plish rose-colour, striped with several dark purple veins.
Stamens numerous, arranged in a cylindrical monadel-
phous column '.filaments distinct at the points, smooth,
purplish : column dark blue at the bottom : pollen granular,
of a brownish purple. NfyZes numerous, connected
at the base, smooth. Stigmas purple, spreading. Car-
/zeZZa numerous, each 1-seeded, and collected into a close
aggregate head, very much resembling a Raspberry.
This gratid annual plant is a native of Barbary, and
was introduced to our collections about the year 1808,
but it still continues scarce, which we believe is owing
to its not being sufficiently known ; the specimens from
which our draiving was made, was kindly sent to us last
Autumn, by H. B. Ker, Esq. who raised them from
seeds that he had obtained from France ; we also saw
strong specimens of it that had been grown in Mr. Lambert’s
garden at Boyton ; it is certainly one of the most
desirable plants that can be cultivated as an annual, as
nothing can have a more splendid appearance than it
has, when covered with its large glossy flowers ; the best
way of raising it, where there is such a convenience, is
to sow the seeds in March, or the beginning of April, in
a Greenhouse or Frames, and as soon as the plants are
up, to transplant them, one or more in pots, where they
may remain until they are 3 or 4 inches high, when
they may be turned out with the ball entire into the
borders of the flower garden, they will then flower
earlier and ripen their seeds better than if sown in the
open ground ; but if sown at once in the open borders,
about the middle of April is the best time, if the weather
permits.
1.. The 3-Ieaved Involuc re o r o u te r Calyx. 2. The tru e or inne r Calyx. 3. The
b ase o f one of th e P e ta ls , to show its b e a rd on each side. 4. The Column o f
Stamens, all united a t th e base, b u t th e points o f the filaments d istin ct and
spreading. 5. The young head o f seeds or C arpe lla, terminated by the connected
S tyle s and spreading Stigmas.