Part 24

RECEPTACULUM nudum, planiusculum.

EMPALEMENT. Common, simple; of many leaves; small leaves equal.

BLOSSOM. Compound, radiate. Florets with chives and pointals equal; numerous in the centre. Florets with only pointals ligulate; equal in number to the leaves in the circumference of the empalement.

Individuals with chives and pointals funnel-shaped; border five cleft, upright.

Individuals with pointals only, liguiate, lance-shaped, toothed at the point.

CHIVES. Five threads, thread-shaped and short. Tips forming a hollow cylinder, with five clefts at the top.

POINTAL of florets with chives and pointals. Seed-bud oblong. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the chives. Summits two, a little upright.

Of florets with pointals only. Seed bud oblong. Shaft thread-shaped, and short. Summits two, oblong, rather blunt, and rolled back.

SEED-VESSEL none. Cup not changing.

SEEDS of florets with chives and pointals, solitary, linear and four-sided. Feather, hairy, abundant.

RECEPTACLE naked, rather flat.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Cineraria, foliis cordatis, dentatis, pilosus, subtus purpurascentibus; petiolis auritis: floribus purpureis.

Cineraria with heart-shaped, indented, hairy leaves, purple underneath; the footstalks having lobes: the flowers purple.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement (natural size). 2. A floret of the ray (magnified). 3. A floret of the disk (magnified). 4. The Chives, Pointal, and Seed-bud of a floret of the disk (magnified).

In the Sert. Anglic. of Mons. L’Heritier, this species of Cineraria has been described and figured under the specific character of Cruenta, from the botanic garden at Kew; where, according to the catalogue, it was first introduced by Mr. F. Masson, from the Canary Islands, about 1777; and by which specific it has hitherto been titled: but from what appearance or part of the plant, he could denominate it bloody, will not be easy to determine; from our idea of colour, he might as well have named it blue. Finding, therefore, a specific character certainly more fixed in the leaf, we have taken the liberty of altering Cruenta to Aurita; though that would not have been done, (as nothing is more contrary to our sentiments, than altering any published name) if there had been any glimpse of affinity to the plant in that title. This is unquestionably the handsomest species of Cineraria yet known, growing to the height of near three feet if encouraged. The specimen from which this figure was taken, and which was sent last March to the author, by Mr. James Colville, King’s road, Chelsea, had attained that size. By night it is extremely fragrant, continuing its blossoms from the month of February, till August; seeding abundantly, by which it may be propagated, producing many varieties; or by the suckers which are thrown up from the roots; thriving best in light mould or peat.

PLATE XXV.

CAMELLIA JAPONICA. Var. Flore albo pleno.

Double white Camellia.

CLASS XVI. ORDER V.

MONODELPHIA POLYANDRIA. Threads united. Many Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX imbricatus, polyphyllus: foliolis interioribus majoribus.

EMPALEMENT tiled, of many leaves: the inner leaves the largest.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER OF VAR.

Camellia floribus amplissimis, plenis albidis.

Camellia with large double white flowers.