




180 THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
I shall include all I have to say of this tribe of plants under the general name of Helichrysum. The word 
Helichrysum is now generally said to be derived from helios, the sun, and chrysos, gold, though various other 
interpretations 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. 
Synonymrs.—Flichrysum splendens Stms ; Keranthemum herba- Speciric CuaracTer.—Stem fruticose, much branched. Branches 
ceum Andr. one-flowered. Leaves lanceolate, revolute at the margin. Scales of 
Enecravines.—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 very 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- Speciric Gaaracter.—Stem shrubby, branched. Branches one- 
moides Dec.; Aphelexis sesamoides D. Don. flowered. Leaves linear, imbricate. 
Eneravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 425; and our jig. 7, in Pl. 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 Ldwards; Astelma eximium Brown; Eneravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 300; Bot. Reg., t. 532; Bot. Rep., t. 
Gnaphalium eximium Zin.; Helipterum eximium Dec. 654 ; Paxton’s Mag. of Bot., vol. v., p. 103 ; and our jig. 4, in Pl. 
Speciric Caaracter.—Leaves lanceolate, entire, tomentose, decur- | 36, under the name of Astelma eximium. 
rent. Heads of flowers congested. 
Description, &c.—This magnificent plant was introduced in 1798; but it was for many years neglected and 
very little known, 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 grown 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 in the nurseries. 
Seem 
OTHER SPECIES OF HELICHRYSUM. 
H, ACUMINATUM Dec. 
This is one of the Cape of Good Hope species, with white flowers, introduced in 1828. 




