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limbo 5-dentato, albo, patenti : laciniis ovato-oblongis, mu-
cronulo rubro apiculatis : nervis tantùm primariis, intramar-
ginalibus. Fiiamenta angusta, canaliculata, minutissimè papillosa,
incurva, infrà tubo adhærentia. Antìierce fuscæ, in
tubum coalitæ, basi obtusè bidenticulatæ ; appendiculâ ovata,
acuta, membranaceâ, marcescenti coronatæ. Stylus filiformis,
apice papillosus. Stigmata filiformia, longissima, revoluta,
dense papillosa, suprà planiuscula. Achenia lineari-cuneata,
compressa, fusca, lævia, involucro arctè obvoluta. Pappus
proprius: coronula brevissima, membranacea, laciniata, densè
cibata; laciniis 2 oppositis elongaùs, erectis, plumosis. D.
Don. Aiss.
“ A native of Mexico, whence it was introduced to the
Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid, where it blossomed for the
first time in December, 1794, and a figure of it was published
by the Abbe Cavanilles, in the third volume of the
‘ Icones Plantarum.’ M. Kunth, certainly not aware of its
having been previously published, has given a description
and figure of it, under the name of Lagascca rubra. It flowered
in the Winter of last year, in the greenhouse, at Boy-
ton House, Wilts, whence our figure was derived : it was
raised together with the N. latifolia, given at t. 215 of the
first series of this work, by Mr. Lambert, from seeds received
from Mexico. The N. rigida, when planted in a warm situation,
or at a wall, appears to be sufficiently hardy to endure
our Winters, in the open air. Lagasca and Nocca are very
closely allied, but they appear to me sufficiently distinct to
entitle them to rank as separate genera. The former is distinguished
by the involucrum being uniformly quadrifid, and
not adherent to the ovarium, which is surmounted by a very
small depressed epigynous disk, and destitute of the membranous
crown, being only furnished with short pubescence.”
“ I have followed M. Kunth in referring these genera to
Fchinopsideæ, of whom they appear to me to constitute an
osculant group, connecting that family with the Helianthece."
Eor the whole of the above account we are indebted to our respected
friend, Mr. David Don, who has long been engaged in arranging the South
American and Mexican Compositæ, and from whom we may soon expect
an interesting paper on this most difficult family. The flowers of the present
plant are very fragrant, and Mr. Lambert informs us, that a plant which
was planted in the open border, b y the side o f a wall, soon attained the height
of ten feet, and only needs the protection of a mat in severe frost, thriving
well in the common garden soil ; young cuttings, planted under hand-glasses,
in Spring, will be rooted in a few days.
The genus was named by Cavanilles, in compliment to Dominicus
Noc ca , an Italian Botanist, and author of many botanical publications.
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1. One of the outer bractes. 2. The tubular Involucrum, inclosing the floret. 3. The
same split open, showing the 5 nuequal teeth. 4. Floret spread open, showing the nerves
alternating with the teeth. 5. Lower part of the tube, showing the insertion of the 5 stamens,
the filaments distinct, tlie anthers connected into a tube, but here laid open ; at the
base of each is a small tooth on both sides. 6. Akenia or seed, terminated by the Style
and 2-cleft Stigma.