G N A 



G N A 



It belongs to the class ami oukr S^»:renesia 

 I'o/i/gamia Stiperfiua, and rjiiks in the natural 

 Older oi Com/josihe Di.sco'uitce. 



The characters arc : that the calyx is com- 

 nioM, rounded, imbricate, with the mar- 

 ginal scales roiinJeJ, scariose, coloured : tjie 

 corolla compound : corollets lierniaphrodiic, 

 tubular, \»i'.h apealous females sometimes in- 

 tcrmixl : hermaphroiliies tunnel-form, with a 

 live-cleft, relkx border: the stamina (in the 

 hermaphrodites) have five capillarv filaments, 

 very short: anther cvlindric, tubulons: the 

 pisiillum is an ovate germ : style filiform, the 

 length of the stamens; stigma bilid, in the fe- 

 males, refiex : there is no ptricarpium : calyx 

 permanent, shinina: the seeds solitary, ob- 

 long, small, crowned with a capillary or fea- 

 thered down : the receptacle is naked. 



The species are: I. G. arlureiim. Tree Ever- 



lastiujt ; 



G. ignescens, Hed-flowered Ever- 



lasting ; 3. G. oiientale. Eastern Everlasting, 

 or Immortal Flower ; 4. G. odoratUsiimnn, 

 Sweet-scented Everlasting, or Eternal Flower ; 

 5. G. margarilacemn, American Everlastinsi, or 

 Eternal Flower; 6. G. plnniaginetn/t, VlsLniani- 

 leaved Everlasting; 7. G. stccchas. Common 

 Shrubby Everlasting, or Stoechas. 



The first is a shrub the height of a man, de- 

 tenninately branched. The leaves resembling 

 those of rosemary, crowded, strict, acute, 

 naked, underneath tomentosc, as are also the 

 branches ; with smaller leaves alternate, remote. 

 The flowers are of a dusky white colour. It 

 flowers most part of the year. 



The second species has the stem and leaves 

 woolly; the former a foot high, sending out a 

 few sivHe-hranches, terminated bv a compound 

 cor\mb of flowers, the heads of which are small, 

 of a gold colour, changing to red as they fade 

 or decline. Its native situation is not known. 



1 he third has the stem seldom rising more 

 than three or four inches high, and putting out 

 many heads. The leavts are narrow, wooUv on 

 both sides, and coming out without order. The 

 flower-stems eight or ten inches high, with nar- 

 row hoar\- leaves all the way, terminated by a 

 compound corymb of bright yellow flowers in 

 large heads, coming out in May, and continu- 

 ing in succession most part of the summer. It 

 has been long in Portugal. 



It is improperly called Eastern Everlastini:, 

 according to Martyn, as it is supposed to be a 

 native of Africa. 



There is a shrubby variety with narrow leaves, 

 which differs from the other in rising with 

 stalks four or five feet high, dividing into many 

 braiiches, having long narrow leaves placed 

 alternately ; the corymb is looscj w ith the 



flowers on long pedicles, and with broad 

 leaves. 

 The fourth species has the lower leaves oblnngand 

 blunt. The stems about three leet high, dividing 

 into many irregular branche-, on which are ob- 

 long blunt leaves, hoary on their underside, but 

 cf a dark green above and dccurrent. The stems 

 are terminated by a comjio indcor\nibof flower.--, 

 closely joined together, of a bright L'old colour, 

 but small, and changing to a darker colour as 

 they fade, it is a native of the Cape. 



The (ilth has a perennial roof, creeping, and 

 spreading far, so as to become a troublesome 

 weed. Ihe stalks extremely downv and while. 

 The leaves are nunierou<, Ions, sessile, grow- 

 ing wiiiiout order round the stem, entire at the 

 edges, dark green, naked above, beneath cover- 

 ed with a thick down, and whitish. J'he flow- 

 ering branches fomi a broad flat bunch : each 

 branch contains numerous crowded heads, oti 

 short branched, downy peduncles, but the mid- 

 dle ones sessile. It is a native of North Ame- 

 rica. 



The sixth is perennial. From the main stalk 

 come out runners, which take root in the 

 ground. The stem-leaves are narrower, woolly, 

 alternate. The flowers in a terminating co- 

 rymb, w hite and small, appearing in June and 

 July. It is a native of North America. 



The seventh has the stem about three feet 

 high, with long slender irregular branches, the 

 lower ones having blunt Ic-Tves two inches and 

 a half long, and an eighth of an inch broad at 

 the end; those on the flower-stalks arc very 

 narrow, and end in acute point? ; the whole 

 plant being very woolly. The flowers terminat- 

 ing in a compound corymb, at first silverv, but 

 turning to a yellow sulphur-colour. When ca- 

 thered before the flowers are much opened, 

 Martyn says, the heads will continue in beauty 

 many years, if kept from air and dust. It is a 

 native of Gcrmanv. 



Culture. — The first four sorts mav be increas- 

 ed hy slips from the heads, or cuttings, by plant- 

 ing them in pots of light earth, in The sprinc or 

 summer m')riihs, and plunging them in a mo- 

 derate hot-bed, refreshing them often w ith wa- 

 ter. When they have taken tiill root thev mav 

 be removed into separate pots, and be placed 

 among other plants of the hardy exotic sort. 

 They require the protection of a frame in the 

 winter season. 



The seventh species may be increased in the 

 same manner, being planted at once where it is 

 to remain, in a shaSy sheltered border or other 

 place. 



The fifth and sixth sorts may be easily raised 

 by dividing and planting their creeping roots 



3 G 



