The STARWORT, Aster, is a hardy flowering plant not very attractive, except as it yields blossoms at all seasons, if the foot stalks are cut off as soon as the flower has faded, there are very numerous varieties of this plant which is, in Europe a perennial, but it is preferable to treat it here as only biennial, otherwise it degenerates.
The Bushy Starwort, A dumosus, is a free blossoming plant in the rains, with white flowers.
The Silky leaved Starwort, A. sericeus, is Indigenous in the hills, putting forth its blue blossoms during the rains.
The Hairy Starwort, A pilosus, is of very pale blue, and may, with care, be made to blossom throughout the year.
The Chinese Starwort, A chinensis, is of dark purple and very prolific of blossoms at all times.
The BEAUTIFUL JUSTICIA, J speciosa, although, described by Roxburgh as a perennial, degenerates very much after the second year, it affords bright carmine colored flowers at the end of the cold weather.
The COMMON MARVEL OF PERU, Mirabilis Jalapa Gul abas, krushna kelee, is vulgarly called the Four o'clock from its blossoms expanding in the afternoon. There are several varieties distinguished only by difference of color, lilac, red, yellow, orange, and white, which hybridize naturally, and may easily be obliged to do so artificially, if any particular shades are desired.
The HAIRY INDIGO, Indigofera hirsuta, yields an ornamental flower with abundance of purple blossoms.
The HIBISCUS This class numbers many ornamental plants, the blossoms of which all maintain the same character of having a darkened spot at the base of each petal.
The Althaea frutex, H syriacus, Gurhul, yields a handsome purple flower in the latter part of the rains, there are also a white, and a red variety.