HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
373 
the Bobartian Herbarium, in the Library of the Oxford Botanic Garden. The 
roots are sometimes attacked by a minute Fungus, Peziza tuberosa , which is 
very destructive to them. By garden culture the stamens become transformed 
into supernumerary petals, and thus it attracts the admiration of the florists more 
than when in its natural shades it merely affects the 44 simplex munditiis.” As 
the Wood Anemone is one of our early spring plants, I cannot help extracting 
the following lines from Dr. Withering, on this subject:— a The love of flowers 
seems a naturally-implanted passion, without any alloy; but, perhaps, it is the 
early flowers of spring that always bring with them the greatest degree of pleasure, 
and our affections seem immediately to. expand at the sight of the first opening 
blossom, however humble its race may be. It is not intrinsic beauty, or splendour, 
that so charms us, for the fair maids of spring cannot compete with the grander 
matrons of the advanced year; they would be unheeded, perhaps lost, in the 
rosy bowers of summer and of autumn; no, it is our first meeting with a long- 
lost friend, the reviving glow of a natural affection, that so warms us at this 
season : to maturity they give pleasure as a harbinger of the renewal of life, 
a signal of awakening Nature, or of a higher promise: to youth, they are expand¬ 
ing being, opening years, hilarity, and joy. With summer flowers we seem to 
live as with our neighbours, in harmony and good-will; but spring flowers 
are cherished as private friendships.” Though the most splendid varieties of 
Anemonies or Wind-flowers are derived from exotic species, which beautifully 
enamel the meadows of Greece, our native ornament of the lonely thicket cannot 
fail to engage a due degree of admiration— 
6i Where thickly strewed in woodland bowers 
Anemonies their stars unfold.” 
Anemone pulsatilla , Pasque-flower Anemone.— Gerarde expressly informs 
us that he himself was 44 moved to name” this the Pasque-flower, or Easter-flower, 
because of the time of its appearance. There is, therefore, no occasion to seek 
an explanation of this name in the reported use of the flowers for colouring the 
Paschal eggs of the Catholics, or the Scotch; especially as the flowers are said to 
yield a green, not a purple dye. The root is sweet according to Haller, though 
the herb itself is highly acrid, and blisters the skin. Goats and Sheep eat it. 
Horses, Cows, and Swine refuse it. It is sometimes admitted into gardens, the 
flowers being very handsome, purple, and externally silky. 
Anemone Apennina , Blue Mountain Anemone.—This is at least ;as worthy of 
the florist’s attention as some other species. Its elegant bright blue flowers would 
prove ornamental to the shrubbery. 
Angelica. —Named Angelic from its cordial and medicinal properties. 
Angelica Archangelica , Garden Angelica, Candied Angelica.—A well-known 
V0L. hi.—NO. XXII. 3 D 
