FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



ANNUAL IMMORTELLES 



Natural Order Composite. Genus Xeranthemum 



Xeranthemum (Greek, xeros, dry, and anthemon, a flower). A small 

 genus containing only four or five species of annual herbs, whose flower- 

 heads share the "everlasting" character of Acroclinium and other 

 genera already described. This resemblance does not extend to the 

 florets, which are more nearly allied to those of the Thistles. The only 

 species cultivated is Xeranthemum aiinuum, whose description will serve 



for the genus. 



Xeranthemum axnuum (annual). Stem branchi 



to 2 feet high. Leaves alternate, cottony, slender-lance- 

 shaped, the edges turned back. Flower-heads, solitary, purple, pink, or 

 white; involucral bracts, chafly, in many series, the innermost series 

 large and petal-like; florets about one hundred, tubular, the outer two- 

 lipped and sterile, the inner regular, five-toothed, and bisexual; July. 

 Native of the Mediterranean region, whence it was introduced in 1570. 

 It is quite hardy, and seed sown in any light soil in a sunny border, about 

 April, will do well. 



Description of Xemntlieniiiin annmim, natural size. Fig. 1 is a 



Plate 158. section through the flower -head; 2, one of the inner 

 series of bracts ; 3, a floret from the inner part of the disk ; 4, one from 

 the circumference of the disk. 



BELLFLOWERS 



Natural Order Campanulace.e. Genus Campanula 



Campanula (Latin, a little hell). A large genus (about two hundred and 

 tlurty species) of chiefly perennial herbs. Radical leaves usually on foot- 

 stalks ; stem-leaves alternate. Flowers blue, white, or lilac, in spikes or 

 racemes ; producmg honey. The calyx is egg-shaped or nearly globular, 

 with five flat lobes. The corolla bell-shaped or wlieel-slviDed .U\ ided at 

 the mouth into five lobes. Ovary below thr corolla St-uu.-ns Wvv utt -ic In" <1 

 to top of ovary. Style club-shaped, divided at extn mity i>,to "three or 

 five arms-the stigmas. Fruit egg-shaped or top-shaped, divided into three 

 or five cells, opening by pores or valves to liberate the flattened seeds. 

 Ihe species are distributed throughout all Temperate and most of the 



