gardens, having; been received from France under different 

 names. But, though perhaps, long lost to our collec- 

 tions, it was introduced to the Royal Gardens of Kew so 

 long ago as the year 1775, by J. Nicholas de Jacquin : 

 and was, probably, previously to that time, detected at 

 Algarbia, in Portugal, by Masson, while collecting for His 

 Majesty George III. It seems to be a native of several 

 parts of the coast of Portugal ; and also, according to 

 Desfontaines, of Barbary also. It is, probably, not hardy 

 enough to bear the open border ; but in a cool green- 

 house, few plants make a more striking appearance, 

 flowering in August and September. 



Descr. Stems very short, frequently, however, bearing 

 several flowering: tufts of leaves. Leaves from four to six 

 inches long, spreading, broad-spathulate, acute, glaucous- 

 green, three to five-nerved, tapering into a narrow petiole, 

 which is again a little dilated at the very base. Peduncles 

 two to three from the centre, or near the centre of the tufts 

 of leaves, a foot to a foot and a-half long, terete, erect, 

 moderately flexuose, the apex sheathed by the long tubular 

 base of the lower brae teas. Heads of blossoms large (two 

 to three inches wide), handsome full rose colour. Brae- 

 teas under the capitulum several, imbricated, broad-ovate, 

 sharply acute. Flowers crowded. Calyx funnel-shaped; 

 the upper half scariose, five- toothed, plicate, each tooth 

 with a rather long arista. Petals obovato - spathulate, 

 spreading, clawed. Stamens five, exserted : Anthers pur- 

 plish. Styles five. 



Fig. 1. Flower with one of its Bracteas. 2. Calyx: — magnified. 



