Rudbeckia fulgida. 19 



The genus Rudbeckia contains several species not well under- 

 stood or described; and the present species is an example of this. 

 It has been often confounded with the R. hirta, to which it bears 

 certainly much resemblance, though it has much smaller and deeper 

 yellow-coloured flowers, and is much less hairy. The root of R. 

 hirta is biennial ; that of R. fulgida, perennial. The disk of the for- 

 mer is conical and dark brown, that of the latter is hemispherical 

 and deep auricula-purple. The leaves of the calix of R. fulgida are 

 broader, more ovate, and more hairy than in the hirta. Dillenius's 

 figure in the Hortus Elthamensis, is a very good specimen. In that 

 plate it will be perceived, that the attenuation and cordation of the 

 base of the leaves of R. fulgida is absent. The leaves in the figure 

 are broader at the base than in the fulgida, and only closely sessile. 

 The attenuation of the leaves base-ways, in the fulgida, contrasted 

 with the broader and rather auriculated bases of those of the hirta, 

 is a constant and good discriminative character between these allied 

 species. Added to which, in the hirta the whole plant is larger, more 

 robust, and more branched, and has long white hairs variously and 

 irregularly arranged, particularly on the leaves. 



This being one of the perennial species of Rudbeckia, may be 

 raised by either offsets, cuttings or seeds. The seeds should be sown 

 in April, in light earth, on an open or exposed border, separating the 

 seedlings, till autumn, and then planting them out in the places 

 where they are destined to remain. They require a light and damp 

 soil 



