_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 calyce longioribus, stylis basi lanatis. _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 175._ _Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13._ _Gmel. p. 842._ The Chinese Apple-Tree when it blossoms in perfection, answers truly to the name of _spectabilis_; a more shewy or ornamental tree can scarcely be introduced to decorate the shrubbery or plantation; its beauty like that of most trees, whose ornament consists chiefly in their blossoms, is however but of short duration, and depends in some degree on the favourableness of the season at the time of their expansion, which usually takes place about the end of April or beginning of May; the flowers are large, of a pale red when open, and semi-double, the buds are of a much deeper hue, the fruit is of little account, and but sparingly produced. Trees of this species are to be met with in some gardens of the height of twenty or thirty feet.