ZERANTHEMUM ZINNIA. 215 



ZERANTHEMUM. 



Zeranthemum, from Greek words signifying dry and a 

 Jlower, on account of the dry nature of the leaves of the calyx, 

 which retain their color and form for many years. 



Zeranthemum annum, Purple Everlasting, and a variety 

 with white flowers, are popular border annuals, of easy culture 

 in light, rich soil. Like the Helichrysums, they are valued for 

 their properties of retaining their colors and form, when 

 gathered and dried, and much prized in forming winter bou- 

 quets for vases, &c. 



ZINNIA. 



Handsome border annual plants, requiring the same cultiva- 

 tion as the Marigold. 



Zinnia elegans, with its varieties, are all handsome flowering 

 plants ; in bloom from July to October ; two or three feet high. 

 The colors of some of the varieties are very brilliant, and par- 

 ticularly the scarlets. The colors are white, pale to dark yellow, 

 orange to scarlet; shades from rose to crimson, from crim- 

 son to light purple, lilac, &c. The flowers are handsome 

 when it first commences the process of blooming ; the cen- 

 tral, or disk part of it, which contains the florets, as they begin 

 to form seed, assume a conic shape, and a brown, husky appear- 

 ance, which gives the flower a coarse, unsightly look. 



