OF ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 
205 
6.—ZINNIA ELEGANS, Jacq. 
Synonyme. —Z. violacea, Cav. 
Engravings. —Bot. Mag. t. 527 ; Bot. Rep. 1, t. 55 ; and our fig. 
7, in Plate 35. 
Specific Character. —Stem erect, hairy. Leaves sessile, stem- 
clasping, cordate, ovate. Peduncles solitary, longer than the leaves, 
cylindrical. Involucral scales ovate-obtuse ; upper ones margined with 
THE ELEGANT ZINNIA. 
black. Pale* of receptacle serrated. Aclienia of the disk mutic, 
scarcely bidentated. Ligulse ohovate. 
Varieties. —Z. e. 2 alba, Dec. ; and our fig. 6, in Plate 35. The 
flowers arc whitish, or rather a very pale yellow. Z. e. 3 purpnrascens, 
Dec. ; and our fig. 5. The flowers are of a very rich dark crimson. 
Z. e. 4 coccinea, Dec. ; Bot. Reg. t. 1295.; and our fig. 8. The 
flowers are scarlet. 
Description, &c. —This is by far the handsomest of all the Zinnias. Like the others, it is a native of 
Mexico, and requires to be raised on a hot-bed in this country ; but when planted out, it grows more luxuriantly 
than any of the other kinds, and is, perhaps, the only one truly deserving of cultivation by amateurs. All the 
varieties are as handsome as the species ; and they all come true from seed. Seeds are common in all the seed- 
shops. 
TRIBE CYNAREiE. 
GENUS XXXY. 
CALENDULA, Neck. THE MARIGOLD. 
SYNGENESIA NECESSARIA. 
Lin. Syst. 
Generic Character. —Flowers of the ray ligulate, female; those 
of the disk tubular, male. Corollas hispid. Involucral scales in two 
series. Receptacle naked, flat. Anthers subulate, tailed. Style 
ending in a hispid bifid cone. Aclienia of the ligular flowers without 
pappus ; middle ones echinated on the back; drawn out on the sides 
into an entire, or concave, flat, toothed membrane; inner ones annular, 
incurved, muricated on the hack. 
1.—CALENDULA OFFICINALIS, Lin. THE COMMON MARIGOLD. 
Synonymes. —Caltha officinalis, Mcench. ; C. vulgaris, C. Jlauh. late; upper ones lanceolate, stem-clasping, and a little toothed. Aclienia 
Engraving. —Bot. Mag. t. 3204. all curved, muricated at the back. 
Specific Character. —Leaves pubescent; lower ones entire, spatu- 
Description, &c. —The common marigold was, a century ago, a common flower in every garden ; and it is 
only since so many finer flowers have been introduced, that it may be said to have gone out of fashion. The 
double variety is still, however, very generally grown. It is a native of the south of Europe, but it was introduced 
into England before 1573. It only expands its flowers in broad sunshine. Shakspeare describes it as 
“ The Marygold that goes to bed wi’ the sun, 
And with him rises weeping.” 
The popular English name is said to have been corrupted from Mary’s gold ; and to allude to the great use 
made of this plant as a pot-herb, by the wives of cottagers. Souci , the French name, Sir W. J. Hooker tells us 
in the Bot. Mag., is derived from Solsequium to follow the course of the sun ; and Calendula from Calends , 
because, from the great length of time the plant continues in flower, it may be said to bloom every month. The 
flowers of the Marigold, taken internally, are said by the old herb-doctors to be “ great comforters of the heart 
and spirits.” The common Marigold is quite hardy. 
