Class and Order.
Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua.
Generic Character.
Recept. nudum. Pappus plumosus vel capillaris. Cal. imbricatus, squamis marginalibus rotundatis, scariosis, coloratis.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
GNAPHALIUM eximium foliis sessilibus ovatis confertis erectis tomentosis, corymbo sessili. Linn. Mant. Pl. p. 573. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. Gmel.
ELYCHRYSUM africanum foliis lanceolatis integris tomentosis decurrentibus, capitulus congestis ex rubello aureis. Edw. Av. t. 183.
In the summer of 1794, towards the end of July, the Gnaphalium here figured, the most magnificent and shewy of all the species hitherto introduced to this country, flowered in great perfection at Messrs. Lee and Kennedy's, Hammersmith: Mr. Lee informs me, that he raised it from seeds given him by Capt. William Paterson, author of a Narrative of four journeys into the country of the Hottentots, and Caffraria, and who has most laudably exerted himself in introducing many new and interesting plants to this country; this gentleman assured Mr. Lee, that the plant was found in a wild state, five hundred miles from the Cape, on the borders of the Caffre country, from whence the natives bring bundles of the dried plant to the Cape as presents; in the state the plant has long since been imported from that fertile coast: if we mistake not, a specimen of this sort is figured in Petiver's works, and a coloured representation is given of it in Edwards's History of Birds, taken from a dried plant, brought from the Cape, by Capt. Isaac Worth, in 1749.
The plants we saw were about a foot and a half high, the stalks shrubby, and but little branched; the foliage and flowers as represented on the plate.