COS'MUS DIVERSIFO'LIUS. 
VARIOUS-LEAVED COSMUS. 
Class. Order. 
SYNGENESIA. FRUSTRANEA . 
Natural Order. 
composite:. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
N. America. 
3 feet. 
June, Oct. 
Perennial. 
in 1835. 
No. 717. 
The word Cosmus is derived from the Greek 
KOSMOS, signifying order ; but the appellation has 
been also used to imply beauty or ornament — the 
result of order. 
Cosmus diversifolius has tuberous roots, in which 
particular, as well as in its general habit, it bears 
considerable resemblance to the Dahlia. That 
mode of treatment too, which is adapted to the 
Dahlia, is also applicable to the Cosmus. There 
is much reason to expect that the flowers of this 
plant, will, under cultivation, become double ; and 
should they do so, they may become prominent 
ornaments in our gardens. Mexico, the native coun- 
try of the Cosmus diversifolius, the Dahlia, Tigridia, 
Lobelia fulgens and splendens. Zinnia, and many 
Fuchias, continues to pour forth its brilliant plants, 
and will still continue so to do. That part of this 
rich country, known as the Vale of Mexico, has long 
been celebrated for its splendid vegetation. Its 
fruitful mountains, which occupy a base of a hun- 
dred and twenty miles in circumference, afford 
almost every variety of climate. Although per- 
petual snow be the mantle of their formidable 
180 
