PERENNIAL SUNFLOWERS. 



31 



mid-autumn section ; and Dr. Gray has so worded his later 

 descriptions as to include very varied forms. It is said to be the 

 Indian potato of the Assiniboine tribe of American Indians, and 

 its edible tubers were long ago noted by Douglas. Some of the 

 garden forms I have included under H. divaricatus may be 

 hybrids between these two species ; but as in their general 

 characteristics they more nearly resemble H. divaricatus than 

 H. giganteus, it will, I think, be more convenient to have them 

 together under the former species. H. giganteus is a very vari- 

 able plant, nearest to H. Maximiliani, but in typical forms easily 

 distinguished by its more branching habit, its scattered longer- 

 stalked flowers, and broader, toothed, and petioled leaves, tapering* 

 to both ends and thinner in texture. The flowers are large, 

 handsome, and starry ; the ray-florets are pointed, and of a pale 

 or rich deep yellow colour. The plant grows from 8 to 12 feet 

 high, which I consider its only fault as a garden plant. 



Typical forms of H. Maximiliani are not very well known 

 even to American botanists, and there are very few records of 

 any having been met with. It is found chiefly along river- 

 courses and on grassy spots near the Missouri. The wild 

 plant is very handsome, the flowers large, bright golden yellow, 

 its narrow grey-tinted or hoary leaves taking away from it the 

 coarseness which is characteristic of a few of the taller species. 

 The garden forms bear a strong resemblance to H. giganteus, 

 and, although easily confused, H. Maximiliani will be found to 

 be sparingly, if at all, branched, the flowers being produced on 

 short stalks in the axils of the upper leaves. 



H. decapetalus , as we have it in gardens, is a very distinct 

 and useful but variable plant. The best form I can find is that 

 grown at Kew, which is the same as H. decapetalus sulphureus 

 (Hort. Barr). This plant differs from all others in the genus in 

 its flowers being at right angles with the stem, always looking 

 one full in the face, of a pale sulphur yellow, 2^ to 3 inches 

 in diameter. It has a bushy habit, with broadly ovate leaves, 

 and with the exception of having ten rays, as its name implies — 

 twelve to fifteen being the usual number — it may readily be 

 identified from descriptions. 



Linnaeus, in his " Species Plantarum," 1764, took great 

 pains to distinguish H. multiflorus from H. decapetalus, giving 

 the habitat as Virginia ; and considering its several varieties, and 



