108 



LABIAT^FLORtE. 



[part I. 



the singularity of their formation. Mutisia latifolia 

 (see fig. 46) has a large, woolly involucre, the 

 |\ A ^ scales of which are 



{il ) i] I I /] A of two kinds, the 



VA .,\ t. /' //^' outer ones, (a), 



being pointed and 

 leaf-like, and the 

 inner ones, (^), 

 having the ap- 

 pearance of scaly 

 bracts. The flo- 

 rets of the ray, 

 (c), are narrow, 

 and spreading in 

 the fully expand- 

 ed flower ; and 

 those of the disk, 

 (f/), are shorter, 

 erect, divided into 

 two lips, which curl back, and the lower one 

 of which is again divided into two segments 

 (as shown at e in the detached floret). The 

 leaves of this plant are very curious ; the mid- 

 rib is lengthened and drawn out into a ten- 

 dril, as shown atyj and the petiole {g) is decur- 

 rent. There are several other genera belonging 

 to this tribe, but none of them are particularly 

 ornamental except Ti^iptilion spinosiim^ which 

 has flowers of the most brilliant blue, that do 

 not lose the intensity of their colour in drying. 



Fig. 46. — Flower and Leaf of 

 Mutisia Latifoll*.. 



