182 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



common taste. The flowers are disposed in panicles, with a 

 yellow eye, surrounded by a purple ring, bordered by pale- 

 blue or white. It does not exceed one foot in height. "From 

 its humble stature and neat growth it is peculiarly suited for 

 culture in masses ; a style of planting showy flowers which 

 produces a striking effect, where it can be pursued on a tolera- 

 bly extensive scale." 



G. tenuiflora. Slender-flowered. A new hardy annual 

 from California. Mr. Douglass has appended the name Gilia 

 splendens to the plant, but it does not certainly merit such an 

 appellation, being much inferior to G. tricolor. The flowers 

 of the present species are produced upon slender, branching 

 stems, which rise to about two feet high ; each flower is about a 

 quarter of an inch across, of a pale rose color, slightly streaked 

 with red outside, and of a fine violet in the inside. The flowers 

 do not produce much show where a single plant is grown ; but, 

 if grown in masses, it makes a pretty addition to the flower- 

 garden. 



G. capitata. Headed Gilia. A pretty hardy annual, 

 with blue, and a variety with white, flowers, in clusters or 

 heads ; from June to August ; two feet high. 



GOMPHRENA. 



Globe Amaranth. 



" Amaranths such as crown the maids 

 That wander through Zamara's shades." 



Gomphrena globosa, Globe Amaranth, of which there are 

 three common varieties, the white and the purple and the 

 striped, are desirable for their heads of flowers, which, if gath- 

 ered before they are too far advanced, will retain their beauty 

 for several years. The seed is difficult to vegetate in the 

 open ground ; soaking in milk twelve hours is recommended ; 

 scalding, perhaps, would do better. 



