MARCH. 
41 
WAITZIA GRANDIFLORA AND ITS ALLIES. 
WITH AH ILLUSTRATION. 
The introduction of a new species of Waitzia —W. grandielora, repre¬ 
sented on the accompanying plate—seems to afford a favourable opportunity for 
some notice of a genus which is probably better known to most cultivators under 
the name of Morna , than bv that which, owing to its priority, has been since 
adopted by botanists. Though seeds of two at least of the species—the Morna 
nitida and M. nivea of the “ Botanical Register”—were sent from Swan River 
by the lamented James Drummond and others, more than a quarter of a century 
since, the plants do not appear to have made their way into general cultivation, 
and to the present generation of horticulturists, at least, the genus will be 
entirely new. 
With something of the aspect of Helichrysum , in regard to their flower- 
heads, the Waitzias are mostly of a dwarfer and more restricted habit of 
growth, with foliage less obtrusive in its character. They are further dis¬ 
tinguished from Helichrysum by their beaked achenes or fruit, as well as by a 
more microscopic feature, the appendages or tails of the anther. 
We are glad to be able, in this place, to add some very interesting notes 
on the different species, communicated by Mr. W. Thompson, of Ipswich, to 
whom, also, we are indebted for the specimen figured, the plant having been 
introduced by him, and exhibited in the course of last summer. As an indica¬ 
tion of its merit, we may add that the Floral Committee awarded it a first-class 
certificate. M. 
“The best-known species of Waitzia is probably W. aurea , the Morna 
nitida of Lindley, a handsome plant, of erect habit, growing about 18 inches 
high, with a few branches springing immediately from the base of the stem, 
and reaching about two-thirds of its height. The foliage is oblong-lanceolate, 
somewhat stem-clasping, the uppermost leaves being narrower, and the whole 
plant more or less villous. The flower-heads terminate the stem and branches 
in large clusters, are about an inch across, and have the involucral scales of a 
glossy golden yellow, the disk beiug rather deeper in tint. This species is one 
of the easiest to cultivate, and adapts itself better to open-air treatment than 
some of its allies. 
“ Less known than the preceding, though probably first introduced about 
the same period, is the W. corymbosa , the Morna nivea of Lindley. This 
species differs notably in habit from W. aurea , being of a much more branched 
and compact habit of growth, as well as more floriferous. It does not much 
exceed a foot in height, is clothed with neat linear-lanceolate foliage, and bears 
numerous corymbose clusters of elegant flower-heads at the extremity of the 
shoots. These capitules are most effective in the bud, in which stage of growth 
the involucral scales are of a deep amaranth red; the interior of the scales 
being paler, they are seen to less advantage in the fully-expanded flower-heads. 
I believe a pure white form of this occurs wild, on which the Morna nivea was 
founded, but at present this has not come under my notice. All my specimens 
were nearly similar in colour. When dried this species is remarkable for a 
fruity odour closely resembling that of ripe Strawberries. The stipe or claw 
of the scales is a pretty object under the lens, being thickly set with stalked 
glands. 
“ Closely allied to this is W. acuminata —so closely, indeed, that in the 
early stages of their growth the two species are not easily distinguishable 
even by the botanist; for although the foliage of W. corymbosa is usually 
rather broader and more villous tkan that of W. acuminata , there is sufficient 
VOL. iv. l> 
