326 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



more than two centuries. At this end of the historical record we have 

 the beautiful yellow-flowered G. i^e^i^Zii, brought from unhappy Armenia 

 in 1868. 



Centaurea alpina (alpine). Stems 3 feet high. 

 Pniicipaispecies.j^^^^^^^ spiny, downy beneath, the margins continued down 

 the stem (decurrent). Flower-heads yellow; July. Perennial. Intro- 

 duced from Italy, 1640. 



C. ATROPURPUREA (dark purple). Stem 3 feet high. Leaves cut 

 into lance-shaped segments, which are also cut pinnately. Flower-heads 

 dark purple; involucral scales toothed and fringed; June to August. 

 Perennial. Introduced from Eastern Europe in 1802. 



C. AUREA (golden). Stem 2 feet high. Leaves hairy ; lower ones 

 cut pinnately. Flower-heads golden yellow; florets equal; involucre 

 spiny ; July to September. Perennial. Introduced from South Europe, 

 1758. 



C. BARYLONICA (Babylonian). Stems 6 to 10 feet high. Radical 

 leaves oval -lance- shaped, w^ith a few teeth; stem -leaves narrow -lance- 

 shaped, extending down the stem; all covered with cottony down, 

 and the lower ones very large. Flower-heads yellow, small, but 

 numerous, borne very close to the stem ; July. A noble perennial for 

 shrubbery borders in largo gardens. Introduced from the Levant, 1710. 



C. CiXERAUTA (Cineraria-like). Stems 3 feet high. Upper leaves 

 jagged and torn pinnately; lower ones cut twice - pinnately ; downy, 

 very white. Flowers purple with fringed involucre ; July and August. 

 Haif-liardy perennial. Introduced from Italy, 1710. Also known as 



C. CvAxrs (.lark blue). Blue Bottle or Cornflower. Stems slender, 

 groovcMl, slightly branched, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves slender, entire or 

 slightly lobed. Flower-heads 1 inch across; ray-florets few, large, dark 

 blue : disk florets smaller, purple. Involucral bracts deeply toothed, 

 margins translucent; cobwebby, stalks cottony. Native, annual. In 

 cultivation there are several varieties, with flower-heads ranging from 

 white to rose and purple. 



C. DE ALB ATA (whitened). Stem 12 to 18 inches high. Radical 

 leaves cut pinnately into lobed oval segments ; stem-leaves pinnately cut 

 into lance-shaped lobes ; silvery beneath with white hairs. Flower-heads 

 rose-coloured; July to September. Perennial. Introduced from the 

 Caucasus, 1804. 



C. Fenzlii (Fenzl's). Stem 4 feet high. Leaves radical, large, 

 heart-shaped, glaucous. Flower-heads, large, terminal, clear yellow; 

 July. Biennial. Introduced from Armenia, 1868. 



