AMARANTH. 15 



also varies in colour, and which flowers at the same time ; — 

 the Spreading or Bloody Amaranth, with flowers of a red 

 purple, blowing from June to September; — the Pendulous 

 Amaranth, or Love-lies-bleeding, (Fr. discipline des reli- 

 gietises, the nuns'* whipping rope), with flowers of a red 

 purple, blowing in August and September; — the Cock''s 

 comb, or Crested Amaranth [Celosia in pentandria mono- 

 gynia], of which the flowers are red, purple, white, yellow, 

 or variegated, flowering in July and August; — and the 

 Globe Amaranth [Gomphrena in pentandria digynia; but, 

 like Celosia, still belonging to the same natural family of 

 Amaranthaceee], of which there are several varieties, white, 

 purple, striped, &c. The purple resembles clover raised 

 to an intense pitch of colour, and sprinkled with grains 

 of gold. The flowers, gathered when full grown, and 

 dried in the shade, will preserve their beauty for years, 

 particularly if they are not exposed to the sun. A 

 friend of the writer's possesses some Amaranths, both 

 purple and yellow, which he has had by him for several 

 years, enclosed with some locks of hair in a little marble 

 urn. They look as vivid as if they were put in yesterday; 

 and it may be added, that they are particulai'ly suited to 

 their situation. They remind us of Milton's use of the 

 Amaranth, when speaking of the multitude of angels as- 

 sembled before the Deity: 



" to the ground 



With solemn adoration down they cast 



Their crowns inwove with amaranth and gold ; 



Immortal amaranth, a flower which once 



In Paradise, fast by the tree of life. 



Began to bloom, but soon for man's offence 



To heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows 



And flowers aloft, shading the fount of life. 



And where the river of bliss through midst of heaven 



Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream ; 



With these that never fade, the spirits elect 



