Rudbeckia purpurea. sb 



gether first into a convex form, afterwards becoming conical. Ray 

 florets lanceolate, sometimes, though not always, bifid at the apex, 

 drooping and incurved, of a deep peach-blossom-red colour, with 

 darker stripes of the same hue. 



In the specific description the bifurcation of the petals at the apex 

 is designated as a character — yet it does not always occur. They arc 

 so frequently entire at the apex, or so very slightly notched, as to ap- 

 pear entire, that the character would not seem to be sufficiently con- 

 stant to justify its notice in the specific delineation. I have often found 

 the petals linear, long and bifurcated, on plants apparently proceeding 

 from the same roots, which sent forth shoots bearing flowers without 

 notched petals. 



Grows in the mountains from Virginia to Florida, flowering from 

 June till October. In favourable situations a succession of flowers is 

 produced, so that the inflorescence continues for a month or five 

 weeks. Muhlenburg has stated the time of flowering to be June, but 

 Pursh mentions October. The fact is, it continues, as I have stated, to 

 bloom from June till October. 



This is the fourth species of Rudbeckia figured in this work. It is 

 one of the most showy of our native plants, and has long been culti- 

 vol. ii. 23 



