234 



Composite Ca llistepJtus. 



fully harvested -seed. The garden varieties belong to two dis- 

 tinct classes. 



I. PYRAMIDAL ASTERS, including the Pceony-flowered (fig. 

 123), Truffaut's Perfection (fig, 124), Ranunculus-floivered 

 Pompon, etc. 



II. ANEMONE or QUILLED ASTERS, including the excessively 

 dwarf varieties. 



Both classes have their admirers, and both are equally rich 

 in colour ; but all things considered, some of those belonging 

 to the former are to be preferred where both are not grown. 



Vitfadinia austr&lis or triloba is an Australian annual of 

 dwarf habit, bearing solitary terminal Daisy-like flower-heads, 

 at first white, ultimately changing to red. 



7. ERlGERON. 



Herbaceous plants resembling the Asters, but the ray-florets 

 are in several series. Nearly 100 species are known, from cold 

 and temperate regions, but few of them are worthy of cultiva- 

 tion. The name is of Greek origin, signifying early old age, 

 from ?7p, spring, and yrjpas, old age. 



1. E. glabellum. A glabrous perennial species about a foot 

 high. Leaves linear-lanceolate. Flowers blue ; in Summer. A 

 native of North America. 



2. E. specidsum, syn. Stendctis speciosa. Of about the same 

 stature as the foregoing, but with very numerous narrow ray- 

 florets of a lilac-blue, and a yellow disk. The pappus of the 

 outer florets is in one row, and of the inner in two. California. 



E. alplnum var. grandi- 

 florum with pink or reddish 

 flowers, and E. Roylei with 

 pale purple, very dwarf spe- 

 cies, especially the latter, 

 are grown by some amateurs. 



8. B^LLIS. 



To this genus the Daisy 

 belongs. The distinguish- 

 ing character is founded 

 upon the conical receptacle 

 and absence of pappus. 

 There are three or four species, in Europe, North Africa, 



Fig. 125. Bellis perennis flore pleno. 

 (J nat. size.) 



