THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 159 



The original plant, with a l)l<)tch of red at the hase of 

 each ray-flower, is known as Rudbcckia Jiirta t^ulchcmuia. 

 Another form with ray-flowers entirely red is R. Ii. rubra. 

 Still others have reversed the color of the original, thus pro- 

 ducing vellow rays tipped with red forming a sort of douhle 

 halo around the disk. This is the form R. h. annulata. A 

 form with (juilled rays has been name R. li. tuhulifornic and 

 a partial albino with lemon-yellow flowers is R. li. fJavescens. 

 Double flowers have been found repeatedly but seem never to 

 have been namd. 



Still another form, with two distinct shades of yellow 

 on its ravs. has recently appeared. The deeper color, oc- 

 cupving the position of the red in the pidchcrrima form is 

 suspected of indicating a character for red which might be 

 bred out if desired. In any case the form is best handled 

 l)v name and it is here proposed to call it Rudbcckia Iiirta 

 dicliroua, in allusion to the two shades of color on its rays. 



The longer one works with Rudbcckia Iiirta, the clearer 

 it becomes that the botanic'd species consists of a large 

 number of elementary forms. Some are nearly annual, dying 

 soon after blooming, while otiiers are biennials or even 

 ^^trong perennials. There is as much difference in the shape 

 of the leaves as there is in the leaves of the much-described 

 evening-primrose. Among the conspicuous forms is one with 

 unusually luxuriant leaves, and flower-heads measuring up to 

 four inches in diameter. The involucral bracts in this form 

 ;ire more than an inch long with spreading leafy tips. This 

 is trulv a gigantic form and may well be called R. Ii. (jiijantca. 



