p ap illo se ap p e n d a g e . A ch en ia c u n e a te , fou r-sid ed , compressed,
th ic k ly c lo th ed w ith ad p re ssed silk y hairs._ P a p p u s w h ite , the^ rays
e le g a n tly fe a th e ry , a r ra n g e d in a sin g le se ries, compressed a n d d ila te d
below, c o h e rin g a t th e base only.
T h is v e ry e le g a n t e v e rla s tin g is a n a tiv e o f Swan R iv e r , a n d was
in tro d u c e d in 183.3, by S ir J am e s S tirlin g , th e G o v e rn o r o f th a t
C olony, who p re sen ted th e seeds to M r. M a n g le s , in whose collection
a t W h itm o re Lodge, B e rk s h ire , th e p la n t blossomed in th e sum ru e r
o f la s t y e a r. T h e p la n t wh en c e o u r d raw in g was ta k e n was oblig in
g ly se n t us b y M r. M a n g le s in A p ril la s t.
The genus is very nearly related to H e lich ry sum , from the normal
group of which it is only distinguished by the presence of female
florets, and by its feathery pappus. Indeed that genus as constituted
by Lessing would include R h o d a n th e .
We know not whether the plant has been tried in the open border,
but we doubt not of its being found to succeed well treated after the
manner of other tender annuals. Mr. Mackay, the gardener^ at
Whitmore Lodge, has favoured us with the, following interesting
particulars respecting its introduction and culture.
“ T h e seeds o f R h o d a n th e M a n g le sii were p re s e n te d to R o b e rt
M a n g le s, E s q ., o f W h itm o re L odge, by S ir J am e s S tirlin g in 1833,
a n d p a r t o f th em w h ich w e re sown o n a g e n tle h e a t, soon g e rm in a te d
a n d flowered th e follow ing sum m e r. T h e p la n ts h a d b e en confined
in too sm a ll pots (six tie s) a n d g rew w ith less v ig o u r, a n d w ith p ro -
p o rtio n a b ly sm a ll a n d sc a n tie r blooms th a n w h en tre a te d w ith r ic h e r
m o u ld a n d re p e a te d shiftin g s, a p la n I a d o p te d w ith se ed lin g s ra ised
th e follow ing S e p tem b e r from th e rem a in d e r o f th e im p o rte d seeds.
O n e of th e s e was ex h ib ited a t th e M a y m e e tin g o f th e H o r tic u ltu r a l
S o c ie ty , m e a s u rin g from e ig h te e n in c h e s to two feet in h e ig h t, a n d
co vered w ith h u n d re d s o f o p en flowers, a n d u n e x p a n d e d rosy b u d s.
I t rem a in e d in flower n e a r ly th re e m o n th s , w h ic h is n o t th e case
w ith p la n ts ra ised from sp rin g sowing.
“ If kept through the winter in a light and airy part of the greenhouse
they will not fail to do well, and will force tolerably well if
placed in the stove in the beginning of February, flowering freely
about the end of March.
“ So soon as the greatest part of the flowers are expanded the
flower stems and branches assume a singularly stiff and wiry character.”
The generic name is compounded of po&v, a rose, and av%g, a
flower, and alludes to the rosy heads. D . D on .
1. Female floret.
4. Stamen magnified.
2. Male floret. 3. Stamens.
5. Ovarium with the pappus.