190 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



LIMNANTHUS. 



Limnanthus Douglassii. Mr. Douglass' Limnanthes. - A 

 native of California, from whence it was sent by Mr. Douglass. 

 The plant is annual, quite hardy, decumbent, stems growing 

 ten or twelve inches long. The ends are crowned with nu- 

 merous fragrant flowers, each about an inch across, much 

 resembling in size and form the Nemophila grandiflora. A 

 large portion of the flower is a deep yellow, the extremities of 

 the petals being white. It blooms from June to August. Lim- 

 nanthes, from lumen, a lake, and anthos, a flower ; the plant, 

 probably, in its native habitats, growing by the sides of lakes, 

 rivers, &c. 



LOASA. 



A curious genus, mostly annuals, remarkable for the beauty 

 of their singular flowers, and as remarkable for the stinging 

 appendages of the plants. 



Loasa acanthifolia and Irionifolia. These are elegant yel- 

 low flowers, very curious in their structure ; but the plants pos- 

 sess one quality which must forever banish them from the 

 pleasure garden ; the whole plant is covered with hairs, which, 

 on being even slightly touched, eject a poison into the flesh, 

 causing a painful blister, the effect of which does not pass off 

 for several days. 



L. lateritia. Brick-red Loasa. It is a native of South 

 America ; a climber, growing twelve to twenty feet in a sea- 

 son. The seed should be sown in a warm border, early in 

 May. The flowers are prettily colored between a brick-red and 

 orange shade, and produced in profusion through the summer 

 and autumn. It is very ornamental, when properly trained 

 upon a trellis ; but it will be best not to come within touching 

 distance of the plant without a good pair of gloves. 



L. pentlandica is another beautiful species, of later introduc- 



