This species is nearly related to H. polygalcBfolium,
ƒ. l l , but differs sufficiently in the following particulars.
The stems of this are more upright and straighter, and
clothed with loose wool, not with spreading hairs, as in
that; the leaves in this are broader, and covered all over
with long spreading hairs, not glossy on the upper side,
and having the hairs in fascicles on the lower side, as
in that; the peduncles here are shorter than the leaves,
in that they are double the length of the leaves; the calyx
in this is much longer, with long taper points, and
clothed with a close pressed tomentum; in that it is
clothed with bristly hairs; the flowers in this are larger,
the stamens more numerous; the capsule in this is
larger and pointed, in that it is nearly globular; the
seeds in this are also larger, and the young plants, when
first up from seed, may be distinguished apart immediately;
they were both sent from the Brazils, by Mr. .Frederick
Sello to Dr. Sims, as two distinct species, one
marked Helianthemum, 19, the other 48. Dr. Sims presented
the seed to Mr. William Anderson, Curator of
the Apothecaries’ Company’s Garden, at Chelsea, where
they were sown in 1823; and from a plant raised from
it the present drawing was taken last May, the first
time that it produced perfect flowers; those that were
produced the preceding Autumn being all apetalous, as
are the Autumn flowers of all the species of this section
that we have had an opportunity of seeing; but those
apetalous flowers produce as perfect seeds as the complete
flowers.
We have not yet proved whether the Brazilian species
of this genus are hardy enough to bear our Winters
in the open air, but at any rate they may be preserved
through the Winter in a frame, as we see they are much
drawn in a Greenhouse, which proves that it is too warm
a temperature for them; they thrive well pots in a
mixture of sandy loam and peat, and may be raised from
cuttings, planted under a hand-glass in Autumn, or
from seeds, which ripen in abundance.
H. brasiliense of Sprengel, must be a very different
sp e c ie s , judging From his description.