MITCHAM *. ITS PHYSIC GARDENERS AND PLANTS. 
27 
plici,) the other termed the double chamomile (chamomelum jlore 
pleno vel Jlore multiplici.) 
In the normal or original state, the flower, which is a com- 
posite one, has one row of white female ligulate florets, encircling 
a disc of yellow hermaphrodite tubular florets ; and in this state 
the flower is said to be single. But the yellow hermaphrodite 
tubular florets have a strong tendency to become converted into 
the white female ligulate ones. Now, when only a few of the 
yellow florets have undergone this change, the flowers are still 
called single ; but when all or most of them have suffered this 
conversion, they are then termed double flowers. It is obvious, 
therefore, that the terms "single" and "double" are, to a certain 
extent, arbitrary. Flowers with a single ring of ligulate florets 
are certainly single, while those which have no tubular florets are 
decidedly double. But between these extremes there are all gra- 
dations. 
The change is irregular, and occurs to a greater or less extent 
in the same plant. At the commencement of the season a few 
flowers, single or nearly so, are found on plants, which at a later 
period of the year, yield only double flowers. The result appa- 
rently depends in part upon the mode of cultivation, which is con- 
ducted habitually without reference to this particular object, and 
in part probably, on other less obvious influences. 
It is generally stated that the single flowers are more odorifer- 
ous, and yield a larger proportion of volatile oil. 
Lewis observes of chamomiles, that "As their active matter is 
almost wholly confined to the yellow disc, and as the single have 
large discs, but the double very small ones, and when very double 
scarcely any at all ; it is plain that the latter cannot be equivalent 
to the former, unless taken in much greater quantity; and, there- 
fore, the single or large-disced flowers alone ought to be employed 
for medicinal uses." 
The double flowers, however, are much more showy, and hence 
are preferred by the public ; double flowers being much more ad- 
mired in floriculture than single ones. Hence, therefore in Chem- 
ists' and Druggists' shops the double sort is usually lound ; where- 
as at Apothecaries' Hall the single sort is exclusively purchased 
and sold. 
We find it stated by Malcolm in 1805, and by Stephenson in 
1809, that the single sort is almost exclusively sold to Apotheca- 
