MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 105 



The annual Gaillardia pulchella "The Bride" bloomed 

 freely throughout the summer, the flowers being of a lemon- 

 yellow color. 



The sunflowers, Helianthus annum "Dazzler" and "Excel- 

 sior Miniature Hybrids" grew to a height of six feet. During 

 the greater part of the summer they were in full bloom, the 

 flowers containing various shades of red and orange, and 

 measuring about six inches across. 



Hibiscus sp., No. 46459, sent by the United States Govern- 

 ment, grew to a height of three feet. When grown under 

 glass the plants were normal, but outdoors the leaves were 

 malformed and the plant did not bloom. No trace of an insect 

 could be found that might have caused some injury. This 

 hibiscus was collected in Burringbar, New South Wales. It 

 is a native of Australia where it attains a height of twelve 

 feet, the large leathery foliage being eaten by stock. 



Due to the heat, the sweet peas grown in the early spring 

 were a failure, although the previous year they bloomed 

 abundantly until July 1. Best results have been obtained 

 when the plants were started indoors in February. 



The "Flanders Field Poppy," Papaver Rhocas, was grown 

 in the test garden in 1920 and proved successful. It was not 

 intended to be grown a second season, but as it reseeded 

 itself and the plants were so thrifty, it was allowed to remain. 

 The latter part of May the plants were in full bloom, the 

 flowers being twice the size and of a better color than those 

 of the previous year. 



Potentilla Mooniana, No. 47763, was received from the 

 United States Government on February 1. At that time it 

 appeared to be a valuable plant for formal bedding, the 

 white leaves forming a rosette and resembling Centaurea 

 gymnocarpa in color. After setting out, however, the plant 

 gradually deteriorated and after lifting in the fall finally died. 



On March 5 the United States Government sent three seeds 

 of castor bean (Ricinus communis. No. 49366) from Mexico 

 where it is said to grow wild in certain regions. The seeds 

 were very large, being 7/10 of an inch long and 3/5 of an 

 inch wide. These were sown April 25 and planted in the 

 test garden June 9. The three plants are shown in pi. 25, 

 fig. 1, photographed October 1, at which time they had 

 attained a height of thirteen feet, the leaves measuring two 

 and three feet across. The plants were very slow in producing 

 seed and it is doubtful whether any will ripen before frost. 



The other extreme in castor beans is shown in pi. 25, fig. 2. 



