Plate 33. 
DOTJBLE-ELOWEBED PTJBPLE ZINNIA. 
Zinnia elegans , fi. pleno. 
The beautiful and entirely novel flowers represented in the 
accompanying illustration, were sent from Paris during the past 
summer by MM. Vilmorin-Andrieux and Cie. to Dr. Bindley, 
and were by him communicated to the Floral Committee of the 
Horticultural Society. Others of similar character were at the 
same time exhibited before the Committee, by Messrs. Carter 
and Co., of Holborn; and both exhibitions were rewarded by 
first-class certificates. There can be no doubt whatever that 
the double-flowered Zinnias, in which the ordinary florets of 
the centre or disk become transformed into flat petal-like co¬ 
loured ones like those of the ray, will prove valuable as orna¬ 
mental plants for the flower-garden, the more so as, according to 
the experience of MM. Vilmorin, they “ come as true from seeds 
as China Asters, the different colours separate, and the double 
forms still double.” 
The plants grown by Messrs. Carter are stated to have been 
raised from seeds which had been received from a correspondent 
in Oudh ; and those of MM. Vilmorin appear to have been also 
of Indian extraction, having been obtained from M. Grazan, 
nurseryman at Bagneres, with whom it was first noticed in 
1858, and by whom, it is stated, the seeds had been received 
among others from India. Nothing more is at present known 
of the history of these novelties. 
The first notice we have of the existence of such handsome 
forms of Zinnia, occurs in the 4 Gardeners’ Chronicle ’ of Sep- 
Plate 33.— Zinnia elegans, var. el. pleno : flowers various in colour, large, 
full double, the florets of the disk being transformed into flat petal-like florets 
resembling those of the ray. 
