114 



DAHLIA SCAPIGERA. 



threes, placed collaterally, and bearing occasionally one or two distant bractes. Flowers about 

 two inches or more in diameter, with a yellow disc, and a ray of the purest white. Florets of 

 the ray lanceolate, somewhat acute, with two, and occasionally three minute teeth at the apex. 

 External involucre rather spreading, not reflexed. 



Of the favourite genus Dahlia, only three species have, till lately, been known 

 to botanists, the first of which was introduced about the year 1789. A new 

 species of Dahlia, therefore, is a novelty, which, although it may be inferior in 

 beauty to our well-known favourites, cannot be viewed without sojne degree of 

 interest. In all probability, however, it will improve by cultivation, like its 

 predecessors ; which, when first introduced, were single, and not superior in beauty 

 to our present plant, although of much larger size. In its slender and dwarf 

 habit it resembles another new species, Dahlia Barkeries, of which we gave a 

 character with a brief description in Vol. II. of the Floral Cabinet, fol. 28, and 

 of which we purpose giving a figure in an early Number. 



The recorded species of Dahlia, therefore, are only five in number : viz. 

 D. variabilis, D. Cervantesii, D. coccinea, D. Barherice, and D. scapigera. Although 

 we have adopted the specific name of the latter, we are by no means satisfied 

 with the correctness of the term scapigera, scape-bearing ; the flower-stalks being, 

 according to correct botanical language, peduncles, not scapes, the latter term 

 being applied to such flower-stalks as arise from the root and clo not bear leaves. 

 A more appropriate specific name would have been diversifolia, in allusion to the 

 variable form of the leaves. It is in the collection of the Birmingham Botanical 

 and Horticultural Society, by whom it was received from the Royal Garden at 

 Berlin. 



The beautiful varieties of Dahlia obtained from the three original species, are 

 almost innumerable ; upwards of 1500 were named in a catalogue published some 

 years ago ; afc this time they probably exceed 2000. 



The generic name Dahlia, was given by Cavanilles in honour of Dahl, a 

 botanist of considerable celebrity. 



Fig. 1, floret of the disc, showing the rami of the style, hairy externally, and 

 somewhat incurved ; 2, the same cut open, showing the attachment of the fila- 

 ments to the tube of the corolla ; 3, the achoenium, or seed, with the style and 

 incurved rami. 



