NOTES ON FLOWERS. 
405 
elegant ; the latter point will indeed be evi- 
dent from an inspection of the engraving. 
In a cultivated state it produces long 
weak slender stems, which, no doubt, in its 
wild state, are semi -trailing, some closely 
allied plants having a more or less climbing 
habit. The leaves are usually alternate, but 
sometimes opposite, or even three together ; 
they are of an obovate-lance-shaped figure, 
ending in a sharp point, quite entire or even 
on the margin, and tapering at the base into 
a short petiole or footstalk ; they are of a 
lively green colour. At that part of the stem 
where the leaves are situated, and also where 
a branch issues from the stem, one or two 
short straight sharp spines are often, indeed 
usually, produced. The flower-heads — or 
flowers, as they would be commonly termed — 
are large, about an inch and a half in diameter ; 
they are produced singly at the end of a 
branch, two or three leaves being set close to 
their base. In botanical language this head 
of flowers is called a capitidum, and it con- 
sists of four obvious parts, besides the rudi- 
ments of the seeds which are enclosed, and 
therefore not apparent unless the flower-head 
is pulled asunder : these parts are the invo- 
lucre, the florets, the anthers, and the stigma; 
the involucre consists of numerous appressed 
scales closely imbricated, that is, lying over 
one another like the tiles of a roof; the 
lowermost of these scales which invest the 
base of the flower-head are of an ovate 
acutely pointed figure, and a greenish colour; 
the upper ones are very much longer, almost 
linear in figure, and becoming rose-coloured, 
the same hue as the florets : the florets — each 
of which, it must be remembered, form a 
perfect flower — are two-lipped, the outer lip 
ligulate or strap-shaped, with four small teeth 
at the end, the inner filiform, curved and 
spreading ; the colour is a rich deep rose : the 
anthers, as in all composite or syngenesious 
plants, are united, in this case, surrounding 
the style, which extends beyond them, and is 
terminated by an obliquely truncate stigma ; 
the seeds, which are ranged on the receptacle 
at the base of the flower-head, and connected 
each with a floret, by means of a long slender 
tube, are seen, when separated from the other 
parts of the capitulum, to have a crown of 
rigid feathery hairs, which, as in the well- 
known example of the dandelion, (Taraxa- 
cum vulgare,) are designed for the dissemina- 
tion of the seeds ; this machinery, however, 
called the pappus, is variable in its appear- 
ance and structure, and in this case is very 
different from that of the dandelion. 
Little is known of the history of this plant. 
It is a native of South America, but its pre- 
cise locality is unknown. Sir W, J. Hooker 
has specimens both from Peru and Brazil, 
which he regards as being the same. It was 
introduced, about 1838, to the collection of 
the Duke of Northumberland at Syon, where 
it blossoms in the stove during the winter 
months. It should be potted in a mixture of 
two thirds peat and one third loam, in a rough 
state, and made porous by the addition of 
sand ; it must not be overpotted, and requires 
careful watering. Cuttings root with some 
difficulty in moderate heat. 
i 
NOTES ON FLOWERS AND FLOWERING 
PLANTS. 
Hippeastrum reticulatum, Herbert 
(netted-flowered Hippeastrum). — Amarylli- 
daceas § Amarylleae. — A bulbous plant, with 
long strap-shaped deep green leaves, more 
than an inch wide, and a stout flower-stalk 
three feet high, bearing one large flower, 
which is tubular, at the base, divided into six 
segments, nearly five inches long, purplish 
red, reticulated with a deeper colour, and hav- 
ing a white star at the bottom. A native of 
Brazil. Introduced in 1777. Flowers in 
April and May. Also known as Amaryllis 
reticulata (Aiton). Culture. — Requires a 
stove or warm greenhouse ; rich loam, good 
drainage, and rest in the winter ; propagated 
by offsets and seeds. 
Hippeastrum calyptratum, Herbert 
(veiled Hippeastrum). — Amaryllidaceas § 
Amaryllese. — A bulbous plant, with long 
strap-shaped leaves about an inch and a half 
wide, and a stout flower- stem furnished at 
top with two large flowers, which are slightly 
tubular, with six spreading segments, the 
three innermost being the broadest ; they are 
green, tesselated with faint red marks, with a 
large screen at the bottom. A native of 
Brazil. Introduced in 1816. Flowers from 
May to August. Also known as Amaryllis 
calyptrata (Ker). Culture. — Requires a 
stove, rich loam, good drainage ; propagated 
by offsets and seeds. 
Gomphocarpus fruticosus, R. Brown 
(shrubby Gomphocarpus). — Asclepiadaceae § 
Asclepiadeas vera. — A shrubby plant, with 
straight wand-like round stems five or six 
feet long, opposite narrow lance-shaped leaves 
four inches long, and bunches of six or 
more nodding flowers ; divided into five re- 
flexed segments, white with a curious greenish 
crown in the centre, each flower nearly an 
inch across. A native of the Cape of Good 
Hope. Introduced in 1714. Flowers from 
June to September. Known also as Ascle- 
piasfruticosa (Linnasus). Culture. — Requires 
a greenhouse ; free loamy soil ; propagated by 
seeds or cuttings planted in sand, and put in 
a warm place. 
