8 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
1.— THE PHEASANT’S EYE. (Adonis .estivalis, With.) 
Synonyme. —A. autumnalis, Lin. Spf.cific Character. —Petals about 8, inversely heart-shaped ; 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 308 ; 2nd ed., t. 781 ; and our fig. 3, fruit ovate ; stem branched. (Smith.) 
in PI. 1. 
Description, &c. —Though this plant is generally considered to be the same as the Flos Adonis of the 
gardens (A. autumnalis ), I think it very possible that they may be distinct; and I have therefore adopted the 
name of Dr. Withering, which signifies the Summer Adonis, in preference to that of Linnaeus. It is true that 
the Pheasant’s Eye may sometimes be found in corn-fields in autumn, but then it is quite late in the season—in 
October or November. I believe, indeed, that though it is often seen in corn-fields when the corn is green, or 
growing among the stubble long after the corn has been carried, it has never been found there in flower while 
the corn is in ear; and, consequently, it is probable that the autumnal flowers are a second crop produced by 
the seeds of the first. The plant is easily recognised by its finely-cut leaves and solitary flowers, which, in the 
wild plant, are more decidedly scarlet than those of the Flos Adonis of the gardens, the flowers of which 
sometimes assume a crimson hue. The wild plant is an annual, like the garden species. 
GENUS IV. 
THE ANEMONE, OR WINDFLOWER. (Anem6ne, Lin.) 
Lyn. Syst. POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Involucrum of three cut leaves, distant from tbe flower. Sepals and petals 5-15 in number, coloured, passing gradually 
into each other, so that they cannot be distinguished. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —All the plants belonging to this genus have beautiful flowers, and cut leaves. They are 
all dwarf perennials; and though some of them bear considerable resemblance to some of the species of 
Ranunculus, they may be always distinguished by the Anemone having the calyx and corolla of the same 
colour, and so mixed together that one cannot be distinguished from the other ; while in all the kinds of 
Ranunculus the calyx and corolla are quite distinct, the calyx being green and the corolla either of a golden 
yellow or white. The Anemone has also a leafy involucre on the flower-stalk, but at some distance below the 
flower. The Anemone is closely allied in botanical construction to the Flos Adonis, as it has numerous stamens 
and numerous carpels, though the latter are somewhat different in their form and arrangement. Anemones 
are also of two kinds, the seed-vessels of some of them having feathery tails like the Clematis ; while others are 
perfectly destitute of such appendages. The name of Anemone is from a Greek word signifying the wind, and 
hence the English name of the plant is Windflower ; but what connection the flower has with the wind it seems 
difficult to explain. Some suppose the name of Windflower was given to these plants from the flowers of the 
common wood Anemone being so lightly hung, as to quiver in every breeze that blows. Others suppose that the 
name alludes to the plant opening during the windy month of March ; and others suppose that the plant only 
opens when the wind blows. 
- “ A garland for you intertwin’d 
With Violets, Hepaticas, Primroses, 
And coy Anemone, that ne’er uncloses 
Her lips, until they 're blown on by tbe wind.” 
Smith’s Amarynthus. 
