Composite Ca llistephus. 



233 



6. CALLIST^PHUS (Callistemma). 



The only species we have to allude to under this head is the 

 all -familiar China Aster, sometimes called Aster Sinensis. 

 This genus is characterised by having an involucre of many 

 fringed bracts, a pitted naked receptacle, and a double pappus. 

 The name is from icaXos, beautiful, and (nefydvri, a crown. 



L C. hortensis. China Aster, Heine-Marguerite. This beau- 

 tiful plant was introduced towards the end of the last century, 

 and was raised in the Jardin des Plantes of Paris from seeds 

 sent thither from China by the Jesuit missionary, Father d'ln- 

 carville. Being of annual duration, and incapable of being 

 propagated except from seeds, numerous varieties have resulted 

 from its extensive cultivation. In the wild state the flowers 

 are single, that is to say, only the outer florets are strap-shaped, 

 and usually of a rosy-lilac tint, with yellowish disk-florets. 



But under cultivation 



all the florets have 



become ligulate or 



quilled, and a richness 



and varietyof colouring 



has been developed 



scarcely surpassed in 



anyone species,ranging 



from pure white to 



deep carmine and 



violet and nearly blue, 



though the yellow of 



the disk in the single 



has not been repro- 

 duced in the double 



forms. We are mainly 



indebted to French 



horticulturists, nota- 

 bly Truffaut, Fontaine, 



and Vilmorin, for the 



reat perfection to 



which the different 



races have been 



brought. 'It is Worthy Fig. 124. Aster, Truffaut's 



of remark that these Perfection. (inat.sfce.) 

 varieties are so far fixed that they will come true from care- 



Pig. 123. Aster, Paeony- 

 flowered. (J nat. size.) 



