Involucre long, conical : scales lanceolate, outer ones reflex- 
ed, somewhat foliaceous, green with a purple tinge, spinous 
at the margin and tipped with a long, sharp spine ; the rest 
erect, imbricated, linear-lanceolate, somewhat membrana- 
ceous, very sharp, but scarcely spinous, of a beautiful 
deep orange-red colour. Florets several, inserted upon a 
convex, fleshy, pitted receptacle, interspersed with numer- 
ous chaffy hairs. Corolla yellowish, scarcely longer than 
the involucre, tubular; limb cut into five long, linear seg- 
ments. Anthers purple, much protruded, bisetose at the 
base: filaments purplish, rough. Style considerably ex- 
serted. Stigma clavate, bifid, purple. Germen oblong, 
glabrous. Pappus sessile, the hairs beautifully plumose. 
_ This extremely beautiful plant, which is already becom- 
ing a general ornament to our flower borders, was intro- 
duced to this country from Mexico, by Mr. Butxocx ; and 
first raised by Mr. Tare of the Sloane Street Nursery, 
under the name of the Scarlet Thistle. It was early brought 
to flower in the highest degree of perfection by Mr. Barczay, 
at Bury hill, by planting it in the border against a South 
wall. So situated, it thrives most luxuriantly in the latter 
end of summer, and a succession of blossoms appear till the 
plant is cut down by the frost. The Glasgow Botanic 
Garden is indebted to Mr. Barcray for its introduction 
there ; and even in this Northern latitude it thrives well in 
the exposed flower bed. 
—_—,~ 
Fig. 1. Floret, with some of the chaffy hairs of the Rece i 
3 4 ¢ ptacle at its base. 
2. Searcely mature Germen. 3. Hair from the Pappus.—Magnified. _ 
