BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
147 
GENUS XII. 
THE LADIES 1 MANTLE. (Alchemilla, Lin.) 
Lin.Syst. TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx 4-tootlied, with 4 external bracteoke. \ Seed suspended. Herbaceous plants. Leaves palmate, lobed, or cut. 
Petals none. Stamens 1 to 4. Nuts 1 or 2. 'Stigmas capitate. Flowers corymbose, herbaceous. ( Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The plants belonging to this genus are weeds with inconspicuous flowers, but with very- 
beautiful leaves. The leaves, indeed, are so remarkably elegant, from the silky down, which forms a snow- 
white lining to their under surface, and their delicate serratures and folds, as to well deserve their popular English 
name of Ladies’ Mantle. The flowers, which are small and green, are of no beauty, but they continue expanding 
all the summer. There are three British species, viz. A. vulgaris , A. alpina, and A. arvensis, which last is 
sometimes called “ Parsley Piert,” and is an annual. The others are perennials, and all of them require dry and 
open situations. The name of Alchemilla is derived from alchemy , from some supposed chemical virtues of the 
plants. Sir W. J. Hooker says that the English name of the plant should be Lady’s Mantle, as it means the 
mantle of the Virgin Mary; but he does not say why this is supposed to be the case. The species are common 
in every part of Great Britain. The genus is placed in the Linnman class Tetrandria, on account of its four 
stamens ; and in the order Monogynia, from its generally single style. 
GENUS XIII. 
THE GREAT BURNET. (Sanguisorba, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx 4-cleft, j Stigma pencil-formed. Seed suspended. Herbaceous plants. Leaves 
with 2 external scales at the base. Petals none. Stamens 4. Nuts 2. ' unequally pinnate. Flowers in dense spikes. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c.— There are only two British species of this genus, and they differ very little from each other ; 
S. media being only taller and larger than the common kind, and having a longer spike of paler flowers than 
S. officinalis. Both are strong-growing perennials, which flower in June and July, and require a rich and some¬ 
what moist calcareous soil. The plants are most abundant in the north, and make good hay, though their 
qualities are astringent. The name of Sanguisorba is derived from two Latin words signifying to absorb blood, 
in allusion to the supposed vulnerary properties of the plants. This genus is placed in the same Linnaean class 
and order as the last, on account of its four stamens and its single style. 
GENUS XIV. 
THE SALAD BURNET. (Poterium, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. MONCECIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Flowers monoecious or polygamous. Calyx Herbaceous plants. Leaves unequally pinnate. Flowers in dense 
4-toothed, with 3 scales on the outside at the base. Petals none. spikes. (Lindley.) 
Stamens 20 to 30. Nuts 2. Stigma pencil-shaped. Seed suspended. 
Description, &c. —The only British species of this genus, P. Sanguisorba, was formerly used for salads in 
this country, as it still is in France. It is a perennial, with a strong woody stem, which grows abundantly in 
u 2 
