é [ H I 1
S A N T O L I N A maritima.
Sea Cotton-weed.
S T N G E N E S I A Potygamia-aqualis.
G en. Char. Recept. chaffy. Down none. Cal. imbricated,
hemifpherical.
Spec. C har. Flower-ftalks collefted into a corymbus.
Leaves oblong, obtufe, crenated, very downy.
Syn. Santolina maritima. Lim. MSS. HudJ. FI.
An. 356. With. Bot. Arr. 886.
Athanafia maritima. Linn. Sp. PI. 1182. Mant.
2. 464.
Gnaphalium maruimum. Raii Syn. 180.
T h IS fpecimen was gathered laft Auguft by Dr. Smith, on
the fea beach, juft above high-water mark, a mile to the north
of Landguard Fort in Suffolk, where this rare plant grows in
tolerable plenty, and flowers from the middle of Auguft to the
latter part of September. It occurs alfo on various parts of our
fouthern coaft.
The long perennial roots run very deep into the fand, and
throw up feveral branched bufhy ftems about a foot high, extremely
brittle, round, covered with numerous, alternate, oblong,
almoft fpatulate, crenate leaves, which, as well as the
ftem and calyx, are completely invefted with a pure white thick
cottony web. A corymbus of bright yellow flowers terminates
the ftem and fide branches. The calyx is formed of numerous
concave, fomewhat membranous, fcales ; and the hemifpherical
receptacle is fet with fimilar fcales, woolly at their
tip. The florets are numerous, all tubular, regular, hermaphrodite
and fertile. Seeds oval, curved, comprefled, fharp and
membranous at the edge, deftitute of wing or down. Every part,
efpecially the flowers, has a ftrong aromatic fcent, like Coft-
mary (Tanacetum Balfamita).
Thofe who go to look for thefe flowers in July, according
to the information of authors, will be difappointed. All the
figures of this plant, Miller’s not excepted, are extremely bad.