AUTUMN.

Though Summer with her fervid ray,

No longer leads the lengthened day,

Though Autumn with her sober tread

Appears upon the russet mead,

For her shall Flora form her wreath,

And still around her fragrance breathe;

Shall still with beauty deck the plain,

Nor cease midst darker hours to reign.

Plate 33. Eschscholtzia Californica.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

ESCHSCHOLTZIA Californica.

Californian Eschscholtzia.

Class and Order.—Polyandria Tetragynia.

Syn. Eschscholtzia Californica. Bot. Reg. pl. 1168.

Root fusiform—stem branching, growing to the height of one foot or more—leaves glaucous, tri-pinnatifid, segments acute—flowers terminal, on long peduncles—Calyx formed like the Calyptra of a Moss, which falls off previous to the expansion of the flower—petals four—large, spreading, slightly striated, narrower at the base, margins undulate, of a brilliant yellow, which increases to an orange in the centre of the flower—stamens numerous, filaments very short, anthers long, acute—stigmas four—seed vessel subulate.

Fig. 1. represents the seed pod. Fig. 2. the curiously formed Calyx.

This elegant flower was originally discovered by Mr. Menzies, during the expedition of Vancouver, in the year 1792, on the coast of California. It has been named by Chamisso after Dr. Eschscholtz, a companion of Kotzebue, in his voyage round the world, and was sent to the Hort. Soc., by Mr. Douglas, in 1826, who found it on the N. W. coast of America. It promises to be a very desirable and beautiful addition to our catalogue of herbaceous plants, flowering abundantly all thro' the summer 'till destroyed by frost. It may be propagated either by seeds, which should be sown in a hot-bed early in the spring, or by parting the roots in autumn, and grows best in a pure air, and a light, or sandy soil.

Pl. 33.

Plate 34. Catananche Cœrulea.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

CATANANCHE cœrulea.

Blue Catananche.

Class and Order.—Syngenesia Polygamia Æqualis.

Syn. Catananche Cœrulea. Curtis Bot. Mag. pl. 293.

Root fibrous—Stem radical, branching—growing to the height of two feet—Radical leaves, long, lanceolate, margins deeply toothed—back of the leaf downy, and strongly nerved—Cauline leaves, sessile, linear, acute. Flowers terminal on very long peduncles on which are scattered membranaceous bracteas—Calyx imbricate, squamose, membranaceous, striate—Corolla blue—Florets ligulate, apex three toothed, purple at the base, fertile—Stamens five, Anthers united—style one, stigma bifid.

There are only two species known of this genus, the one here figured is a native of the South of Europe, and is said to have been cultivated by Parkinson as far back as the year 1640, it is however by no means a common plant, owing perhaps to the difficulty of keeping it through the winter, when it is very apt to be destroyed by frost; it is easily raised from seeds which may be sown in the autumn, and if protected during the winter, will make strong plants to flower through the ensuing summer, continuing in beauty until the approach of winter—it likes a dry, sandy soil, and will not bear frequent removal,—the other species, Catananche lutea, is an annual not deserving of cultivation.

Pl. 34.

Plate 35. Coreopsis Grandiflora.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

COREOPSIS Grandiflora.

Large flowered Coreopsis.

Class and Order.—Syngenesia Polygamia Frustranea.

Syn. Coreopsis Grandiflora. Sweet's B. F. G. Vol. 2. pl. 175.

Root fibrous, creeping—Stem, tall, erect, branched. Leaves on short petioles ternate, leaflets lanceolate, acute—cauline leaves becoming more linear. Flowers large, terminal, on long, slender peduncles—Calyx double, exterior segments green, lanceolate acute; interior segments brown, membranaceous—Corolla bright yellow, radiated florets barren, dentate; florets of the disk fertile.

This fine species is so similar to C. Lanceolata, that it is only to be distinguished by the leaf, the flowers being alike in form and color, though perhaps a little larger in C. grandiflora—it was found by Professor Nuttall in the Arkansas, and was sent by him to Mr. Barclay about the year 1826; it is therefore from its late introduction yet rare in our collections, it promises to be of easy cultivation, its creeping roots throwing up a plentiful supply of young plants from which it may easily be propagated—a little protection in the winter may perhaps be desirable.

Amongst the most beautiful species of this genus are

C. lanceolata
— tinctoria.
— verticillata.
— tenuifolia.

Pl. 35.

Plate 36. Georgina Coccinea.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

GEORGINA coccinea.

Scarlet flowered Georgina.

Class and Order.—Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua.

Syn. Georgina Coccinea Wildenow Enum. Plant. Vol. 2. p. 338.

Dahlia Coccinea. Curt. Bot. Mag. pl. 762.

Root tuberous—stem upright, branched, growing from three to five feet high. Leaves pinnate, lower leaves sometimes bi-pinnate, leaflets serrate—flowers terminal, on long purple peduncles—calyx double, exterior segments somewhat reflexed, obtuse—corolla bright scarlet—radiated florets ovate, obtuse, furnished with a style only—florets of the disk, containing both stamens and pistils.

This distinct species, which is perhaps one of the most beautiful of the genus is readily distinguished by its small flower and foliage—it is a native of Mexico, and previous to its introduction to this country, by Mr. Fraser, in 1803, was cultivated in France,—endless varieties of this genus are constantly raised from seed, and by other means, and there is no flower to which we are so much indebted for ornamenting our gardens in the Autumn—the cultivation of this plant is so easy, and now so well known that little requires to be said on this point. Particular care, however, must be taken to keep the roots from frost; a poor soil will cause a smaller growth, and produce more flowers. The name Georgina was given to this genus by Wildenow, in honor of G. Georgi, a Russian Botanist, and as it is considered by the Continental and many English Botanists, to be the most correct, it has been here adopted, instead of Dahlia, a name very similar to that of another genus (Dalea) called after Dale the friend of Ray;[1] some of the most beautiful double Georginas are varieties of the Sambucifolia.

G. frustranea.	G. atro purpurea.
— superflua.	— rubra.
— alba.	— atro-rubra.
— flava.	— fulgens.
— purpurea.	— crocea.

[1] See Bot. Mag. page 762, and Sweets British Flower Garden, page 282.

Pl. 36.

Plate 37. Rudbeckia hirta.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

RUDBECKIA hirta.

Hairy Rudbeckia.

Class and Order.—Syngenesia Polygamia Frustranea.

Syn. Rudbeckia hirta. Pursh. Flo. N. A. page 574.

Root Fibrous—stem erect, branched, grooved. Radical leaves broad, lanceolate, cauline leaves sessile, unequal, margins undulate peduncles one flowered, terminal—calyx many segments, lanceolate, obtuse—corolla bright yellow—radiated florets, linear, lanceolate recurved, barren—florets of the disk fertile—whole plant hairy.

The genus Rudbeckia (called after Professor Rudbeck of Upsal who died in 1702) is a very ornamental one, its different species making a gay appearance in the Autumn. R. hirta is perhaps one of the most desirable, from its moderate size, seldom growing higher than two feet—it was introduced about the year 1714, it is a native of N. America, and is found on the mountains from Virginia to Florida—it likes a light rich soil, and is propagated by parting the roots, which should be done in the spring, as it flowers so late in Autumn as to prevent the removal in sufficient time for the plants to be well established before winter—it is rather tender, sometimes being destroyed by too much wet. The following are pleasing species:—

R. purpurea.
— fulgida.
— columnaris.
— speciosa.
— pinnata.

Pl. 37.

Plate 38. Scabiosa Caucasea.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

SCABIOSA Caucasea.

Caucasean Scabious.

Class and Order.—Tetrandria Monogynia.

Syn. Scabiosa Caucasea. Curt. Bot. Mag. pl. 886.

Root fibrous—stem erect, rising to the height of two feet or more—radical leaves on long channelled footstalks, lanceolate, acute, margins undulate, cauline leaves, connate, pinnatifid—peduncles one flowered, flowers terminal—involucre from eight to ten segments, lanceolate, acute—corolla delicate purple, segments trilobed, lobes obtuse, margins undulate, florets of the disk tubular, margins five-cleft—Calyx double—stamens four, anthers oblong, of a bright red, style longer than the stamens; stigma globose; germen downy.

This is perhaps the most beautiful species of the genus; and a highly ornamental plant in the Autumnal months, during which time it continues long in beauty, it is a native of Mount Caucasus, and according to the Bot. Mag. p. 886, was raised by Messrs. Loddiges from seeds received by them about the year 1803—a light soil suits it best, and it may be increased by parting its roots in the spring—it is quite hardy.

The genus Scabiosa is not a favorite one for a flower garden, though a few species may deserve a place in our collections—some of the most desirable are

S. alpina.
— tatarica.
— atropurpurea.
— lœvigata.

Pl. 38.

Plate 39. Lobelia fulgens.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

LOBELIA fulgens.

Refulgent Lobelia.

Class and Order.—Pentandria Monogynia.

Syn. Lobelia fulgens. Bot. Rep. pl. 659.

Root fibrous—stem erect, leafy, occasionally drooping at the summit, downy. Leaves alternate sessile, broad lanceolate, undulate, denticulate near the point, veined, becoming smaller towards the top of the stem—peduncles very short—calyx five segments, acute, downy—corolla monopetalous, very brilliant scarlet—tube oblong, inflated at the base, segments five, three lower ones, oblong, lanceolate, acute; two upper, small, linear, acute, recurved—stamens five—anthers oblong, style filiform—stigma compressed.

This brilliant ornament to the flower garden is a native of Mexico, and was raised from seeds sent by Humboldt and Bonpland, to this country, about the year 1809—it is a plant of easy cultivation, and is readily increased by parting the roots in Spring—it is hardy, but in the winter requires to be kept dry, as it is liable to decay from too much moisture, it is therefore the safest plan to put a few plants in a frame, divide them, and plant them about April, in a stiff soil, and moist situation, where they will flourish exceedingly, and make a splendid appearance until destroyed by frost—This species differs little from L. Splendens, which has its foliage more tinged with red and is devoid of that pubescence which distinguishes L. fulgens.

There are several beautiful species of this genus, but few are hardy, those most desirable for a flower garden are

L. splendens.
— cardinalis.
— amæna.
— tupa.

Pl. 39.

Plate 40. Aster Amellus.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Jun^r.

ASTER amellus.

Italian aster.

Class and Order.—Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua.

Syn. Aster Amellus. Hortus Kewensis, vol. 5, page 54.

Root fibrous—stem erect, branched, sometimes two feet high—leaves sessile, alternate, ovate lanceolate, obtuse—margins undulate. Flowers purple, corymbose, on short peduncles; calyx imbricated—radiated florets, linear, obtuse, furnished with a style only—florets of the disk fertile containing both stamens and pistils.

Few autumnal plants are more deserving of cultivation than the Aster Amellus—the beauty of the flower, its moderately low growth, and late flowering, rendering it a valuable plant for the season, and perhaps preferable to any of the genus—it is a native of the South of Europe, and was cultivated in this country, as long since as 1596, by Gerard, it will grow in any soil or situation, and flowers from September until destroyed by severe frost—it may be increased by dividing the roots, which according to Miller should not be moved oftener than every third year.

The genus aster is a very numerous one, and affords some ornamental species

A. alpina.	A. nova angliæ.
— blandus.	— spectabilis.
— elegans.	— pulcherrimus.
— grandiflorus.

Pl. 40.