This fine species constantly rising in value by the pro- 

 duction of fresh varieties of the richest and brightest 

 colours, is becoming one of the most general ornaments 

 of our flower-gardens in autumn. It is raised from seed 

 with the freedom of an annual, and the varieties are multi- 

 plied and perpetuated with the certainty and extensiveness 

 of a perennial. Only two species are yet known to us, 

 and these separated by marks, both wavering and indis- 

 tinct. Friistranea is however, as far as we have observed, 

 a slenderer plant than the present, with a narrower foliage, 

 smaller flower, ami a stem with a more conspicuous coating 

 of the whitish hoar-like etlloresence, termed bloom in 

 fruit. Both species grow to the height of seven or eight 

 feet, with stems in proportion, and are leafy and branched 

 throughout. The filaments of the stamens are elastic, and 

 "by extension admit of the anther being protruded above the 

 floret by the impulse of the stigmas from within; as, charged 

 with pollen, they advance to their station through its 



a 



t the sum- 



o-vaivea memnrane which opposes tneir outlet 



rnit ; withdrawing the same to its place when these have 



passed. 



t 



A 



requiring a deep bed of 



e } 



mould for its cultivation; and that the roots should be 

 taken up and preserved from frost and 

 ter, in a shelter where they can be covered with dry sand 

 or ashes. When the roots are divided, in order to multiply 

 the plant, care should be taken to remove a portion of the 

 rootstock, containing at least one eve or bud in the de- 

 tached part. 



Native of Mexico. Introduced by the way of Spain in 

 1789, by the late Lady Bute. 



The drawing of the present showy varietv, lately received 

 from Paris, was made at the nursery of 'Messrs. Lee and 

 Kennedy, Hammersmith. 



a The outer and inner calyxes without florets, b The lower section of a 

 fl>ret of the ray, showing the tube and germen detached from each other. 

 c A floret of the disk, with the chaff or bracte attached to the germen, 

 showing the anther, as protruded by the style from within, before a passag 

 II yielded to the stigmas through the valves of its summit, d The same 

 after the stigmas have emerged from within the anther, and this has beea 



Withdrawn within the floret by the contraction of the elastic filaments. 



s 



^ 





