“ This showy plant is a native of Mexico, and was introduced
into the Royal Botanic Garden at Madrid, so long
ago as 1793, but it shortly after perished, without perfecting
its seeds, and it was entirely unknown to the gardens of this
country, until again introduced from Mexican seeds by Mr.
Lambert and Mr. Barclay, in whose collections it flowered
in October last. It appears to be perfectly hardy, and will
doubtless prove a valuable acquisition to our collections.”
The genus E c h i n a c e a was first proposed by Moench,
and it has since been adopted by Cassini, otherwise we
should have been disposed to change the name, which is in
some degree objectionable : besides the Rudhécìcia purpùreo-
of Linnæus, and the subject of the present article, the genus
will also include Rudbeckia serótina, given at t. 4. of the first
series of this work. The genus is much more akin to Helianthus
than to Rudbéckia, and it is chiefly distinguished from
it by the structure of its pappus, and by the shorter tube of
the florets of the disk. The Rudbéckia fúlgida, hirta, trilòba,
and some other allied species, characterised by their very
short, undivided seed-crown, will perhaps constitute another
genus. The R, laciniata being the original species, I have
considered it as the type of the genus R u d b e c k i a ; which
will also comprise R. digitàta, lævigàta, pinnàta, and colum-
nmùs. It is essentially distinguished by its elongated, cylindrical
receptacle, covered with short obtuse paleæ ; by its
simple involucrum ; by the florets of the disk being very
short, and of nearly equal width ; and finally by the shorter,
broader, and almost pointless stigmata.”
The whole of the above account was furnished us by
Mr. David Don.
The specimen from which our drawing was made, was
sent us by the kindness of Robert Barclay, Esq. from his
extensive collection of rare plants at Bury-Hill, in October
last, where it was raised the year before from seed received
from Mexico ; it is a very handsome Autumn flowering plant;
and Mr. Cameron informs us that it forms a large tuberous
root, which he expects may be preserved through the Winter,
in the same manner as the roots of the Marvel of Peru, and
Georgina, or it may be protected by a pot placed over it, or
a bank of earth, or any other slight covering, in severe frost.
The generic name is derived from ex^ oc, a hedgehog,
from the rigid sharp chaff on the receptacle.
1 split through the centre, to show the chaffy receptacle, and the various
lengths of the leaflets of tlie Involucrum. 2. One of the paleæ or chaff, showing the hairy
keel at the back. 3. One of the sterile Rays. 4. Floret of the disk, seated on the seed.
&. llie same split open, to show the nerves alternating with the teeth. C. The 5 Stamens,
showing the distinct filaments, and connected anthers. 7. Seed divested of the floret, to
show the Style and fimbriate Stigma. ’
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