A Chapte?- on Everlasti7ig or Immortal Flowers. 267 



same character in the latter, but which have a delicious odor, that remains 

 for a long time after the flowers are dried. I see no reason why these 

 flowers might not be colored, after the French fashion, for those who de- 

 light in destroying the beauty of flowers in the natural state. 



Gnaphaliiim, — a word under which Dioscorides describes a plant with soft 

 white leaves, which served the purpose of cotton. It agrees pretty well 

 with the modern genus, which consists of very pretty, sometimes beautiful, 

 woolly-leaved shrubs and plants, all of the description called everlast- 

 ing, on account of the permanence of the colors and form of their dry 

 flowers. 



XeraHihefHum anniium. — Of this species there are a number of choic<; 

 varieties, which are popular annuals of easy culture in a light rich soil. 

 They retain their texture and odor when dried, and are quite ornamental : 

 the flowers are both single and double ; but the double sorts are most de- 

 sirable. The petals of the double-white variety have a silvery appearance, 

 and the double purple is very rich in color. Both these varieties will be 

 found extremely useful for winter bouquets, as well as ornamental in the 

 borders. 



" Xeranthei7ium caryophylloidcs fl. pi. — This is a striking new variety of 

 this well-known and favorite everlasting. Their dense double-blooming 

 flowers are of a reddish-white color, and, carnation-like, striped and sprinkled 

 with red, rose, crimson, and purple, yet more abundantly and more in- 

 tensely than in the case of Porhtlaca caryophylloidcs. The Xeranthcminns 

 being indispensable for dried bouquets, this new variety will prove an in- 

 valuable acquisition, as the dark-red stripes, when dj'ed and dried, remain 

 quite unaltered. It may also be strongly recommended for bedding and 

 grouping, as it is very double, and just as profuse blooming for bedding 

 and grouping as the common varieties of this everlasting-flower." There 

 are other varieties of dwarf habit which are also desirable. 



Xeranthemum is from a Greek word, signifying dry and a Jlowcr, on ac- 

 count of the dry nature of the calyx, which retains its color for years. 



Rhodanfhe, from a Greek word for rose and flower. R. Manglesii, a most 

 delightful plant from Swan River. This is one of the tribe of everlastings, 

 which, gathered when in bloom, remains perfect for years when properly 

 dried. 



