HELIANTHEMUM MARIFO'LIUM. 
MARUM-LEAYED SUN ROSE. 
Class. Order. 
POLY ANDKIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
cistine.®. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Inhubits 
Britain. 
6 inches. 
May, June. | 
Shrubby. 
Rocks. 
No. 574. 
On what favoured blossom the ancients bestowed 
the name Helianthemum (helios sun, anthos 
flower) must now remain matter of speculation. 
Gerard, quoting from Pliny after Democritus, no- 
tices an ancient synonyme for Helianthemum and 
gives the occasion of its application. This name 
is Heliocaliden, and as many of our readers may 
not be aware of its origin, or of all the virtues of 
the plants belonging to this genus, we will copy 
Gerard’s observation for their advantage. He says 
“ The wise men and the kings of Persia do anoint 
their bodies herewith, boiled with lion’s fat, a little 
saffron, and wine of dates, that they may seem fair 
and beautiful; and therefore have they called it 
Heliocaliden, or the beauty of the sun.” 
The genus Helianthemum was, by Linneus, in- 
cluded under Cistus, a name frequently now applied 
to these dwarf plants. They have been separated 
on account of the difference of their seed vessels 
and other discrepancies. 
This is a delightful hardy rock plant, one that 
in flower is very showy. It may be propagated by 
cuttings or seeds. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 1, 309. 
