CASSINIA 



DAISY OBDEB 



AMMOBIUM 509 



purple and intermediate shades are to be 

 met with. H. aeuminatum, H. ohrys- 

 wnthum, and H. macroceplialwn are 

 mere forms of this species. 

 Culture Sc. as above. 



CASSINIA. — A genus containing 

 about 20 species of shrubby plants having 

 alternate entire leaves, the margins of 

 which are often turned upwards, and the 

 under surface often woolly. The small 

 yellow flower-heads are borne in corymbs 

 or panicles at the ends of the branches. 

 Involucre narrowly ovoid or oblong with 

 bracts in several rows. Keceptacle flat or 

 slightly convex. 



C. fulvida (Diplopa/ppus chrysophyl- 

 lus). — Golden Heath. — ^A very distinct 

 shrub 2-3 ft. high, native of New Zealand. 

 The erect yellowish branches are furnished 

 with short linear oblong Heath-liie leaves 

 which are deep green above and golden- 

 yellow beneath, the margins being curled 

 upwards, thus exposing in a conspicuous 

 manner the colour of the under surface. 

 The small yellow flower-heads appear 

 in Jtily and August, but are not particu- 

 larly attractive although they add still 

 further to the prevailing golden colour of 

 the plant. From its small leaves and 

 slender branches, and the general resem- 

 bla]ice to the Heaths (see p. 580), it has 

 been called the ' Golden Heath,' although 

 as may be seen from its position in this 

 work it- has little in common with the 

 plants of that genus. 



Culture amd Propagation. — This is 

 the species best known in cultivation, 

 although one or two others are to be met 

 with occasionally in botanical collections. 

 It flourishes in well-drained peat, and is 

 practically hardy in most parts of the 

 kingdom, when placed in sheltered spots. 

 It may be increased by means of cuttings 

 of the half-ripened flowerless shoots, 

 which should be inserted in very sandy 

 peat and loam about August, and covered 

 with a handlight or bell-glass until fairly 

 well rooted. The cuttings must be 

 shaded from sunshine and attention must 

 be given to sprinkling overhead and ven- 

 tilation as they begin to root. Seeds are 

 ripened freely, and may be sown when 

 ripe in cold frames in sandy peat and 

 loam. When the seedlings have grown 

 large enough they should be pricked out 

 into a similar compost, and afterwards 

 grown on in various sized pots until large 

 and strong enough to be planted out of 



doors — an operation best performed in 

 mild weather in spring. 



C. leptophylla (Diplopappus lepto- 

 phyllus). — An attractive New Zealand 

 shrub 2-3 ft. high, with grey and purplish 

 stems covered with small fleshy green 

 obovate leaves about ^ in. long. The 

 small white flowers are borne at the ends 

 of the shoots in July, but are not very 

 showy. 



Culture dc. as above for C. fulvida. 



C. Vauvilliersi. — This is also a native 

 of New Zealand, and is a more vigorous 

 and handsome plant than C. leptophylla. 

 The yellowish branches are covered with 

 obovate leaves about | in. long, and the 

 young shoots have a beautiful golden- 

 tinted colour. Flowers as in C. lepto- 

 phylla. 



Culture dc. as above for C. fulvida. 



PODOLEPIS.— A genus containing 

 about a dozen species of more or less 

 woolly annuals or perennials with alter- 

 nate lance-shaped or linear, entire leaves, 

 often stem-clasping at the base. Flower- 

 heads with yellow, rosy, or violet ray- 

 florets. 



Culture am,d Propagation. — These are 

 pretty plants for the border. They like a 

 well-drained sandy soil and open sunny 

 situations, as they are all natives of Aus- 

 tralia. They may be raised from seeds 

 annually in the same way as the Amrao- 

 biums, and also by sowing in the open 

 border in April. 



P. acuminata.— This grows about 18 

 in. high, and has lance-shaped stalked 

 leaves, the lower ones stem-clasping. 

 The yellow flower-heads appear in sum- 

 mer and autumn. 



Culture dc. as above. 



P. aristata (P. chrysantha). — This is 

 very similar to P. acuminata, but is dis- 

 tinguished by the silkiness of the reddish 

 involucral bracts. The leaves also are 

 more pointed and glaucous beneath, and 

 the beautiful golden-yellow flower-heads 

 appear in summer and autumn. 



Culture dc. as above. 



P. gracilis. — A very pretty species 

 about 18 in. high with reddish stems, 

 sessile lance-shaped acute leaves, and 

 beautifal rosy, hlac, or white flower-heads 

 in summer and autumn. 



Culture dc. as above. 



AMMOBIUM.— A genus of hoary, 

 woolly perennials, with alternate or clus- 



