DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWEKS. 155 



generally rather dull — some of them dirty-looking. The 

 scarlets and crimsons are the only colors that look well. 

 There are tlie tall and dwarf varieties, and some that are 

 somewhat branching ; but these last should be rejected. 

 To produce fine combs, the soil cannot be made too rich ; 

 the plants must also be forwarded in a hot-bed. Very 

 showy plants can be raised by sowing in the open ground 

 the middle of May, but they cannot be raised in perfec- 

 tion. The appellation. Cocks-comb, was given it from the 

 form of its crested head of flowers, resembling the comb 

 of a cock. Sometimes the heads are divided like a plume 

 of feathers. 



CENTATJREA.— Star Thistle. 



[It is said that with this plant, tlie Centaur Ctiiron cured the wound in iiis 

 foot, made by the arrow of Hercules.] 



Centaur^a cyanus, is a popular border hardy annual. 

 It is known by the common name of Blue-bottle. In 

 Europe it is a common weed, in cornfields and on gravely 

 soils, having blue flowers ; but when cultivated, it sports 

 into varieties of white, purple, pink, parti-colored, etc., and 

 is a handsome flower. 



Ct Americana. — American Centaurea. — Is a handsome 

 hardy annual, discovered by Nuttall, on the alluvial soil 

 of the Arkansas and Red rivers. It has large purplish- 

 lilac flowers, somewhat resembling a large thistle ; it 

 grows two or three feet high, flowering in August and 

 September. It is of easy culture, and should be sown the 

 first of May. 



C. Moschata, varieties pupurea and alba, are handsome 

 border annuals of easy culture, natives of Persia, two feet 

 high, with fragrant flow^ers ; from July to October. It is 

 commonly known by the name of Sweet Sultan. 



