ADNATE. Grown to anything by the whole surface; anthers are said to be Adnate when they are attached to the filaments by their whole length.
ADONIS (name of classical derivation). ORD. Ranunculaceæ. Handsome hardy herbaceous plants. Flowers solitary, terminal; petals five to fifteen. Leaves divided into numerous linear segments. Some of the annuals are much inferior to the perennial species. The latter section constitute very ornamental subjects for rockwork, borders, margins of shrubberies, &c. All the species will grow freely in common soil, and are propagated by seeds. The perennials may be divided at the root.
A. æstivalis (summer).* Pheasant's Eye. fl. deep crimson; petals flat, oblong, obtuse, one-half longer than the calyx. June. Stem almost simple, elongated. h. 1ft. South Europe, 1629. Annual. See Figs. 31 and 32.
A. autumnalis (autumnal).* Pheasant's Eye; Red Morocco. fl. of an intense blood-red, with a black centre, rarely pale, globose from the six to eight concave conniving petals, which are scarcely larger than the calyx. May. Stems branched. h. 1ft. Britain. Annual.
A. pyrenaica (Pyrenean).* fl. almost sessile, yellow; petals eight to ten, smaller and more obtuse than in A. vernalis. July. l., lower ones on long stalks, with trifid petioles and many-parted segments; upper ones sessile, multifid, with linear very entire lobules. Stem 1ft. or more high, and usually much branched. Pyrenees, 1817. Perennial.
FIG. 31. FLOWER OF ADONIS æSTIVALIS.
A. vernalis (spring).* fl. yellow, large; petals, ten to twelve, oblong, rather denticulated. March. l. lower ones abortive, or reduced to somewhat sheathing scales, the middle and upper ones sessile and multifid, with very entire lobes. h. 9in. to 1ft. Europe, 1629. Charming rock plant. This handsome species requires a rich moist sandy loam, and should not be disturbed for years. Perennial.
FIG. 32. ADONIS æSTIVALIS, showing Habit and Flowers.
A. v. sibirica (Siberian) differs only in having larger flowers.
A. volgensis (Volga). An intermediate species between A. vernalis and A. pyrenaica, differing from the first in the stems being branched, leaves more distant; from the last by the lower leaves being abortive, and formed like scales; and from both in the sepals being pubescent on the outside, not smooth. fl. yellow. h. 1ft. Russia, 1818.
ADPRESSED. Brought into close contact with anything without adhering.