vestitum. Flosculi marginales iufuiidibuliformes, neutri, copiosi, radiati,
patentissimi, lilacini, sesquipollicares, tubo filiformi, tenui, limbo 5-partiti,
nunc rariùs 3 v. (i-partiti : laciniis linearibus, acutis, divaricatis, nervis
intra marginalibus ; disci numerosissimi, hermaphroditi, tubulosi, pallidi-
ores : tubo angusto, 5-angulo : fauce amplior, tubulosà : limbo 5-partito ;
segmentis linearibus, obtusis, erectis, nervis primariis ad sinum divisis, ramis
marginalibus. Stamina summo tubo inserta ; fiiamenta compressa, copiose
papilloso-glandulosa: antheræ in tubum connatse, appendiculâ solutâ,
subulatâ, obtusulâ, apice uncinatâ, ipsâ quadruplé breviore coronatæ, basi
ligulâ simplici, obtusâ, bilobâ, membranaceâ instructæ. Ovarium minuté
papillosum. Stylus 5-angulus, basi incrassatus. Stigmata soluta. Ungulata,
obtusa, pruinosa, recurva. Achenia levitèr compressa, glabra, atro-
fuscescentia, basi interiore umbilico concavo exsculpta. Pappus uniformis,
cinereus : radiis triplici ordine copiosissimis, subsetaceis, inæqualibus, spi-
nuloso-denticulatis, scabris, basi solutis, caducis. D . Don Mss.
“ This group, consisting now of four species, three of which are natives
o f Chile, I have ventured to separate from Cyanus, on account of the
structure of its pappus, which consists of numerous, uniform, rough, hairlike
bristles, of unequal length, and disposed in a triple series. In Cyanus
the exterior rays of the pappus are short, broad, paleaceous, and imbricated,
serrulate at the margin ; but how far the structure of this organ, in
this tribe of Carduaceoe, is to be relied on, as a mark of distinction, I
confess I have been unable to satisfy myself, as in some species of Jacea
it is either rudimentary, or wholly wanting. The Mexican specimens are
more canescent, but in other respects both plants agree.”
Tor the whole of the above account, we are indebted to the kindness
of Mr. David Don, who has long been engaged in a paper on the American
Compositæ. The present beautiful subject is an annual plant, a native of
the Arkansa territory, in North America, where it was discovered by
Mr. T. Nuttall, and from seeds sent by him to Robert Barclay, Esq. of
Bury-hill, it was first introduced to this country ; and from fine specimens
communicated from Mr. Barclay’s collection, the present figure was taken
some years back, but we delayed publishing it as a Centaurea, and could
not reconcile it with Cyanus, we therefore waited to get it settled in a proper
genus ; it is certainly a most beautiful plant, and deserving a place in
every collection; if sown in the open ground, the latter end of March or
beginning of April is the best time, as the plants will otherwise not have
time to ripen their seeds ; but a better way is to treat it as a half hardy
annual, to sow the seeds in pots in a frame or in the Greenhouse, and to
transplant the young plants into the open borders.
The generic name is derived from vrksnTo?, plaited, and xsipaM;, a head,
from the plaited leaflets of the Involucrum, that surround the head of
flowers.
1. Capitulum split through the centre, to show the hairy receptacle. 2. Barren radiated
floret, producing neither stamens or style. 3. Fertile floret of the disk, producing
stamens and style, and bearing perfect seed. 4. The 5 Stamens laid open, showing the
distinct filaments, and the 5 connected anthers, that are each furnished with a tooth on
each side at the base. 5. Seed, showing its hairy pappus, and terminated by the Style
and bifid Stigma. C. Anther detached.