OP ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 
173 
OTHER SPECIES OF AMARANTUS. 
A. TRICOLOR, Lin , 
This species takes its name from the brilliant colours of its leaves when kept in a hothouse, though they lose 
their brilliancy when the plant is grown in the open air. Some of these leaves are blue tipped with red, others 
red tipped with yellow, and others red, green, and violet. When a plant of this species is well grown, it assumes 
the shape of a pyramid, and is very handsome. It is a native of Ceylon and other parts of the East Indies, and 
was introduced before 1596. 
A. SPECIOSUS, Sims , Bot. Mag. t. 2227. 
This is a very showy species ; the stem is erect, and much branched ; the flowers are of a bright dark crimson, 
and disposed on small lateral racemes, growing almost in whorls round the main one, in such a manner as to give 
them a very graceful and feathery appearance, and the leaves are dark purple above and red beneath. This very 
handsome plant was raised from seeds received from Nepaul in 1820, by Sir George Staunton, at that gentleman’s 
beautiful seat, Leigh Park, near Havant; but it is not likely to become a general favourite, from the great heat 
required to bring it to perfection. 
A. BLITUM, Lin., Eng. Bot. 2212. 
This is a common British weed, which we only name here to prevent it from being confounded (as it often 
is) with the Strawberry blite. 
GENUS II. 
CELOSIA, Lin . THE COCKSCOMB. 
Lin. Sysl. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Number of bracts uncertain, rough, acuminated, set under the flower. Calyx of five leaves, rough. Stamens one shorter 
than the rest; filaments broadest at the base. Stigma 3-cleft. Capsule truncated, many-seeded.—( Lindl .) 
Description, &c.— Tender annuals, with very curious flowers. The name of Celosia is said to be derived 
from a Greek word signifying something burnt, because the flowers look as if scorched, and dried up, by exposure 
to heat. 
1.—CELOSIA COCCINEA, Mill. THE SCARLET COCKSCOMB. 
Engraving. —Bot. Reg. t. 1834. | furrowed; ears numerous, and compressed into the form of an acu- 
Specific Character. —Leaves narrow, lanceolate, acuminate ; stem I minated pyramid ; stamens shorter than the calyx. 
Description, &c.— A very curious plant, differing from the common Cockscomb not only in the looseness 
of the head of flowers, but in its shape, which is that of a pyramid. It is also a much hardier plant, and only 
requires to be raised on a hotbed, and not planted out till May; after which, as Dr. Bindley observes, “ it goes 
on enlarging its glowing crimson tassels in the open border, till winter destroys it.” This plant is supposed to be 
a native of China, from which country it is said to have been introduced before the time of Gerard, 1597- 
l 
CELOSIA CRISTATA, Lin. 
This very handsome and well-known plant derives its popular name of Cockscomb from its crested head of 
flowers, which resembles in form and colour the crest of a cock. It is a tender annual, a native of Japan, and other 
