CENTAUREA 53 



CENTAU'REA continued. 



perennial, but some few are annual. The follow- 

 ing are the best known and most important of the 

 latter kind, very easily raised from seed, and not 

 infrequently sowing themselves. They are splendid 

 flowers to cut from, retaining their freshness for 

 some time. Grow them in the border and give 

 them plenty of room and sun. They flower in 

 June and July. 



C. america'na, The Basket Flower. Height 2 ft. 

 Large-flowering, pale lilac- coloured flowers, 4 

 ins. across. July. Native of N. America, 

 1824. 



C. americafna a'lba. A pure white variety of the 

 above. 



C. bened'icta. See CABDUUS benedictus. 



C. crocody'lium. A rare variety, about 18 to 24 

 ins. high, with rose-pink flowers. Levant, 

 1777. 



C. cya'nus, Blue Corn Flower, or Blue Bottle. Height 

 3 ft. A beautiful well-known native plant. The 

 term Corn Flower Blue is proverbial, but 

 there are white ones and pink. The following 

 are varieties : 



C. cya'nus mi'nor. Height 2 ft. A diminutive 

 variety of the type, with the same colours. 



C. cya'nus compa'cta na'na. Height 9 ins. A 

 dwarf garden form of the type. Of small 

 consequence. 



