180 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
I shall include all I have to say of this tribe of plants under the general name of Helichnjsum. The word 
Helichnjsum is now generally said to be derived from helios, the sun, and chrysos, gold, though various other 
intei’pretations of the name have been given, and which have led to the different ways which have been adopted in 
spelling it. As the species are very numerous, it will be impossible in my present limits to describe more than two 
or three of the most ornamental. 
1.— HELICHRYSUM SQUAMOSUM Dec. THE SCALY HELICHRYSUM. 
Synonymes. — Elichrysuin splendens Sims ; Xcranthemum herba- j Specific Character. — Stem fruticose, much branched. Branches 
ceum Andr. j one-flowered. Leaves lanceolate, revolute at the margin. Scales of 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 1773; Bot. Rep., t. 487. ! the involucrum shining. 
Description, &c. — This plant, though now seldom seen in collections, is well deserving of cultivation, from the 
brilliancy of its golden yellow flowers, which have rich brown shining scales on the involucrum, and which are 
produced in very great abundance. The plants are compact in growth, and veiy bushy, so .that they are ornamental 
even without their flowers. The leaves are white on the under side, and give the plant a silvery appearance from 
their being curled up at the margin. The whole plant, -particularly the flower, has a brilliant and almost 
dazzling appearance, which the flowers retain after they are cut. The species is a native of the Cape of Good 
Hope, whence it was introduced in 1802. 
2.— HELICHRYSUM SESAMOIDES Willd. THE SUPERB HELICHRYSUM. 
Synonymes. — Xeranthemum sesamoides Lin. ; Helipterum sesa- Specific Character. — Stem shrubby, branched. Branches one- 
moidcs Dec. ; Aphelcxis sesamoides D. Don. flowered. Leaves linear, imbricate. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 425 ; and owv fig. 7, in PI. 36. 
Description, &c. — This is one of the most splendid species of the genus, and it has been common in British 
greenhouses for upwards of fifty years, having been introduced in 1795. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, 
flowering in May and June, and it is easily propagated by cuttings. 
3.— HELICHRYSUM EXIMIUM Willd. THE GIANT HELICHRYSUM. 
Synonymes. — H. africanum Edwas'ds ; Astelma eximium Brown ; 
Gnaphahum eximium Lin.\ Helipterum eximium Dec. 
Specific Character. — Leaves lanceolate, entire, tomentose, decur- 
rent. Heads of flowers congested. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 300 ; Bot. Reg., t. 532 ; Bot. Rep., t. 
654 ; Paxton’s Mag. of Bot., vol. v., p. 103 ; and our fig. 4, in PI. 
36, under the name of Astel/ma eximivm. 
Description, &c. — This magnificent plant was introduced in 1793 ; but it was for many years neglected and 
very little Imown, till about ten years since, when it was flowered in the greenhouse at Chatsworth ; and since 
which time it has been very generally cultivated. 
It should be gi’own in a well drained soil, composed of sand and 
heath mould, and no moisture should be suffered to rest on the leaves. This plant is very generally named 
Astelma m the nurseries. 
OTHER SPECIES OF HELICHRYSUM. 
H. ACUMINATUM Dec. 
This is one of the Cape of Good Hope species, with white flowers, introduced in 1823. 
