CRYPTOSTEMMA CALENDULACEUM. 
MARYGOLD-FLOWERED CRYPTOSTEMMA. 
Class. Order. 
SYNGENESIA. FRUSTRANEA. 
Natural Order. 
com posit m. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
C.G.Hope. 
18 inches. 
July, Aug. 
Annual. 
in 1752. 
No. 459. 
The name, Cryptostemma, is compounded of the 
Greek words kryptos, signifying hidden; and 
stemma, a crown; to indicate the covering or se- 
clusion of the seed crowns by the woolly fibres of 
the seed vessel. The specific name is chosen in 
allusion to the likeness of the plant to the calen- 
dula or marygold. 
This annual has never been common in England, 
principally, we believe, on account of the small 
quantity of seed which it usually ripens. Like 
many of the syngenesious flowers, it is subject to 
atmospheric influence, and never expands fully in 
wet weather. This meteoric irritability of flowers 
should not escape the attention of the observant 
florist. It is one amongst the innumeraJble minor 
indications of a perpetually superintending provi- 
dence. 
The Cryptostemma calendulaceum is somewhat 
tender; and if sown in the borders, this should not 
be done till the end of April. It is far better to sow 
it three weeks sooner, in a hotbed, which will en- 
sure an earlier blossom, and a greater chance of 
fertile seeds. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 5, 141. 
