THE TREASURE FLOWERS 
139 
THE TREASURE FLOWERS 
The introduction of new kinds always 
arouses a certain interest in the group to 
which they belong, and more especially 
is this the case with a gain in colour. 
As a result, growers turn to older kinds 
also, in order to test the value of the 
newcomer by crossing and comparison, 
and, while hybrids of real value often 
result, the publicity thus drawn serves 
to dispel previous neglect. Such has 
been the recent history of the "Treasure 
Flowers" orGazania group — a brilliant 
South African family, delighting in 
bright sunshine which alone reveals the 
splendour of their flowers , those of many 
kinds remaining closed during damp or 
cold weather. For this reason their full 
effect is only seen, with us, when a hot 
season that exhausts other plants serves 
to develop the fine colour of these sun- 
lovers. One of the impressive features 
of the Treasure Flowers is the ring of 
bold markings in one or two colours, 
seenatthe base of the petals {^^ligules")'^ 
this ring is not found in the few self- 
coloured kinds such as Gaza7iia pyg?ncea 
(nived)y and G. pygmcea lutea^ but is 
present in almost all the rest. Crossing 
has already given notable results among 
the Gazanias : thus G. pygmcea and G. 
longiscapa have produced a series of 
showy colour varieties ; pygmcea and 
spkndens have given a second distinct 
race of hybrids ; while growers in France 
and Italy have of late years raised many 
seedling forms, of which the best are well 
worthy of cultivation. 
The Gazanias of to-day vary in colour 
from white to deep orange, with inter- 
mediate shades of cream, yellow, and 
gold, with or without the darker blotch- 
ings, which are again endlessly varied. 
The under side of the petals is also shaded 
with violet, rose, or blue, this shading 
differing somewhat with each kind and 
being deepest in the hybrids. Nor are 
the plants less varied in leaf, some bear- 
ing grassy foliage, other kinds leaves that 
are oval or cut, and often shining or 
glossy above while white and downy 
upon the under side. Their habit is that 
of low, stemless herbs, sometimes trail- 
ing, or more seldom with an erect stem 
rarely more than 9 inches high. Accord- 
ing to season they bloom from early in 
May until the dark days of autumn, their 
flowers opening from 8 org a.m. till near 
sundown ; but different kinds vary in 
the ease and rapidity of their expansion, 
those with broad petals such as Gs. spk?i- 
ciefiSy rigens^ and E. Benary^ being the 
best in this way and opening on fairly 
warm days even without sun. Most 
kinds, however, are obstinate, yielding 
only to sunlight. 
Being tender, the Gazanias 
can only be used in the open 
during summer,and many growers (such 
as Mr. Gumbleton) prefer to keep their 
plants in pots, where they flower with 
greater freedom. None the less, in sunny 
gardens of warm soil Gazanias may be 
used with fine effect, such kinds as Gs. 
sple72de7is and rigeiis spreading as a neat 
carpet of great beauty. Kinds of taller 
growth form tufts , such as Gs.E.Be^iary^ 
fjiveaj latijlora J pygmcea lutea^aura?iti- 
aca^ and some of Sprenger's seedlings ; 
these may be grown in rear of the dwarfer 
sorts or grouped together in the border 
Culture. 
