ed to the sun, and are not of long duration: authors
describe the wild plants as varying greatly in colour, _vid. Clus._ they
are most commonly pale blue.

Like the Crocus, it increases readily by offsets.

Was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1739, _Ait. Kew._ Bulbocodium, 1. in
the 6th edition of his Dictionary in 4to, is not this plant, but the
_Anthericum scrotinum_, _Jacq. Fl. Austr. v. 5. app. t. 38._

[266]

RANUNCULUS AMPLEXICAULIS. PLANTAIN-LEAVED CROWFOOT.

_Class and Order._

POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ deciduus. 5 phyllus, (rarius 3-phyllus) _Petala_ 5, (rarius
2, 3, aut 8) intra ungues squamula vel poro mellifero. _Styli_
persistentes. _Sem._ incrustata, erecta. _Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13.
Gmel._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

RANUNCULUS _amplexicaulis_ foliis ovatis acuminatis
amplexicaulibus, caule multifloro, radice fasciculata. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 515._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 265._

RANUNCULUS montanus foliis plantaginis. _Bauh. Pin. 180._

RANUNCULUS pyrenaeus albo flore. _Clus. app. alt. auct. ic. 4 ta._
_Ger. emac. 963. fig. 2._

The leaves of the _Ranunculus amplexicaulis_ in part surround the stalk
at their base, whence its trivial name; in colour they differ from most
others of the genus, being of a greyer or more glaucous hue, which
peculiarity joined to the delicate whiteness of the flowers, renders
this species a very desirable one to add to a collection of hardy,
ornamental, herbaceous plants, more especially as it occupies but little
space, and has no tendency to injure the growth of others.

It is a native of the Apennine and Pyrenean mountains, and flowers in
April and May.

CLUSIUS is the first author who describes and figures this species.
JOHNSON in his _ed._ of GERARD copies his figure, and mentions it as
being then made a denizen of our gardens.

It is readily propagated by parting its roots in Autumn, and provided it
has a pure air will succeed in most soils an situations.

[Illustration: No 266]

[Illustration: No. 267]

[267]

PYRUS SPECTABILIS. CHINESE APPLE TREE.

_Class and Order._

ICOSANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Petala_ 5. _Pomum_ inferum, 5-loculare,
polyspermum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PYRUS _spectabilis_ umbellis sessilibus, foliis ovali oblongis
serratis laevibus, unguibus