Tas. 4480, 
ESPELETIA arcenteEa. 
Silvery Espeletia. 
Nat. Ord. Compositm.—SYNGENESIA SUPERFLUA. 
Gen. Char. Capitulum multifloram monoicum, fl. radii numerosissimis, disci 
tubulosis 5-dentatis bisexualibus, abortu masculis. Znvol. campanulatum im- 
bricatum polyphyllum. Recepé. planiusculum paleaceum, paleis membranaceis 
obtusis. Anthere exserte. Stylus radii bifidus gracilis, disci simplex. Ache- 
mia obovata subangulata calva, disci verosim. abortiva——Herbe cguinoct. 
Americane dense lanato-tomentose resinose perennes. Folia opposita integra. 
Capitula ramos terminantia corymbosa lutea. De Cand. 
Esprietta argentea; dense pulcherrime sericeo-tomentosa, caule brevi crasso 
foliaceo demum florifero elongato nudiusculo paniculato corymboso bracteato, 
foliis elongato-lanceolatis nervis obliquis, capituli radiis vix involucrum su- 
perantibus. 
EspEterta argentea, Humb. et Bonpl. Pl. Aiquinoct. v. 2. p.15.t. 71. De Cand. 
Prodr. v. 5. p. 516. 
* 
Cultivated in the greenhouses both of the Royal Gardens of 
Kew, and at Syon, at which latter place it flowered in the 
summer of 1848. ‘The seeds were sent in 1845 from the Para- 
mo of Siejo, New Granada, by Mr. Purdie, who says it 1s there 
called “ Frailejon.’ ‘the whole plant has a peculiar and cer- 
tainly somewhat terebinthine odour, and yields, like the genus 
Silphium (to which Espeletia is allied mm essential characters) a 
copious gum-resin, used in the preparation of ink and for tee 
purposes. M. Bonpland seems to have omitted the rays of the 
capitula in his figure, though he expressly says in the description 
“ fleurs radiées.” In other respects the figure and description 
. : 4 
Me ee ae oe ul and remarkable plant, and 
Duscr. 'Lhis is really a beautiful ? 
a stately one when i Bower, attaining then the height of five 
or six féet. Before flowering, however, the appearance is very 
unk six or 
different. A plant of three or four years old has a trun 
eight inches high and as thick as one’s wrist, _ bare below, 
DECEMBER Ist, 1849. 
