216 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



is an obscure and unimportant one; but the sticklers were never 

 quite satisfied, and to this day one meets with an occasional person 

 who clings (somewhat pedantically) to the true pronunciation. 



The original species is called by botanists variabilis, on account 

 of the variability of the colour, which was generally either crimson 

 or purple. But this was not the first name given to it. In the 

 first place, it was called snperflua, on account of the central florets 

 differing from the outer ones. At different parts of its career the 

 plant enjoyed other specific names crocata, frustranea, and pinnata 

 so that altogether the Dahlia has had a somewhat troubled time 

 with that much-sinning sect, the plant-namers. A philosopher 

 once remarked that a man of many aliases should be avoided as 

 a dangerous character, but a plant with several names should be 

 sought after, as it was probably something both uncommon and 

 desirable. This was certainly true of the Dahlia. Other species 

 were introduced. A notable one was coccinea, with scarlet flowers, 

 which also came from Mexico. As in the case of the sister species, 

 several names were given to it, such as bidentifolia, Cervantesii, 

 and frustranea. That of coccinea is simply in allusion to the 

 colour. We use the word "notable" in connection with this 

 species, because, with variabilis, it is certainly a parent of our 

 modern garden Dahlias. Merckii (otherwise glabratd) is remark- 

 able for the same reason. This has lilac (sometimes white) and 

 yellow flowers. It came from Mexico in 1839. These three 

 species were doubtless crossed, and the progeny intercrossed. As 

 in the case of other important garden plants, a great deal of the 

 work of fertilisation was done by trade florists for commercial 

 purposes, and this class is notoriously prone to keep its operations 

 secret. For this reason it is doubtful if there is any record of 

 real value dealing with the course of crossing which resulted in 

 the production of the beautiful Dahlias which we possess to-day. 



Another very important species must have special mention, 

 and that is Juarezii, which came from Mexico in 1872. The 



