CHAP. xr. 



CISTA^CEiE. HELIA'NTHEMUM. 



S49 



We n)ay observe, here, that the rockwork in the Chelsea Botanic Garden 

 forms a sort of truncated cone, flattened on the sides, terminating in a small 

 basin for water plants ; and it suggests the idea that a helianthemum wall, 

 constructed somewhat on the same plan as the strawberry wall of Mr. 

 Byers (Gard. Mag., vol. v. p. 438.), would be a very suitable manner of 

 growing the species. 



81. H. cane'scens Siut. The canescent-leaved Helianthemum, or Smi 



Rose. 



IdeuUficntion. Swt. Cist., t. 51. ; Don's Mill, 1. p. 313. 

 Eng^-aving. Swt. Cist., t. 51. 



Spec. Char., S^c. Stem sufFruticose, branched, diffuse. Branches ascending, 

 rather tomentose, canescent. Leaves flat, or hardly revolute at the margins ; 

 under surface tomentosely hoary, upper surface greenish glaucous. Lower 

 leaves ovate oblong, obtuse ; upper ones lanceolate, acute. Stipules linear, 

 ciliated, somewhat longer than the footstalks. Calyxes smoothish, but 

 with the nerves pubescent. Petals imbricated. (Don's Mill., i, p. 313.) 

 A splendid plant, with reddish crimson flowers ; the petals imbricated, and 

 having a small orange spot at the base of each. Its native country is un- 

 certain, but it was in cultivation in the Fulham Nursery in 1826. Sweet 

 considers it as having the darkest-coloured, if not the handsomest, flowers 

 of the genus. The flowers are also, he says, very large for the size of the 

 plant. It is nearly related to H, rhodanthum, but is readily distinguished 

 from it by its canescent leaves, and stronger habit of growth. 



s~ 82. H. coNFu^sUM Swt. The confused Helianthemum, or Sun Rose. 



Identification. Swt. Cist., t. 91. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 313. 

 Synonyt7ie. H. poliifblium Dec. Prod., 1. p. 283. 

 Engraving. Swt. Cist., t 91. 



Spec. Char., S^c. Stem suffruticose. Branches procumbent, smoothish, rather 

 tomentose at the apex. Leaves oblong, ovate, bluntish, rather flat ; under 

 surface tomentose, hoary; upper surface glabrous, green. Stipules and 

 bracteas linear, green, ciliated. Calyxes striated, smoothish, rather shining. 

 Petals imbricate. (Don's Mill., i. p. 313.) A native of France and Spain, 

 and, according to Sweet, cultivated in British nurseries in 1829. Its 

 flowers are white, and of a delicate texture. This sort, Sweet observes, is 

 generally found, in the nurseries, under the name of H.^JoUifolium ; but he 

 thinks that it has nothing to do with the English species of that name. 

 For some reason of this kind,we suppose, it has been called the H. confusum. 



9^ 83. H. LANCEOLA^TUM Swt. The \ax\ceo\a.te-leaved Helianthemum, or Sun 



Rose. 



Jdentification. Swt. Cist., t 100. ; Don's Mill., 1, p. 313. 

 Engraving. Swt. Cist., t. 100. 



Spec. Char., S^^c. Stem suffi'uticose, much branched, procumbent. Branches 

 ascending, smoothish, hoary-tomentose at the apex. Leaves lanceolate, 

 acute, with somewhat revolute margins ; green and smoothish above, but 

 hoary-tomentose beneath. Stipules awl-shaped, linear, longer than the 

 footstalks of the leaves. Sepals smoothish, or rather pilose. Petals im- 

 bricate. (Don's Mill., i. p. 313.) A hybrid, found in gardens in 1818, and 

 producing white flowers, marked with yellow, from May to August. " Con- 

 fused with H. jjoliifolium by some botanists," but readily distinguished by 

 its sharp-pointed leaves, which are of a glossy green on the upper side, and 

 by its broad imbricated petals. Plants of it were in the Chelsea Botanic 

 Garden in 1829. 



84. H. poliifo'lium Pers. The Polium-leaved Helianthemum, or Sun 



Rose. 



Jdentification. Pers. Ench., 2. p. 80. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 313. 



Synonyme. Cistus ;)olif61ius Lin. Sp., 745., Sfnith's Ennl. Bat., 1,522., Dill. Elth., 175 t. 145 f. 172 

 Engravings. Smith's Engl. Bot., t. 1322. ; Dill, Elth., 175. t. 145. f. 172. 



