^ FAVOURITE FLOWERS 



GARDEN AND GREEJfHOUSE 



COENFLOWERS AND KNAPWl 



Natural Or.Ier CoMPOsiT.E. Genus Centaur. 



and twenty species) of herbs, annuals and perennials, with globose or 

 egg-shaped involucres, the bracts of which overlap and are variously 

 ornamented with spines, teeth, fringes, or translucent margins. Tlie 

 llorets are all tulnilar, divided at the motith into five slender' lobes ; the 

 outer ilorets usually larger and sterile, the inner bisexual. Fruit com- 

 pressed, broad at top: pappus-hairs short, slender, and rough, usually in 

 many series, occasionally absent. Njitivus of Europe, Western Asia, 

 North Africti, and America. 



History ^^ ^^^^ large number of species comprising this genus 



very few are of any importance regarded from the horti- 

 culturist's standpoint. Six are natives of Britain, but only one of these, 

 the Cornflower or Bluet {C. Cyanus), is cultivated. This came into 

 fashion for decorative purposes a few years ago as the favourite flower 

 of the late Emperor of Germany. Several of the exotic species have 

 been well known in our gardens for many years, notably C. montana, 

 brought from Austria three centuries ago. G. aljnna has been grown 

 here for upwards of two hundred and fifty years, and C. suaveolens for 



