l6o COMPOSITy?i. 



species, but will be considered more showy than either. The 

 flower-heads are purple, very large, and appear in July and 

 August. 



E. purpurea, syn. Rudbeckia purpurea {Pii7'ple E.) — This 

 species grows 4 or more feet high. The leaves are broadly 

 lance-shaped or egg-shaped. The flower-heads are large, with 

 long, rather flaccid, and drooping purple rays. Flowers in July 

 and August. Native of North America. 



E. serotina, syn. Rudbeckia serotina {Late-JIowe?'ing E.) — 

 This species grows about 3 feet high. The leaves are broadly 

 egg-shaped and slightly toothed. The flower-heads are large, 

 and the purplish-red ray florets are stiffly spreading. They 

 appear in August and September. Native of North America. 



Echinops {Globe Thistle). — This is a coarse but very striking 

 genus of Thistle-like plants, with large globular flower-heads 

 and great hoary leaves, which are quite as worthy the attention 

 of those who practise what is named subtropical gardening as 

 many farther-fetched things. But I do not put them forward 

 here for that purpose. They are mostly natives of woody or 

 bushy places in the south of Europe and the Levant, and are 

 adapted generally for naturalising in similar situations in 

 Britain. They are stiff" rigid plants, with a rather touch-me- 

 not air about them, which gives them a desirable character for 

 naturalising in half-kept places. They succeed in any garden- 

 soil, but best in that which is rather rough and stony. Propa- 

 gate by division in spring. 



E. Ritro {Smaller Globe Thistle). — This species is the most 

 fit of any of the group for culture in the mixed border. It 

 grows from 2 to 3 feet high, branching freely, the stems and 

 branches being clothed with large pinnatifid leaves, clothed 

 with cottony down beneath, and webbed above with the same. 

 The heads of flowers are globose and purplish blue. They 

 appear in summer and autumn. Native of southern Europe. 



E. ruthenicus {Russian Globe Thistle). — This species grows 

 about the same height as the last. The flower-heads are 

 similar in character, but the leaves terminate in stout spines, 

 as do also the lobes of the upper leaves. Flower-heads blue, 

 appearing in June, July, and August. Native of Sicily and 

 other countries of southern Europe and Russian Asia. 



E. sphaerocephalus {Roimd- headed Globe Thistle). — This 

 plant grows 5 or 6 feet high in rich soil, branching freely. The 

 leaves are large, pinnatifid, densely clothed with cottony down 

 below, and above with slightly glutinous hairs. The flower- 

 heads are very numerous, quite spherical, and pale blue, 

 appearing in July and August. 



