both sides and shining, from a span to a foot in length, divided 

 deeply into opposite ovate lobes, which are bluntly toothed and 

 finely ciliate about the edges, placed on roundish petioles, with a 

 flat channel running along the upper surface. Both the leaves and 

 flower stems rise directly from the root : tlie former, by spreading 

 closely upon the ground in circular clusters, produce a good effect. 

 But though the leaves are said to be smooth, they are not without 

 v/hite bristles on both sides, especially along the nerves. The flow- 

 ers are white, and come out from about the middle to the top of the 

 slalk. They make their appearance in July or August, continuing 

 in blow a month or six weeks, and then produce seed. 



There is a variety of this plant in which the leaves are larger and 

 less sinuated, the upper side shining. 



The second sort, or Prickly Acanthus, has the leaves deeply 

 jagged in very regular order; each segment is terminated by a sharp 

 spine, as are also the petioles and the calyx of the flowers, so that 

 the plant is troublesome to handle. In both these species the leaves 

 and stalks are annual. 



The Holly-leaved Acanthus is an evergreen shrub, which rises 

 about four feet in height, dividing into many branches; the leaves 

 being similar to those of the common holly both in size and shape, 

 and also armed with spines in the same manner. The flowers come 

 out singly in an upright raceme at the end of the stalk, are white, 

 and shaped like those of the Common Acanthus, but smaller. 



The two first are thick, fleshy, fibrous-rooted plants, which spread 

 considerably, and penetrate the earth to a great depth. They are 

 found in their native state in Spain, Italy, and Portugal ; but grow 

 without difficulty in the open ground in this climate. 



The last is a very tender plant, which in this climate requires 

 the constant heat of the stove to preserve it. It is a native of South 

 America, and also of both tlie East and West Indies. It is retained 

 in hot-houses for the purpose of variety. 



Culture. — Both the Smooth and Prickly Acanthus are found to 

 succeed in any common soil without much attention to the nature of 

 the exposure, and are said by ISIiller to be lasting plants, which may 



