Cistus Helianthemum 
Dwarf Cistus 
CISTUS Lin. Gen. Pf. Polyandria Monogynia. 
Cor. 5-petala. Cal. 5-phyllus ; foliolis duobus minoribus. Capfula. 
Rail Syn. Gen. 24. Herbie pentapetalas vasculifera;. 
CISTUS Helianthemum fuffruticofus procumbens, ftipulis lanceolatis, foliis oblongis revolutis fubpilofis. 
Lin. Syjl. Vegetab. Sp. PI. 744. FI. Suec. n. 472. 
CISTUS foliis conjugatis, ellipticis, hlrfutis, integerrimis, petiolis unifloris, fubhirfutis. HalL Hijl. 1033. 
CISTUS Helianthemum. Scopoli FI. Carn. n. 649. 
CHAMvE CISTUS vulgaris flore luteo. Bauh. p. 465. 
HELIANTHEMUM Anglicum luteum. Ger. em. 1282. 
HELIANTHEMUM vulgare. Parkins. 656. Rail Syn. p. 341. Dwarf Ciflus, or little Sun-Flower. 
Hudfon FI. Angl. ed. 2. p. 243. Lightfoot FI. Scot. p. 281. Oeder FI. Dan. 101. 
RADIX perennis, fublignofa, fufea. 
CAULES plurimi, fuffruticofi, procumbentes, teretes, 
inferne glabri, fuperne hirfutuli, faepius rubi- 
cundi. 
FOLIA oppofita, breviffime petiolata, oblongo-ovata, 
acutiufcula, marginibus fubrevolutis, fuperne 
faturate viridia, fcabriufcula, fubpilofa, pilis 
furcatis, inferne fubtomentofa, jig. 1 . 
STIPUL/E quaternae, lanceolatae, pilofe. 
CALYX: Perianthium pentaphyllum, perfiftens, fo- 
liolis tribus fuperioribus ovatis, obtufiuiculis, 
membranaceis, fubdiaphanis, aequalibus, con- 
cavis, trinervibus, nervis coloratis, hiriutulis, 
duobus inferioribus minimis, lateralibus hir- 
futis, f<g. 2, 3. 
COROLLA ; Petala quinque obeordata, flava, mar- 
gine exteriore crenulata, jig. 4. 
STAMINA: Filamenta numerofa, capillaria, flava, 
receptaculo fupra calycem inferta. Anthera: 
fubrotundae, parvae, flavae, jig. 5. 
PISTILLUM : Germen fubrotundum. Stylus lon- 
gitudine flaminum, fuperne craftior, inferne 
liepius curvatus. Stigma capitatum, planum. 
fig- 
PERICARPIUM : Capsula fubrotunda, calyce tefta, 
unilocularis, trivalvis, jig. 7. 
SEMINA plurima, majufcula, ovato-acuta, rufa, jig. 8. 
t ROOT perennial, fomewhat woody and brown. 
I STALKS numerous, fomewhat lhrubby, procumbent, 
round, below fmooth, above {lightly hairy, 
I molt commonly reddifh. 
t LEAVES oppoiite, handing on very fhort foot (lalks, of 
I an oblong ovate fhape, lomewhat pointed, the 
I edges (lightly rolled back, on the upper fide of 
a deep green colour, roughifh, and fomewhat 
y hairy, the hairs forked, on the under fide a 
I little downy, jig. 1. 
I STIPUL/E growing four together, lanceolate, and hairy, 
f CALYX: a Perianthium of five leaves and perma- 
| nent, the three uppermoft ones ovate, bluntifh, 
membranous, fomewhat tranfparent, equal, 
I concave, three-ribbed, the ribs coloured and 
% hairy, the two lowermofl very fmall, lateral, 
? and hairy, jig. 2, 3. 
I COROLLA: five Petals inverfely heart-fhaped, of a 
yellow colour, the outer edge (lightly notched, 
I fig- 4- 
i STAMINA : Filaments numerous, capillary, yellow, 
inferted into the receptacle above the calyx. 
Anthers roundifh, fmall, and yellow, jig. 5. 
I PISTILLUM: Germen roundifh. Style the length 
¥ of the (lamina, thicker in its upper part, and 
I crooked below. Stigma forming a little flat 
^ head, jig. 6 . 
f SEED-VESSEL : a roundifh Capsule, covered with 
the calyx, of one cavity and three valves, 
I fig- 7 - 
I SEEDS numerous, rather large, ovate, pointed, and of 
$ a reddifh brown colour, jig. 8. 
Mod of the plants of the Ciflus tribe are highly cfleemed for their beauty, and generally cultivated in the gardens 
of the curious. Though our prefent fpecies cannot vie with many of thofe which are the produce of warmer 
climates, yet it is one of the mod ornamental of our native plants, and admirably well calculated to decorate a rock 
or dry bank, efpecially if its feveral varieties with white, rofe, and lemon- coloured flowers be intermixed. The 
particular merit of this plant is, that it is hardy, eafily propagated, either by feeds or cuttings, and continues for 
the greated part of the fummer to put forth daily a multitude of new blodoms. 
Mr. Lawson is Laid by Mr. Ray to have.found it producing white flowers. I have myfelf obferved a wild variety 
with pale yellow blodoms. A variety with double flowers is mentioned by Haller, which, if it could be 
procured, would be a valuable acquifition to our gardens. Linnjeus has remarked, that the petals iometimes have 
an orange-coloured fpot at their bafe ; and the leaves have been obferved to vary much in breadth. 
In chalky foils the Cjlus Helianthemum is extremely common ; but as that does not abound in the neighbourhood 
of London , it is confequently fcarce with us. 
On a clofe examination of the hairs on the leaves we difeovered them to be forked ; a char after which may, 
perhaps, contribute to diflinguilh it from the polifolia , to which it feems very nearly related. 
It flowers from June to Atigujl. 
