CENTAURE'A SUAVE'OLENS. 



YELLOW SULTAN. 



Class. Order. 



SYNGENESIA. POLYGAMIA FRUSTRANEA. 



Natural Order. 



CYNAROCEPHALEjE. 



No. 95. 



Centaurea is derived from a Greek word of simi- 

 lar construction, signifying a centaur. This appel- 

 lation was given after Chiron the centaur, who 

 is said to have used a species of the Centaurea to 

 cure himself of a wound, occasioned by the falling of 

 one of the arrows of Hercules on his foot. Suaveo- 

 lens from the Latin suavis, sweet. 



This most elegant and attractive flower may, 

 certainly, be ranked amongst the prettiest of Flora's 

 gifts, bestowed in the form of an annual. It occu- 

 pies but little room, therefore should be planted near 

 to the edge of the flower compartment. It is not so 

 hardy as many other annuals, but still requires no 

 great care, provided it be not sown too early in the 

 spring, nor planted in a cold moist situation. 



It is sometimes raised on a hotbed, and trans- 

 planted, but when so propagated, it should have a 

 quantity of soil taken up with the roots, and be 

 carefully watered and shaded afterwards. 



It does not freely produce seed, unless the head of 

 one flower be shaken over another, by which the 

 pollen is scattered, and the parts of fructification 



fertilized. 



Hort. Kew. 2, v. 5. 144. 



