SEA-DAHLIA.
Leptosyne maritima, Gray. Composite Family.
Leaves.—Alternate; sometimes six inches long; two or three times divided into rather sparse, linear divisions; quite succulent. Flower-heads.—Solitary; on naked peduncles from six inches to two feet long; large; three or four inches across; yellow; of disk- and ray-flowers. Rays.—Narrowly oblong; ten-nerved; three-toothed. Involucre.—Double; the outer part of several loose, leafy scales; the inner of eight to twelve, erect, more chaffy ones. Hab.—The seashore of San Diego and the islands.
On the cliffs overlooking the sea, where its merry yellow faces can watch the white-crested breakers as they chase one another ashore in never-ending succession, and where the pelicans sail lazily over in lines, and gulls circle and scream, the sea-dahlia flaunts its large yellow flowers. They closely resemble the yellow single dahlias of our gardens; but the foliage is cut into long lobes, and has the appearance of a coarse, very open lace. The odor of the flowers is not especially agreeable, but the plant merits a place in the garden for its beauty.
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