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ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 



Genus II. 



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t*- -^ I %rr 



HELIA'NTHEMUM. The Helianthemum, or Sun Rose. Lin. 'S^st. 



Polyandria Monogynia. 



Identification. Tourn. Inst., 248. t. 128. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 2G6. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 301. 



Synonymes. dsti species of Lin. ; Heliantheme Sonnen Gurtel, Ger. ; Eliantemo, Ital. 



IJerivation. From helios. the sun, and anthemon. a flower ; l)ecause the flowers open with the rising 

 of the sun in the morning, and the petals fall off with the setting of the sun in the evening. The 

 flowers of Helianthemum, as well as of Cistus, only last for a few hours when the sun shines ; and 

 if the weather is dull, and the sun does not make its appearance, the flowers do not open, but 

 remain unexpanded. Should this continue for several days together, they will decay in the bud. 



Gen. Char. Calyx of 3 5 sepals jttlie two outer usually smaller than the 

 inner ones, rarely larger. Petals 5, usually regularly denticulated at the 

 top. Stigma capitate. Style sometimes almost wanting, sometimes straight, 

 sometimes oblique, and sometimes bent at the base. Ovary triquetrous. 

 Capsule 3-valved. Seeds angular, smooth. 



Leaves simple, opposite or alternate, stipulate or exstipulate, sub-ever- 

 green ; 3-nerved or feather -nerved. Flowers axillary or terminal. Pedicels 

 usually furnished with bracteas at the base. Shrubs or subshrubs, low, 

 prostrate, resembling herbaceous plants ; natives of Europe ; and of the 

 easiest culture in any common soil. 



t- 1. H. vuLGA^RE G(Brt. The common Helianthemum, or Sun Rose. 



Identification. Gaert Fruct., 1. p. 371. t. 76. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 311. 



Synonyme. t'istus Heli&nthemum Lin. Sp. 1. p. 744., Sm. Engl. Bot. 1321., Curt. El. Land. -5. t. 36. 



Engravings Eng. Bot., 1. 1321. ; and our fig. 84. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Stem suffruticose, procumbent, branched, branches elongated. 

 Leaves scarcely revolute at the margins ; under surface cinereously hoary ; 

 upper surface green, pilose, somewhat ciliated. Lower leaves 

 somewhat orbicular, middle ones ovate-elliptical, upper ones 

 oblong. Stipules oblong-linear, ciliated, longer than the foot- 

 stalks of the leaves. Racemes loose. Pedicels and calyxes 

 pilose. (Don^s Mill.) A procumbent sub-evergreen under- 

 shrub. Europe and Britain, in dry and hilly pastures. Height 

 6 in. to 1 ft. Flowers yellow ; May to September. 



Varieties. There is a very handsome double-fiowered variety, 

 with pale yellow flowers ; and another, called Lee's new double 

 yellow, with dark yellow flowers ; both of which are in general 

 cultivation in the nurseries. De CandoUe also notices two 

 forms of the species : one with tomentose pubescent branches, ** H.vuigarc. 

 and stipules scarcely longer than the footstalks of the leaves ; and another 

 with branches glabrous at the base, but pubescent upwards, and the stipules 

 twice or thrice the length of the petioles of the leaves. 



The stamens, if touched during sunshine, spread slowly, and lie down upon 

 the petals. (Smith.) "A very variable species," even in a wild state ; and, 

 in gardens, many beautiful varieties, single and double, have been originated 

 from it l)y cross fecundation with Continental helianthemums, and perhaps with 

 cistuses. 



jU 2. H. (v.) surrejaVum Alill. The Sur- 

 rey Helianthemum, or Sun Rose. 



M'nfification. Mill. Diet., No. 15. ; Swt. Cist., t. 28. ; 



Don's Mill., 1. p. 311. 

 Synonyme. Cistus surrejanus Lin. Sp. 743., SmitVs Eng. 



Hot. 

 Engravings Dill. Elth., 177. t. 14.5. f. 174.; Swt. Cist., 



t. 28. ; Eng. Bot., t. 2207. j and our fig. 85. 



Spec. Char., <$-c. Stem suffruticose, procum- 

 bent. Leaves ovate oblong, rather pilose. 

 Racemes many-flowered, terminal. Pe- ss. Heiiinthcmum surrejam. 



