\ 



Ccntaurea Americana. \ i 



below, terminating in a very sharp, brownish cuspis, and having»two 

 similar processes near the apex of each upper leaf; margins scabrous, 

 veins and costa diaphanous. Peduncles terminal, deeply striated with 

 whitish lines, and thickened towards the calix where they are near half 

 an inch in diameter. Flowers large, showy, and elegant. Calix large, 

 i entricose or subglobose, consisting externally of numerous, recurved. 

 fimbriated, stiff*, straw-yellow, and very shining membranaceous seg- 

 ments; the lower ones ovate, interior or uppermost segments lanceo- 

 late, sienna-yellow, very shining, also terminating in fimbriated appen- 

 dages; the ovate scales, to which these fimbriated appendages are at- 

 tached, are green, with a white membranaceous edge, and striated with 

 white lines. Hays of the flower very long, lilac-purple; neutral rays 

 white below the fork of their bifurcation. Flower-buds or unexpanded 

 rays, dark peach-blossom-red. Receptacle pilose, the seed garnished 

 with an unequal pappus. Grows u on the banks of streams and in de- 

 nuded alluvial situations throughout the plains or prairies of the upper 

 part of the Arkansa territory, flowering in July and August."* 



This very beautiful plant was first introduced to our gardens in the 

 autumn of 1819, by Mr. ]Vuttall, who discovered it native of the 

 situations already particularized, in the Arkansa territory. It is the 

 only real Centaurea indigenous to our country, yet known ? and, though 

 annual, is a plant worthy of cultivation in all our gardens. Re- 



* Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1821. 

 vol. ir. 10 



