276 Mary gold. 



sentiments of the one we love with a peculiar affection. It 

 continues in flower the whole of the year, hence its scientific 

 name, Calendula. Its flowers open at nine o'clock in the 

 morning, and close again at three o'clock in the afternoon. It 

 is said, that like the Heliotrope, it always turns towards the 

 sun, following his course from east to west. During the months 

 of July and August, it emits small luminous sparks during the 

 night. This quality it possesses in common with the Nastur- 

 tiam, and many other flowers of the same color. On account 

 of its being confounded with the African and French mnry- 

 golds, we shall give a description of these and point out the 

 differences, following Phillips. 



Tagetes Erecta — African Marygold ; Tagetes Patu- 

 la — French Marygold. The generic characters are :. calyx, 

 tubular ; simple, five parted ; one leaved ; florets of the ray, 

 persistent, generally line. Egret, five erect awns. The gen- 

 eric name of these Mexican flowers is said to have been de- 

 rived from Sages, a grandson of Jupiter, who first taught the 

 science of augury and divination to the twelve nations of the 

 Etrurians, who from hence, became so celebrated for their pre- 

 tended knowledge of omens and incantations. But as Sages 

 could not have taught the use of plants peculiar to lands the 

 gods themselves had not visited, we think the name badly 

 adapted, unless the Spaniards pretend that they were instruct- 

 ed through the arts of Sages, to seek for the precious metals 

 in fields covered with these golden flowers ; and this will be 

 as readily believed, as that the species called French Mary- 

 golds, became first stained and marked with a dark red by the 

 blood of the unhappy Mexicans, whom the insatiable Span- 

 iards slew in their own peaceful fields. Mr. Pirolle tells us 

 with a greater degree of probability, that these flowers were 

 called Sagetes, from a Greek word, meaning principality, 

 which shows the rank these flowers held in the garden. They 

 were introduced into England as far back as 1573, and were 

 called French Marygolds, from the seed being first brought 

 from France. Gerard says, that it was first obtained when 

 Charles, the first Emperor of Rome, made a famous conquest 

 of Tunis. But as these plants do not grow naturally in Africa, 

 we may conclude they were received in Spain from South 



