DAHLIA SUPERFLUA. purpurea plena. 
DOUBLE PURPLE DAHLIA. 
Class. Order. 
SYNGENES1A. POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. 
Natural Order. 
CORYMB1FER2E. 
Native of 
Height 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Introduced 
Mexico. 
6 feet. 
Aug. Oct. 
Perennial. 
in 1789. 
No. 115. 
This genus, which now forms so prominent a 
feature amongst our autumnal gaieties, was named 
in honour of Andrew Dahl, a botanist of Sweden. 
Willdenow objected to the term, under an erroneous 
impression that it had previously been appropriated 
to another genus; and adopted the name Georgina; 
but he has not been followed by subsequent writers. 
Others objected to it from its similarity to Dalea, a 
genus already established, after our countryman. 
Dale. The name Dahlia is now, however, so well 
confirmed, that it may bid defiance to the caprice 
of modern botanical name-changers. It is, notwith- 
standing, very desirable that attention be paid to the 
proper pronunciation of the word. The A should 
have the open sound, as in father ; it will then be 
clearly distinguishable from the older name, Dalea. 
The genus is now divided into two species only, 
the superflua and frustranea; in allusion to the 
florets of the rays of the former abounding in seed, 
whilst those of the latter species are barren. Other 
specific distinctions were first adopted, but were 
found unstable ; and from the variable character of 
seedlings, the present may not prove constant. 
