148 



DAHLIA BARKERIiE. 



considerably the largest ; their under surface hairy, like the stems, their upper surface of a 

 dark shining green, and slightly pubescent. Flowers numerous, somewhat connivent. Peduncles 

 long, axillary, hairy except the upper portion, which is glabrous. External involucre in 5 

 rather small divisions, ovate, green, shining, recurved at the apex, furrowed, the furrows 

 marked with brown lines ; scales of the internal involucre 8, nearly twice the length of the 

 external, ovate-oblong, obtuse, membranous, shining, diaphanous, green and. fleshy at the base, 

 and elegantly marked with brown longitudinal lines mostly in pairs. Florets of the ray 8, 

 elliptic-lanceolate, with 1 or 2 slight notches at the apex, of a delicate lilac or lavender colour, 

 with a few faint streaks of purple ; the veins on the under side slightly pubescent. Florets 

 of the disk tubular, 5-toothed, regular. Palece ovate, obtuse, with a pair of brown strice at the 

 apex. Acheenia oblong-obovate, compressed, slightly pubescent at the angles. 



# This delicate and interesting species of Dahlia was introduced from Mexico, 

 in the spring of 1837, by Creorge Barker, Esq., of Springfield, near Birmingham, 

 in whose collection it flowered, for the first time in this country, in the autumn 

 of the same year ; at which time we named it, and subsequently gave a brief 

 description of it in the second volume of the Floral Cabinet. But, like many of 

 the Mexican Composites, it flowers so late in the season, that, before we could 

 have a drawing made, it was cut off by the frost : such also was the case last 

 year. This autumn, although a most ungenial season, we have been more 

 fortunate ; the plant having bloomed in great perfection. It appears to be a 

 free fiowerer, having put forth from J 00 to 150 flower-buds, many of which even 

 now (the middle of November) are fully expanded. 



Cultivation. — This species appears to require the same treatment as the 

 common Dahlia; and from its dwarf, bushy habit, is better adapted to the 

 border than any of the varieties in general cultivation. 



Fig. 1, Floret of the ray; 2, floret of the disk, with one of the palece; 3, 

 germ, style, and stigma. 



