248 



Composite Tagetes. 



colour from pale yellow and orange to a rich orange-brown, 



and striped or bordered. A native of Mexico. 



2. T. erecta (fig. 136). African Marigold. This species 



has not varied to the same extent, not having developed the 



rich velvety brown colour so 

 prominent in some varieties of 

 the preceding. The lemon and 

 orange-coloured double varieties 

 are very showy, and there is a 

 dwarf race. This is also a native 

 of Mexico. 



3. T. tenui folia. An erect 

 slightly branched annual with 

 pinnatisect serrate leaves. Pe- 

 duncles 1 -headed, naked. Pappus 

 of five scales, four of which are 

 united, and the fifth free and 

 longer. Flowers yellow. Mexico. 



4. T. signata. A species of 

 more recent introduction, re- 

 sembling T. pdtula, and superior 

 in some of its very dwarf varieties, 

 but differing in the pappus, which 

 is composed of five truncate 

 scales. The flower-heads are 

 smaller but very abundant, and 

 produced in uninterrupted suc- 

 cession till late in Autumn. 

 Mexico. 



5. T. lucida. A very distinct free blooming perennial 

 species, though it is usually treated as an annual. Leaves 

 simple, oblong-lanceolate, coarsely serrated. Flower-heads 

 corymbose, about 9 lines in diameter, of a rich yellow. This 

 species has the aspect of a Cruciferous plant, from the number 

 of the ray-florets being usually four and broad, whilst the 

 disk-florets are few and small, having the appearance of stamens 

 at a little distance. Peru. 



24. GAILLARDIA. 



Handsome annual or perennial North American herbs. Leaves 

 usually simple, entire, toothed, or pinnatifid. Flower-heads on 

 long naked peduncles. Receptacle furnished with filiform 



Fig. 136. Tagetes erecta. (J nat. size.) 



