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disk, with a tripartite limb, having linear obtuse segments;
those of the disk all equal and hermaphrodite, tubular, sulphur
coloured, the nerves very distinct and of a brown colour;
segments erect, linear, obtuse, channelled, the outer one
rather more deeply separated than the r e s t; tube 5-sided,
double the length of the faux. Filaments compressed, copiously
papillose. Anthers pale purple, furnished at the base
with two linear, truncate appendages, and at the top with a
long, linear-lanceolate, acute, coriaceous, rigid one. Ovarium
5-sided, glabrous, the areola nearly vertical. Style
slender, 5-angled, longer than the stamens, the branches
connate, bearded below. Pappus purple, persistent, composed
of many series of compressed scabrous bristles, the
exterior ones gradually shorter, paleaceous and imbricate.
Raised by our worthy friend Mr. Anderson, from seeds
communicated by M. de Fischer, director of the Imperial
Botanic Garden at St. Petersburg, and gathered in Armenia
by M. Szovits, an indefatigable collector for that establishment,
who has since died of fever in Mingrelia. M. de
Fischer informs us that the plant has not yet flowered in the
Petersburg Garden. It is stated to have been introduced
in 1820; but we are inclined to think that some other species
had been mistaken for it, and th a t this is really its first appearance
in our gardens. The species was first noticed by
Tournefort, and was afterwards taken .up by Lamarck from
specimens collected in Armenia by th at illustrious botanist,
and still preserved in the Museum at Paris. The plant is
well distinguished by its habit, and by its short tripartite
rays. We could wish that the characters of the other species
of this intricate genus were equally satisfactory.
Our drawing was taken at the Chelsea Botanic Garden in
the summer of last year. The plant is a hardy perennial,
and appears to flourish in the ordinary garden soil.
The generic name is of poetic origin, being derived from
Chiron, one of the Centaurs, having, as the fable has it,
cured himself by means of the plant of a wound which he
had received in the foot from an arrow.
F . Don.
1. Scale of the involucrum. 2, Floret.
4. Style. 5. Pappus.
3. Stamens. t i !