informs us, it has thriven well in the Succulent house under 
conditions suitable for species of Sempervivum and similar 
plants. It is not difficult to grow, and in sandy Joam in not 
too Jarge a pot it will flourish for several years. Owing, 
however, to the liability of old plants to die it is desirable to 
keep a second and younger specimen in reserve. It is 
readily propagated by means of cuttings. The fleshy leaves 
and the absence of appendages to the involucral bracts 
render this species a distinct and well-marked one. But 
while there is no question as to this, its generic position has 
been disputed ; some authorities, among them Mr. Rouy, 
regard it as a Serratula; others, whom we preter to follow, 
accept the view of Professor Bertolini and treat it as a 
Centaurea. | 
Description.— Undershrubd up to 2 ft. high, sparingly 
branched, stem densely leafy, round, glabrous. Leaves long- 
spathulate, obtuse, much narrowed to the base, 24-34 in. 
long, }-1 in. wide, entire, thick, glabrous; lateral nerves 
3-4 on each side, ascending, distinct. Heads 3-4-nate, 
nearly 2 in. wide when open, on long branches; peduncles 
elongated, up to 14 in. long, sparingly bracteate, longi- 
tudinally channelled, about 2 in. thick, slightly swollen and 
angled towards the top, glabrous; bracts linear, somewhat 
leafy. Involucre ellipsoid-globose, narrowed at the tip, 3 in. 
long, in the middle 3 in. across, Jnvolueral bracts. 6-T- 
seriate, gradually increasing in length upwards, blunt, the 
outermost ovate-lanceolate, about 14 lin. long, 1 lin. wide, 
firmly coriaceous, glabrous, the innermost more membranous, 
linear, nearly 3 in, long, over 1 lin. wide. Receptacle 
densely setose; setae whitish, about 1 in. long, glabrous. 
Flowers purple, rarely rosy or white. Corolla-tube slightly 
curved, slender, nearly 3 in. long, slightly widened upwards, 
glabrous ; lobes linear, obtuse, nearly } in. long. Anthers 
3 in. long, filaments puberulous. Pappus 2-seriate; outer 
setae short, } in. long, inner larger, over t in. long, all more 
or less barbellate. —Achenes oblong, } in. long, glabrous. 
Style far exserted. 
Fig. 1, part of receptacle showing setae; 2, flower; 3 tae ; 
> a ‘a ? ’ 2 pappus BeuR , 
4, anthers; 5, style-arms; 6, base of style :—all enlarged. f 
