AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



433 



Dahlia continued . 



20ft. and upwards, less branched, and assuming more the aspect 

 of a tree than any other species. (B. 8&.) 



D. glabrate (smooth). A synonym of D. Hereto. 



PIG. 606. FLOWERS AND LEAF OF DAHLIA MERCKL 



D. gracilis (slender). jL-head* brilliant orange-scarlet ; involucral 

 bracts small, narrow. Summer and autumn. L bipinnate, 

 glabrous ; leaflets OTate, coarsely crenate. A. 4ft. to 5ft (B. G. 

 *1.) 



D. imperialis (imperial).* fl.-headt white, tinged with lilac, and 

 streaked with blood-red at the base, drooping, bell- shaped; 

 disposed in large spreading panicles, 3ft. to 6ft across. A. 10ft 

 to 12ft. Mexico, 1863. This remarkable and beautiful species, 

 from its not flowering till late in the autumn, does not fully per- 

 fect itself out of doors, and should, consequently, be removed 

 to the greenhouse or conservatory early in October. See Fig. 

 603. (B. M.5183.) 



D. Juarezii (Juarez's).* Cactus Dahlia, fl.-headt brilliant scarlet ; 

 florets overlapping each other, and varying in length, thus giving 

 the flower an irregular appearance, h. 3ft A form which 

 originated under cultivation in Mexico. Very distinct and re- 

 markable : well worth the most extensive cultivation. See 

 Fig. 604. 



Dahli*->nttn<i. 



D. Meroki (Merck's), ft.-head* white and yellow, or lilac and 

 yellow, %mall, with a good outline. October. A. 2ft to 4ft. 

 1839. STN. D. glabrata. See Fig. 605, for which we are indebted 



Io64, 31,) 



D. snperfiua (superfluous). 

 D. 



A synonym of D. twrioWO. 



. varlabilia (variable* fi.-tuad* very variable. August an.l 

 September. 17W. This is probably the first specie* introduced. 

 and whence by far the majority of forms now very common, have 



See Fig. 606. In the wild state, the central, or 

 an said to be yellow, null, andtubular. and the 

 r ray floret*, only conspicuous and highly coloured 

 shade of scarlet STNS. D. errata, D. tuperjtuo. 

 Ylridiflora, (green-flowered). JL-headjt pure self-green, Pom- 

 one size, double, and fnll-petalled. A curious monstrosity, of 



marginal, or ray 

 in 

 D. 

 pone 

 garden origin. 



FIG. 606. FLOWERING BRANCH OF A DOUBLE VARIETY 

 OF DAHLIA VARIABILJS. 



VARIETIES. Subjoined is a large selection of the best 

 garden Dahlias cultivated at the present time, including 

 many of the new ones distributed in 1884. As good 

 varieties are numerous, and additional improved forma in 

 some way obtained annually in each section, it is more 

 than likely that others of equal merit have been omitted. 

 The varieties with single flowers being now so numerous, 

 a classification has been arranged and adopted by Mr. T. 8. 

 Ware, of Tottenham, who makes these plants a speciality 

 (and to whom we are indebted for Figs. 607 to 611), for 

 grouping them into foor sub-divisions or classes, according 

 to the shape of the flowers. Fig. 607 represents two 

 varieties of the section with Stellate or Star-like flowers ; 

 these are rather small, bnt very floriferous, and of a dwarf 

 bushy habit. Another form is shown in Fig. 608, where 

 the flowers are Flat. Fig. 609 shows those with beauti- 

 fully Befleied flowers, that are invariably solid and massive, 

 and well adapted for exhibition. The fourth, and last, 

 group is represented in Figs. 610 and 611, where the 

 flowers are only Slightly Befiexed; these come between 

 the Flat and the Much Beflexed sections, and include some 

 fine varieties for exhibition. The figures are only intended 



3 K 



