MADIA ELEGANS. 
ELEGANT MADIA. 
Class. Order. 
SYNGENESIA. SUPERFLOA. 
Natural Order. 
COMPOSITE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
America. 
2 feet. 
July, Sept. 
Annual. 
in 1831. 
No. 429. 
The generic name. Madia, is from the word Madi ; 
a term employed by the Chilians, to distinguish 
one of the species of this genus. 
This newly-introduced annual, though not of ex- 
ceedingly splendid character, attracted considera- 
ble attention during the past summer. Its flowers 
are really pleasing; but its petals, when fully ex- 
posed to the sun, curl, and twist, exhibiting a half 
withered appearance; however, when evening ar- 
rives, its cooling influence exhilarates the Madia 
elegans, and the next morning we meet it in fresh- 
ness and beauty. Its mode of inflorescence should 
not pass unnoticed. Its first blossom is produced 
at the summit of its leading stem ; others open in 
succession downwards. Its lateral shoots, in like 
manner, are not first produced on the oldest part 
of the stem, near the bottom, but at the top of the 
leader; these, too, flower in like manner. Second- 
ary laterals exhibit the same peculiarity. 
It requires only the usual treatment of annuals. 
We would suggest the propriety of giving it a shady 
situation, that its flowers may the more regularly 
continue expanded. 
108 Bot. Reg. 1458. 
