
Scutellaria. It closes over the seeds so efficiently 
that separate seed vessels may be thought to be 
superfluous. Of the utility of this infinite variety of 
design, how little is unveiled to human knowledge ! 
we can but say with the poet — 
“ Let no presuming impious railer tax 
Creative Wisdom, as if auglit was formed 
In vain, or not for admirable ends. 
Shall little haughty ignorance pronounce 
His works unwise, of which the smallest part 
Exceeds the narrow vision of her mind ?” 
This pretty newly-introduced plant was obliging 
contributed from the admirable collection of the 
Messrs. Pope and Sons, Nurserymen, Handsworth. 
It is, probably, quite hardy, and well suited for 
planting on rock-work. 
