98 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



CENTAUKY. 



CENTAUREA. 



CINAROCEPHALEA. SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA FRUSTANEA. 



This plant has been also named Chironium ; both names being de- 

 rived from the centaur Chiron ; some say, because first discovered by 

 him others, from his having been cured by it of a wound in his foot, 

 made by the fall of an arrow when he was entertaining Hercules 

 French, la centauree; bluette; barbeau; aubifoin. Italian, cen- 

 taurea ; ambretta. 



THIS is a very extensive genus, greatly varying in 

 beauty : some being mere ordinary weeds, others handsome 

 and showy flowers. Many of them are cultivated in our 

 gardens : the most common, perhaps, is the Sultan-flower, 

 or Sweet-sultan, a native of Persia, and commonly seen 

 growing wild among the corn in the Levant. The colour 

 is purple, flesh-coloured, or white. The scent is very power- 

 ful, and to some persons disagreeable. 



There is a variety, called, from the colour of its flowers, 

 Yellow Sweet-sultan*, of which the scent is unquestionably 

 pleasant. The best time to sow Sweet-sultan is in the 

 spring : they will begin to flower in July. One seed will 

 suffice for a six-inch pot : water must be given sparingly, 

 or the roots will be liable to rot. The yellow variety is 

 raised in a hot-bed, and, when grown, requires more tender 

 treatment than the rest of the family. They are annual 

 plants. 



The perennial kinds may be either increased by seed, 

 as directed, or by parting the roots in autumn : always ob- 

 serving to place such as are newly planted in the shade 

 until they have taken fresh root. These will require shelter 



* The centaurea amberboi of the botanists. In French, le barbeau 

 jaune ; Jleur du grand seigneur ; I' amberboi. Italian, ciano giatto 

 Turche$co odoroso. 



