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SPHENOGYNE SPECIOSA. 



Descr. — Annual ; stem smooth, about two feet high, branched. Leaves alternate, divided into 

 winged lobes, having about four or five on each side, lobes linear, somewhat obtuse, mucronate 

 at the apex. Scape long, nearly five times as long as the leaves, almost naked, having one leaf 

 near the base. Involucrum four-rowed, scales acuminate, increasing in size from the base, the 

 edges furnished with a brown scarious border, the innermost row having a broad white scarious 

 margin, Lingulse neuter, about an inch long, lanceolate, of a deep saffron colour, beautifully 

 marked at the base with dark brown ; at the apex three-toothed, the centre tooth depressed, 

 and shorter than those on each side. Flowers of the disc hermaphrodite, five-toothed, sur- 

 rounded by a paleaceous pappus, divided into five parts, each of which is furnished with a strong 

 middle rib, on the exterior of which, near the apex of each division, is a dark brown fleshy spot. 

 Anthers five, crowned with a heart-shaped appendage. Styles two, with brown brush-like 

 stigmas. Receptacle chaffy, chaff longer than the achenium, truncate at the apex. Achenium 

 wrinkled, scored, cylindrical, crowned with the paleaceous pappus, which after the flowers at 

 the disc have fallen, develops itself and forms a ray round the apex ; the base of the achenium 

 is furnished with a few soft hairs, which are not clearly discernible until the plant is in seed. 



This is an exceedingly pretty hardy annual, introduced about two years ago. 

 Our drawing was made from a specimen in the collection of Messrs. Henderson, 

 nurserymen, London. It is also in the nursery establishment of Mr. Stephen 

 Yates, of Borderley Park, near Birmingham, by whose kindness we were sup- 

 plied with specimens for making our description — those in the London establish- 

 ment having decayed sooner than was expected. 



This plant is known in the nursery establishments under the name of S. spe- 

 ciosa, but on what authority we have not been informed. It approaches so near 

 to S. versicolor, Dec, that we conceive it to be the same species ; but not having 

 seen a specimen of S. versicolor, and consequently being unable to satisfy our- 

 selves of their identity, we are induced to retain the name Speciosa, rather than 

 run the risk of creating confusion. 



The pappus being persistent and arranged around<the apex of the achenium, 

 gives it a very singular appearance when the central florets have fallen ; the hairs, 

 too, surrounding the base of the achenium, are well worth a close examination, 

 presenting under the microscope an articulated appearance, similar to the fila- 

 ments of the genus Tradescantia. 



We conceive this species would thrive well on ornamental rock- work ; it 

 requires no care, and will do well in any common garden soil, but in rich soil 

 'will thrive most luxuriantly. It can only be raised from seeds, which are per- 

 fected freely. 



The generic name is from a^v, a wedge, and ywr\, a woman, referring to the 

 wedge-shaped apex of the styles. 



