172 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS I. 
AMARANTUS, Lin. THE AMARANTH. 
Lin. Syst. MONCECIA PENTANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx 3 — 5 sepals ; corolla wanting. Male stamens 3 — 5. Female styles 3 ; capsule 1-celled, and opening horizontally. 
Seed 1.— (itn.) 
Description, &c. — The flowers of plants belonging to this genus are remarkable for their small size, and the 
brilliant effect which, notwithstanding this, they produce, from the great numbers of them that are clustered 
together. What we call a flower of Love-lies-bleeding, for example, is in reality a spike containing thousands 
of flowers, some male and some female, none of which have any corolla, but which produce their eflfect by their 
coloured sepals and bractea, the texture of which is so dry and thin, that the flowers, even after they are gathered, 
are a long time before they decay. This quality has procured the genus the name of Amarantus, which is 
derived from two Greek words signifying neeer-withering. The Amaranth of the poets {Gomphrena glohosa) is 
however now removed to another genus. The leaves of all the species of Amaranttis are wholesome food, and 
several of them are eaten in their native countries like spinach. 
1.— AMARANTUS CAUDATUS, Lin. LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING. 
Specific Character. — Racemes compound, terminating, pendulous. 
Description, &c. — This species is easily distinguished from all the others belonging to the genus by its long, 
pendulous racemes of deep crimson flowers ; the racemes having been frequently found to measure from two feet 
to three feet long. The plant is a native of the East Indies, but it appears to have been in cultivation in this 
country since the time of Elizabeth, as Gerard tells us that he received the seed of it from Lord Edward Zouch, 
and grew it in his garden. It was called Branched Flower Gentle, and Fleur-d' amour, a name that was afterwards 
corrupted into Floramore. In France it was called Discipline-des-religieuses, and Queue-de-renard. The 
seeds, which are small, black, and shining, may be had in any seed-shop ; and though formerly it was considered 
necessary to sow them on a hotbed, it is now found that they will succeed perfectly well if treated like those of 
Flos Adonis (see p. 5). When the plants come up they will require thinning, and frequent waterings in dry 
weather. The situation where the seeds are sown should be dry, warm, and open j and the soil should be very 
rich, if it is wished to grow the plants to a large size. The plant called the Tree Amaranth is considered by 
Miller to be a variety of this species. 
2.— AMARANTUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS, Lin. PRINCE'S-FEATHER. 
Specific Character. — Racemes compound, crowded, erect; leaves oblong-lanceolate, mucronatc — (Z-tn.) 
Description, &c The Prince's-feather dififers from Love-lies-bleeding chiefly in its spikes of dark crimson 
flowers being much smaller and more upright. It is also much hardier, and when allowed to sow itself, it comes 
up in such abundance as to be quite a weed. It is a native of Virginia, and was introduced in 1739. There is 
a variety with green flowers, and another lately raised in Belgium which is much more branched than the 
common kind. The name of hi/pochondriacus, which signifies melancholy, is supposed to allude to the dull 
reddish-green of the leaves, and to their dark dingy purple veins, which certainly give the plant a very gloomy 
appearance. 
