OP ORNAMENTAL AJ^'NUALS. 
171 
C. FALCATA, n<Bm. et SchuUes ; syn. PRISMATOCARPUS FALCATUS, Tenore ; SPECULARIA FALCATA, Alph. Deo. 
Tlio flowers, which are rose-coloured, grow so close to the stem, and are so intermingled with the leaves, 
as to form a kind of leafy spike. The lobes of the calyx are sickle-shaped. A native of the shores of the 
Mediterranean ; introduced in 1820. 
C. HYBRIDA, Lin. ; P. HYBRIDUS, L'Herit. ; S. HYBRIDA, Alph. Deo. 
A native of Britainj with small pinkish flowers. 
C. PERFOLIATA, Michaux ; syn. C. BIFLORA, liuix et Pavon ; C. FLAGELLARIS, H. B.et Kunth; C. ANGULATA, 
Rafin; SPECULARIA PERFOLIATA, Alph. Dec. 
Flowers sessile, rising from the axils of the leaves, solitary, or 2 — 3 together, and longer than the leaves. 
Corolla blue, always longer than the calycine lobes. A native of North America ; introduced in 1680. 
C. DEHISCENS, Roxb. ; syn. WAHLENBERGIA DEHISCENS, Alph. Dec. 
A Nepaul species, with small white flowers ; introduced in 1818. There are several other species natives of 
Nepaul. 
C. CAPENSIS, Lin.; Bot. Mag. 782 ; syn. C. ELONGATA, Willd; ROELLA DECURRENS, And. Bot. Jtep. t. 238 ; 
WAHLENBERGIA CAPENSIS, Alph. Dec. ,- W. ELONGATA, Schrad. 
Flowers dark purple, and produced on very long footstalks. Plant from one foot to two feet high. A 
native of the Cape of Good Hope ; introduced in 1803. 
C. CERNUA, Thun. ; syn. WAHLENBERGIA CERNUA, Alph. Dec. 
Stem very leafy at the base. Peduncles erect, elongated, terminating in numerous 1 -flowered fiUform 
pedicels. Corolla funnel-shaped, with a white base, and blue lobes, drooping in the bud state. A native of the 
Cape of Good Hope ; introduced in 1804. 
0. LOBELIOIDES, Lin. &c., &c. 
This species has very pale red flowers. It is a native of Madeira, and was introduced in 1777' It has many 
synonymes. 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
AMARANTHACE^. 
Essential Charactek. — Perianth 3 — 5-parted, persistent, usually 
bibractcatc. Stamens 3 — 5, distinct or joined, usually having alter- 
nate, filiform, proeesses between. Ovarium free, l-celled; ovules 
solitary or numerous ; stigma simple or compound. Fruit an ntricle. 
Albuuien farinaceous ; embryo curved. Leaves alternate or opposite ; 
exstipulate. Flowers in heads or spikes (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The genera comprised in this order which contain ornamental annuals are Amarantus, 
Celosia, and Gomphrena; plants difiering so widely from each other that it is difficult for any one but a botanist 
to imagine any relationship between them. Some of these being seldom planted in the open ground, we shall not 
give their botanical details. According to Dr. Lindley's arrangement, the orders Amaranthaceas, Chenopodiacew, 
and Polygoiimem sliould have preceded Nyctaginacece. 
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