Centaurea Americana. 41
below, terminating in a very sharp, brownish cuspis, and having two
similar processes near the apex of each upper leaf; margins scabrous,
veins and costa diaphanous. Peduncles terminal, deeply striated with
whitish lines, and thickened towards the calix where they are near half
an inch in diameter. Flowers large, showy, and elegant. Calix large,
ventricose or subglobose, consisting externally of numerous, recurved,
fimbriated, stiff, straw-yellow, and very shining membranaceous segments
; the lower ones ovate, interior or uppermost segments lanceolate,
sienna-yellow, very shining, also terminating in fimbriated appendages
; the ovate scales, to which these fimbriated appendages are attached,
are green, with a white membranaceous edge, and striated with
white lines. Rays of the flower very long, lilac-purple; neutral rays
white below the fork of their bifurcation. Flower-buds or unexpanded
rays, dark peach-blossom-red. Receptacle pilose, the seed garnished
with an unequal pappus. Grows “ on the banks of streams and in denuded
alluvial situations throughout the plains or prairies of the upper
part of the Arkansa territory, flowering in July and August.”*
This very beautiful plant was first introduced to our gardens in the
autumn of 1819, by Mr. Nuttall, who discovered it native of the
situations already particularized, in the Arkansa territory. It is the
only real Centaurea indigenous to our country, yet known; and, though
annua], is a plant worthy of cultivation in all our gardens. Re-
* Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1821.
YOL. II. 10