By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



223 



barrenness of the rays of the flowers. By the unscientific 

 cultivator, it will perhaps be regretted that the appellation of 

 variabilis or purpurea, has not remained to the first, and that 

 of coccinea to the second, as more intelligible to himself ; he 

 will also, no doubt, reflect on the frequent changes of name 

 of both species, but especially of the first, which, in passing 

 through the hands of five of the most eminent botanists of 

 their time, was successively called, pinnata, purpurea, sam- 

 bucifolia, variabilis, and superflua. 



From what we at present have observed of these plants, in 

 all their variations, there can be little difficulty in distin- 

 guishing the two species, by duly considering all the charac- 

 ters of each ; it is possible, that a singular variety of one may 

 possess some, though not all the characteristics of the other. 

 The superflua, or purple kind, is more coarse and diffuse, in 

 its growth and habit, whilst the other kind is more delicate 

 and compact, as well as more upright ; the stems of the frus- 

 tranea, or scarlet, are perfectly round, and though in most 

 cases quite as tall as those of the other, are generally slighter, 

 are always much covered with a glaucous dew, resembling 

 the bloom on a plum, and are never hairy or downy ; the 

 leaves of the frustranea are smaller, of a brighter green, and 

 of a slighter texture than is observable in the superflua ; and 

 the portions of the leaves of this last are generally broader 

 than those of the other species. The flowers also of the 

 frustranea or scarlet, in plants of equal vigour and health are 

 uniformly less than those of the superflua, and the florets of 

 its disc, or centre, are more elevated above the level of the 

 ray. Mons. De Candolle has also noted a difference in the 

 roots of the two species, which will be very serviceable, to 



