ALCHEMILLA VULGARIS. COMMON LADY’S
MANTLE.
ALCHEMILLA vulgaris; foliis renifonnibus plieato-coneavis novemlobis serratis, caule petiolisquö
glabriusculis, floribus dichotomis corymbosis. DeC.
a, major, foliis glabriusculis.
ALCHEMILLA vulgaris. L im . Sp. PI. p. 178. Huck. Angl. p . 7 1. Light/. Scot. p. 180. With.
Bot. A r t. cd. 4. ml. 3. p. 303. FI. Dan. t. 693. Curt. Ft. Loud. ed. 1. Smith,
Ft. Brit. p. 189. Engl. Bat. t. 597, Hoffm. FI: Germ. ed. 3. ml, 1. P . I. p. 79.
W illi. Sp. PI. ml. 1. p. 698. Decatid. Fl. Fr. ed. 3. ml. 4. p. 451. Syn. PI.
p . 334. Pars. Syn. PI. ml. l.p . 149. Ait. Hart. K m . e i. 2 . ml. 1. p. 274. De-
cand. Prodr. vol. 2. p . 589.
ALCHEMILLA foliis serratis, palmatis, seminovemfidis. Hall. Helv. n. 1566.
ALCHIMILLA. Lady’s Mantle. Raii Syn. p. 158.
ß minor, foliis pubescentibus.
■ ALCHEMILLA hybrids. Pers. Syn. PI. ml. I .p. 149. Decani. Prbdr. ml. 2. p. 589.
ALCHEMILLA pubescens. Lam.
ALCHEMILLA montana. Willd. Emm. vol. 1. p . 19Ö.
Class a n d Ord e r . TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
[Natural Ord e r . ROSACE2E. Div. SANGUISORBEAS, Juss., Decand.]
Ge n . Cha r. Calyx tubulosus, tubo apice contracto, limbo octo-partito, lobis (bracteolis) alternis minoribus, in-
terdum minimis dentiformibus. P e t ala nulla. Stamina unum ad quatuor. Carpella demum sicca indurata
monosperma. Semen inversum. (Genus medium inter Sangaisorbeas et Dtyadeas.') DeC.
G en . Cha r. Calyx tubular, the tube contracted at the apex, the limb eight-partite, the lobes (or bracteolaj) alternately
smaller, sometimes minute, dentiform. Petals none. Stamens one to four. Carpels, at length dry, indurated,
one-seeded. Seed pendent. (Genus intermediate between the Sanguisorbees and Dryadccz.') DeC.
Ra dix longe descendens, fusiformi-flagelliformis, fibrosa,
superné foliorum vetuslorum petiolis ves-
tita.
Caulis erectus, basi nunc decumbens, superne ramosus.
Folia radicalia petiolata, petiolis foliorum lohgitudine,
rotundato-reniformia, subconcava, subnovera-
loba, plicata, sérrata, in a glabriuscula, in ß pu-
bescentia, caulina multo minora, fere sessilia,
suprema omnino sessilia.
St ipu l /e magnce, connatæ, semi-amplexicaules, plicatæ,
inciso-serratæ.
Flores glomerati, paniculati, pedunculis pedicellisque
bracteati, bracteis foliis similibus sed multo mi-
noribusi.
Calyx breviter tubulosus, octo-partitus, lobis patenti-
bus, ovatis, acutis, viridibus, alternis minutis.
Corolla nulla.
Stamin a quatuor, erecta, parva. Filamenfa calyce
breyiora, ad marginein disci camosi perforati.
Antheræ rotundatæ, uniloculares, transversim
déhiscentes. Pollen sphtericum, atro-viride.
P istillum : Germen ovatum. Stylus lateralis, e basi
fere germinis egrediens. Stigma capitatum. .
P erica rpium : Carpellum uniloculare, monospermum.
Semen pendens.
Root descending deep into the earth, between fusiform
and flagelliform, fibrous, clothed above with the
petioles of the old leaves.
Stem erect, sometimes decumbent at the base, branched
above.
Leaves : the radical ones petiolate, with the petioles
as long as the leaves, rotundato-reniform, slightly
concave, with about nine lobes, plaited, serrated,
f in a nearly smooth, in (3 pubescent; those of the
stem much smaller, almost sessile, the uppermost
ones altogether sessile.
I St ipu l e s large, connate, semi-amplexicaul, plaited, in-
v; ciso-serrate.
Flowers clustered and panicled, with the peduncles
and pedicels bracteated, the brae teas like the
leaves, but much smaller.
Calyx shortly tubular, eight-partite, with the lobes patent,
ovate, acute, green, alternate ones' minute.
Corolla hone.
Stamens four, erect, small. Filaments shorter than the
calyx, placed at the margin of a perforated fleshy
disc. Anthers roundish, one-celled, opening
transversely. Pollen spherical, blackish-green.
P is t il : Germen ovate. Style lateral, arising almost
from the base of the germen. Stigma capitate.
-
Pe r ic a r p : Carpel one-celled, one-seeded. Seed
pendent;
Fig. 1. Single flower fully expanded. Fig. 2. Single flowey with the calyx partly dosed to show the smaller
segments. Figs. 3. 4. & 5 . Stamens. Fig. 6. Pollen. Fig. 7. Pericarp. Fig. 8. The same cut open longitudinally
to show the seed :—all more or less magnified.
However common this kind of Alchemilla is in pastures in many parts of Great Britain, it abounds in the
greatest perfection in the subalpine districts : in the low valleys and in rich pastures by the sides of rivers reaching
its largest size and bearing the smoothest leaves. In proportion as it grows in more elevated situations upon
the mountains it becomes smaller, more downy, and the A. hybrida of Persoon.