x FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



the balsams come near to the sedate and orderly crane's-bills. The balsams, 

 however, are for the botanical student far more interesting than the 

 crane's-bills ; in fact, the problems suggested by the flower are intricate 

 and perplexing. The species are partial to warmth and humidity, and most 

 of them prefer shady places. p. 45. 



CRATJE GrTTS, from kratos, strength. N.O. Rosacea;. Lintosan: 

 12, Icomndrla ; 2, Di-pentagynia. — See summary under " Rosa." p. 49. 



CHRYSANTHEMUM, from chrysos, gold, and anthos, flower. 

 N.O., Asteracece. Linn^ian: 19, Syngenesia ; 2, Snperflua. p. 53. 



AMARANTHTTS is of doubtful origin, but the accepted etymology 

 is from the supposed imperishability of the flower, a-mairaino implying a 

 thing that does not wither. N.O., Amarantacece. Linn.2ean : 21, jlloncecia; 

 5, Fentandriti. — The species are herbs or shrubs, with flowers in dense heads 

 or spikes, coloured sepals, and no proper petals. They come near to the 

 chenopods in general structure. p. 57 



RHODODENDRON.— The name is compounded from rhodon, 

 rose, and dendron, tree. It is the rose-tree, or tree-rose. N.O., Bricaeea. 

 LiNNiEAN: 10, Decandria; 1, Monogynia. — The rhododendrons constitute 

 a great and important section of the family of heaths. They are shrubs or 

 trees, mostly evergreen, with funnel-shaped flowers consisting of five lobes 

 with ten "stamens, but there are a few curious exceptions to the rule. The 

 magnificent Rhododendron Griffithianum has sixteen stamens, and some of the 

 species have but eight. The casual eye recognises the more prominent 

 characters, such as the style of the leafage, which is very distinct, and the 

 appearance of the flowers in dense clusters at the ends of the branches, the 

 buds before expansion being clothed with leafy scales. There are, however, 

 some singular exceptions to the prominent characters by which the rhodo- 

 dendrons are generally known. Thus the Dahurian species is deciduous and 

 the leaves are small, so that the plant has always a spare appearance ; the 

 flowers, moreover, occur siugly, or at most only two or three together. 

 And yet this is much valued in the American garden for its early flowers, 

 which appear in advance of the leaves and are of a lovely purple colour. 

 These and their companions, the azaleas, are commonly spoken of as 

 " American plants," but the New World has supplied but few of the many 

 that are in cultivation. Rhododendron maximum and Azalea calendiilacca are 

 natives of the North American continent, but the far east has supplied more 

 species than the far west to our gardens— Siberia, China, the Himalayas, 

 and Aaia Minor being the principal sources of supply. The Pontic rhodo- 



