124 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



There is a purple and white variety, both very double, forming 

 a spike about one foot high. It was known in Gerarde's time, 

 and cultivated by him in 1597. He remarks, " By the indus- 

 try of some of our* florists, within these two or three years, hath 

 bin brought unto our knowledge a very beautiful kind of these 

 Dame violets, having very fair, double, white floures." These 

 double varieties are very difficult to preserve, consequently 

 rarely to be seen. 



HELIANTHUS. 



Sun-Flower. 



Hdiantkus, from Greek, signifying the sun and a flower. 

 Nothing can be a more complete ideal representation of the 

 sun, than the gigantic annual Sun-flower, with its golden rays. 

 It is dedicated, with great propriety, to the sun ; but the idea, 

 entertained by some, that the flowers are turned to the sun at 

 all hours of the day, is erroneous. 



. There are varieties of indigenous perennial Sun-flowers, that 

 produce a profusion of yellow flowers in autumn ; which, being 

 generally tall-growing plants, (from four to six feet high,) might 

 be an additional ornament to extensive shrubberies. 



Helianthus multiflora. Many-flowered. The double vari- 

 ety of this plant has large deep-yellow flowers, in August and 

 September, of the size and form of the Dahlia. It has thick, 

 fleshy roots, every piece of which will make a strong plant when 

 planted in the spring. I have found it rather tender in moist 

 ground, but in dry locations, with a little protection, it stands 

 the winter; five to six feet high. 



HEMEROCALLIS. 



Day Lily. 



Hemerocattis. from the Greek words, signifying beautiful 

 day-lily ; part of the tribe is now separated in the genus Funlcia. 

 It is an ornamental tribe, of the easiest cultivation. 



