138 A GROTTP OF HARDY COMPOSITE PLANTS. 



A GROUP OF HARDY COMPOSITE PLANTS. 



In an Order comprising nearly one thousand distinct genera, a considerable 

 number of ornamental subjects might naturally be supposed to exist; but although 

 some of our most -valuable autumnal plants are undoubtedly contributed by 

 this tribe, their numbers bear but a small proportion to the host of -worthless 

 weeds with which they are associated. The beauty of many of them, however, 

 makes us forget the uninteresting characters of a large proportion, and did 

 this Order contain no other ornamental plants than the Dahlia and Chrysanthemum, 

 it would have strong claims to the attention of the Horticulturist. "We have 

 no intention of occupying our pages with remarks on the management of these 

 well-known plants, our purpose being to point out a few of those species which 

 may, with more propriety, be termed hardy herbaceous perennials. 



The botanical features of the plants of this Order are too apparent to need 

 any detailed description ; they are at once distinguished from those of nearly 

 every other Natural Family, by the flowers being collected into a head, and seated 

 upon a common receptacle, which is surrounded by several leaf-like segments, 

 sometimes united by the edges, aud termed an involucre ; a further characteristic 

 is the union of the five anthers of each floret into a tube, whence the name Syn- 

 genesia, the filaments themselves being distinct ; these two features occur in no other 

 Order. The Scabious tribe, Dip&acea, have their flowers produced in a head, but the 

 anthers in that order are not syngenesious. The Order is now generally divided 

 into three or four sub-orders, founded chiefly on the different form of the florets 

 composing the head. Under the name of Cklioraeecc, are included those genera 

 in which all the florets are ligulate, or strap-shaped, as in the Catananche and 

 Hawkweed. Lahiatifiorm contains a single genus, Mutisia, in which the central 

 florets are tubular, and those of the circumference two cleft or bilabiate. The 

 genera having all their florets tubular, as in the Centaury and common Thistle, 

 are designated collectively Cardmcecc or Cynaracem; whilst those in which the 

 central florets only are tubular, and those of the circumference ligulate, are termed 

 the Corymbiferm or Asteracea. For our present purposes a much simpler division 

 may be adopted ; discarding all botanical arrangement we will first name the 

 tall species, or such as exceed the height of two feet, and secondly, those of 

 dwarfer habit. 



Perhaps among the taller Composite plants, none better deserve the compliment 

 of being first named, than the splendid Mexican Thistle, JErythrolcena conspicua. 

 It frequently reaches the height of seven or eight feet, producing numerous 

 branches, with spinous foliage, often two feet in length, near the base of the 



