Receptacle chaffy, or naked. Feather bristly. Empalement tiled, rayed; the ray coloured.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
Xeranthemum, foliis alternis amplexicaulibus longo-lanceolatis undulatis, caulibusque erectis pubescentibus; receptaculis nudis, radice annua.
Xeranthemum, with alternate stem-clasping long-spear-shaped waved pubescent leaves, pubescent erect stems, naked receptacles, and annual root.
Xeranthemum bracteatum. Vent. Jard. de la Malmaison, tab. 2.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A hermaphrodite floret magnified.
2.The chives, pointal and seed-bud magnified.
3.The pointal and seed-bud of a female floret magnified.
4. The receptacle
Xeranthemum bracteatum has the appearance of proving as hardy an annual as a China Aster or French Marygold; and if so, will prove a considerable acquisition to our open borders; as it ripens its seeds well, and they vegetate readily.
In being annual, it recedes in its nature from all the species of the genus we are acquainted with, except X. annuum of Linnæus; which, however, we think, with Jussieu, of a perfectly distinct genus; on account of its squamous receptacle; and its variety (inapertum) a distinct species: the structure of the receptacle in the extensive class Syngenesia being of great consequence in the formation and distribution of genera.
The seedlings of the waved-leaved Eternal Flower are best raised early, like China Asters, on a gentle hot-bed, and, when large enough, should be transplanted out in showery weather, where they are intended to remain: they will become erect and bushy, attain the height of three feet or upwards, and produce their polished, golden-coloured flowers in autumn, in profusion. Possessing no recent specimens in bloom, we have omitted a technical description. Our drawing was made last summer, from fine living plants at Mr. Colvill’s, Nurseryman, in the King’s Road; who raised it in the year 1799 from Port Jackson seeds sent him by Colonel Paterson.[Pg 31]