AMARANTH. 253 



Amongst the most familiar of this genus of 

 plants is Amarantlms Caiidatus, known by the me- 

 lancholy name of Love-lies-bleeding, and which 

 the French call Discipline de Rdigieiise, and Queue 

 de Retmrd, Fox's Tail. This species, which is a 

 native of the East Indies, was cultivated by Ge- 

 rard, under the name of Branched Flower Gentle, 

 as long back as the time of Queen Elizabeth. 

 He tells us the seed was given him by Lord 

 Edward Zouche, and he describes the flower, 

 saying, '* I can compare the shape thereof to 

 nothing so fitly as to the velvet head of a stagge, 

 compact of such soft matter as is the same, but 

 of a deepe purple colour." 



The Three-coloured Amaranth, Tricolor, is also 

 a native of the East Indies, and which we can 

 trace back in our gardens to the year 1596, under 

 the name of Floramor and Passeuelours, and as 

 this species has always been cultivated more on 

 account of its three-coloured foliage than for its 

 flowers, we cannot forbear extracting the de- 

 scription which Gerard gives of this plant, since 

 he was the first who cultivated it in this country. 

 ** It farre exceedeth my skil to describe the 

 beautie and excellencie of this rare plant, called 

 Floramore, and I thinke the pensill of the most 

 curious painter will be at a staie when he shall 



