LACHNANTHES TINCTORIA. WOOL-FLOWER. 43 



on lilies, to which this plant was once referred, says that the roots 

 and seed vessels give by simple infusion a beautiful red dye, 

 which Is, however, less permanent than other dyes of the same 

 character. It is probably in litde use now. Dr. F. Peyre 

 Porcher, in the "Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests," 

 merely remarks: "It is distinguished, says Wilson, for yielding 

 a beautiful dye ; hence the name." He also notes that " the root 

 is astringent and tonic." 



If, however, the root is of little consequence now in the arts, 

 all our readers will admit that it has served our ardst well in 

 aiding him to make a beautiful picture out of what otherwise 

 would have been very poor material ; and it is worthy of note 

 that in all the other illustrations of this plant that we have seen 

 the roots have been omitted, though not only would they have 

 added to the beauty of the illustration, but also have suggested 

 an explanation of the name. Still, as a mere matter of beauty, 

 the arrangement of the leaves will please the critical admirer. 

 A bunch of them grows in the flat fan-like form represented in 

 our plate. These leaves are flat and shining. They have a 

 very artificial look in comparison with the usual works of 

 nature; and as each one clasps the flower stem just opposite to 

 the other and with remarkable regularity, the ardficial character 

 of the whole mass, though in the popular sense of the word 

 unnatural, is pardcularly pleasing. 



But the main interest in the plant will come from the botanical 

 student, and centre in the character of the inflorescence. The 

 flower in its structure may be said to be intermediate between 

 an Iris and an Amaryllis, or that it is one of the Iris family in a 

 state of progress towards an Amaryllis. An Amaryllis has six 

 stamens, while an Iris has but three ; but plants of the order to 

 which Lachnanthes belono^s are arranged for six stamens, while 

 retaining the flat disposidon of the leaves so common to the Iris 

 family. Though arranged for six stamens, very often there are 

 but three, as in lachnanthes we are now describing (Fig. 3), but 

 we know they are arranged for six, and that three must be 



