1 6 6
H O A R E A varia.
Various-leaved Hoarea.
H. varia, umbella composita, foliis simplicibus ovatis
dentatis ternatisque laciniatis pinnatifidisque pilosis;
segmeritis obiongis obtusis dentatis, petalis
linearibus undulatis patentibus, tubo nectarifero
calyce parum lorigiori.
Root tuberous. Stem none. Leaves very variable,
scarcely two alike, crowning the root in a radiate
form, of a hoary light green, thickly covered with soft
white unequal hairs, lower leaves simple, ovate, toothed,
others ternate, lanceolate, or pinnatifid ; segments
oblong, obtuse, toothed, and ciliate. Petioles widely
flattened on the upper side, and convex on the lower,
thickly clothed with long white villous hairs, as are
the peduncles and bractes. Stipules very long, subu-
lately linear, joined to the base of the petioles. Scape
springing from the crown of the root, leafy and producing
numerous umbels of flowers. Peduncles cylindrical,
hoary. Umbels many-flowered. Involucre of
numerous narrowly lanceolate, taper-pointed, fringed
bractes. Calyx 5-cleft, segments unequal, lanceolate,
bluntish, with membranaceous margins, the upper one
erect, the others reflexed. Nectariferous tube slightly
curved, flattened on both sides, and clothed with short
villous hairs. Petals 5, undulate, spreading, the two
uppermost largest, reflexed from about the middle, all
of a dull crimson colour, white at the base. Filaments
10, united into a tube, five fertile ones of nearly the
same length, the uppermost rather shortest; sterile
ones short and curved inwards. Pollen orange-colour