Amaranth are used in hot countries as culinary plants, but 

 are not equal to the spinach, which they somewhat resemble. 

 The greater number of species are annuals. 



GLOBE AMARANTH. 

 Gomphrena. 



Gomphrena, a name adopted by Linnaeus, from Dale- 

 champ, and which is perverted from the Gomphrena of 

 Pliny. Linnaeus made it classical, by an allusion to Gom- 

 phos, a nail, wedge, or club applied to the round head of 

 flowers. 



The Gomphrena of the ancients, is supposed to be the 

 Amaranthus tricolor, from the description given of it by 

 Pliny. By the transposition of a letter, this name became 

 Gomphrena, in some old writers, in which form it was 

 adopted by Linnaeus. 



Gomphrena comes under the denomination of Ever- 

 lasting, or Amaranthus, on account of the permanent na- 

 ture of their calyx when dried, which retains its original 

 colour and splendour. 



The G. Globosa is a native of India an annual. Ca- 

 lyx coloured; the outer, of three unequal leaves; inner, in 

 five deep segments. Corolla cylindrical, of one petal, the 

 length of the inner calyx; its margin equally five-cleft, 

 spreading, bearing the stamens at its orifice. Filaments 

 five, short, inserted into the orifice of the corolla, betwixt 

 its segments; anthers erect, roundish, closing the mouth of 

 the corolla. Pist. German ovate, pointed, superior; styles 

 short, cohering at their base; stigmas simple, obtuse, scarce- 

 ly reaching to the stamens. Seed large, roundish, with an 

 oblique point. 



The Globe Amaranth offers several varieties white, 

 purple, speckled with gold, and variegated. They resemble 

 heads of clover, in the form of their flowers. 



The late flowering variegated G. /2. are called Bache- 

 lors' Buttons, in America, according to the Encyclopedia. 



AMARYLLIS. 



Amaryllis, derived either from the name of a shepherd- 

 ess, mentioned by Theocritus and Virgil, or from the Greek 

 xnxfvy ,ux, or *,uxfuyn, splendour from xftx(\i<r<ru>, to shine, 

 glitter, sparkle, flash the Lilio-Narcissus of Tourne- 

 fort. 



"Amaryllis Formosissima, most beautiful Amaryllis, 

 hangs its nodding bell obliquely towards the horizon, and 

 as its stem is slender, turns, like a weathercock, from the 

 wind; and thus, very effectually, preserves its inclosed sta- 

 mens and anthers from the rain and cold affording an 

 agreeable example of art in the vegetable economy." 



See Darwin. 



" When Heaven's high vault condensing clouds deform, 

 Fair Amaryllis flies the incumbent storm; 

 Seeks, with unsteady step, the shelter'd vale, 

 And turns her blushing beauties from the gale." 



Darwin. 



It received the name of Jacobea Lily, because some 

 imagined that they discovered in it, a likeness to the badge 



of the order of the knights of the order of St. James, in 

 Spain. R. Encyclopedia. 



It is a native of South America. The flowers are pro- 

 duced from the sides of the bulbs, are large, and of a deep 

 red. 



The calyx is a spathe, undivided ; corolla two lipped, 

 nodding, deeply six-parted, stamens and pistils bent down. 



There are many species of the Amaryllis, with various 

 coloured flowers, purple, yellow, &tc. The yellow, Ji. Lu- 

 tea, a smaller variety, seldom rising more than three or four 

 inches high, is a native of France, kc., very hardy, flowering 

 late, generally in September. 



Ji. Sarniensis, Guernsey Lily, is a splendid species. 

 The number of flowers is commonly from eight to twelve, 

 and the circumference of each about seven inches; the co- 

 rolla, in its prime, has the colour of a fine gold tissue, 

 wrought on a rose-coloured ground, and when it begins to 

 fade, it is pink: in full sunshine, it seems to be studded 

 with diamonds; but by candle-light, the specks or spangles 

 appear more like fine gold-dust: when the petals are some- 

 what withered, they assume a deep crimson colour. This 

 beautiful plant is a native of Japan, and has long been na- 

 turalized in Guernsey, whence the roots are sent to most 

 parts of Europe. 



AMBROSIA. 



Ambrosia, formed of the two Greek words, (not) and 

 /Sfsrs,- (human) signifying divine, immortal; because it ren- 

 dered those who fed on it, immortal; or, because it was the 

 food of the immortals. 



" The imaginary food of the gods, from which every 

 thing eminently pleasing to the smell and taste, is called 

 Ambrosia." Johnson. 



Thus, while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd 



All Heaven, and the blessed spirits elect 



Sense of new joy ineffable diffused. Milton. 



To farthest shores th' ambrosial spirit flies, 



Sweet to the world, and grateful to the skies. Pope. 



Ambrosia for to feast the appetite, 



Or flowery odour mix'd with spicery. G. Fletcher. 



Here is beauty for the eye; 

 For the ear sweet melody; 

 Ambrosiack odours for the smell. 



B. Johnson. 



The general character of Ambrosia, is a common one- 

 leafed calyx, corolla of the male compound, uniform, and 

 hemispherical; (no corolla to the female) the proper, one- 

 petalled, funnel-shaped; the stamina have very small fila- 

 ments, anthers erect, parallel, and acuminate; pistillum of 

 the length of the stamens, stigma membranous; a common 

 receptacle, scarcely any, naked. Female flowers, below the 

 males, doubled; one-leafed calyx; the pistillum a germ 

 ovate, in the bottom of the calyx; style filiform, of the same 

 length with the calyx, two stigmas; seed single and roundish. 



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