PLATE DCLII. 



XERANTHEMUM HUMILE. 



Low-g:rowin^ Xeranthemuin. 



y<^ 



CLASS XIX. ORDER IL 



SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. Tips united. Superfluous 



Pointals. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Receptaculum paleaceuni. Pappus setaceus. 

 Calyx imbricatus, radiatus, radio colorato. 



See Xeranthemum speciosissimum, PI, LI. Vol. I 



Receptacle chaffy. Feather bristly. Cup tiled, 

 rayedj the ray coloured. 



Xeranthemum foliis subulatis sub-vestitum 

 Caulis humilis, robustus, ramulis procum- 

 bentibus : floribus magnis rubris. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Xeranthemum with awl-shaped leaves nearly 

 clothing the stem. Stem low and stout, 

 with branches hanging down. Flowers large, 

 and of a red colour. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 

 1. An hermaphrodite floret with its seed magnified. 



This fine dwarf species of Xeranthemum was introduced from the Cape of Good Hope at the same 

 time with the X. fasciculatum rubrum by Mr. Niven. It is a hardy robust green-house shrvib, of hum- 

 ble growth, ai:d appears as if it would always retain that character. It requires an airy situation, and 

 when watered (which should not be often) to be thoroughly wetted, as partial watering is a general 

 destroyer of plants, by suffering the atmosphere to exhale the humidity before it has half penetrated to 

 the bottom J which by repeated wetting rots the upper part, and leaves the roots below to starve for want 

 of moisture. 



