3^2 FLORA HISTORICA. 



AFRICAN MARYGOLD. Tagetes Ereda. 

 FRENCH MARYGOLD. Tagetes Patula. 



Katural Order Compositce Oppositifolia. Corymhiferm, 

 Jiiss. A Genus of the Syngenesia Polygamia Su- 

 perjiua Class. 



As wands of divination downward draw, 



And point to beds where sov'reign gold doth grow. 



Dryden. 



The generic name of these Mexican flowers is 

 said to have been derived from Tages^ a grandson 

 of Jupiter, who first taught the science of augury 

 and divination, to the twelve nations of the Etru- 

 rians, who from hence became so celebrated for 

 their pretended knowledge of omens and incanta- 

 tions. But as Tages could not have taught the 

 use of plants peculiar to lands which the gods 

 themselves had not visited, we think the name 

 badly adapted, unless the Spaniards pretend that 

 they were instructed through the arts of Tages to 

 seek for the precious metal in fields covered with 

 these golden flowers ; and this will be as readily 

 believed as that the species call French Marygolds 

 became first stained and marked with a dark red 



