Volume I Part 11 (1/2)

Vegetab. p._ 572. _Sp. Pl._ 880. _Mill. Dict._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 34]

Of this genus there are only two species, both natives of South-America, the _elata_, so called from its being a much taller plant than the _demissa_, is a very beautiful, and not uncommon stove or green-house plant; it is impossible, by any colours we have, to do justice to the brilliancy of its flowers.

Being an annual, it requires to be raised yearly from seed, which must be sown on a hot-bed in the spring, and the plants brought forward on another, otherwise they will not perfect their seeds in this country.

Some of these may be transplanted into the borders of the flower-garden which are warmly situated, where, if the season prove favourable, they will flower and ripen their seeds; but, for security's sake, it will be prudent to keep a few plants in the stove or green-house.

As these plants have not been distinguished by any particular English name, MILLER very properly uses its Latin one; a practice which should as much as possible be adhered to, where a genus is named in honour of a Botanist of eminence.

[35]

~Crepis barbata. Bearded Crepis, or Purple-eyed Succory-Hawkweed.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Syngenesia Polygamia aequalis.~

_Generic Character._

_Recept._ nudum. _Cal._ calyculatus squamis deciduis. _Pappus_ plumosus, stipitatus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CREPIS _barbata_ involucris calyce longioribus: squamis setaceis sparsis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 719.

HIERACIUM proliferum falcatum. _Bauh. Pin._ 128.

HIERACIUM calyce barbato. _Col. ecphr._ 2. _p._ 28. _t._ 27. _f._ 1.

HIERACIUM boetic.u.m medio nigro. _Herm. Parad. Bat._ 185. _t._ 185.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 35]

Grows spontaneously in the south of France, about Montpelier; also, in Spain, Italy, Sicily, and elsewhere in the south of Europe: is one of the most common annuals cultivated in our gardens. It begins flowering in July, and continues to blossom till the frost sets in.

No other care is necessary in the cultivation of this species than sowing the seeds in the spring, in little patches, on the borders where they are to remain, thinning them if they prove too numerous.