[THE GARDEN.]

THE SUNFLOWERS.


[Illustration: FLOWER OF HELIANTHUS ARGOPHYLLUS.]

The genus Helianthus is almost entirely North-American, and for the
distinction and limitation of its species we are indebted to the labor of
Dr. Asa Gray, now universally recognized as the highest authority on North
American plants. In the recently published second part of his "Synoptical
Flora of North America" he has described thirty-nine species, six of which
are annual. The synonyms and cross-naming adopted by previous authors have
led to much confusion, which probably will not now be altogether cleared
up, for Dr. Gray warns us that the characters of some of the species are
variable, especially in cultivation. It may be added that some at least of
the species readily form hybrids. There is always more or less difficulty
with a variable genus in making garden plants fit wild specific types, but
in the following notes I have described no kinds which I have not myself
cultivated, selecting the best forms and giving them the names assigned
severally by Dr. Gray to the species to which our garden plants seem to
come nearest.

[Illustration: HELIANTHUS ARGOPHYLLUS, SHOWING HABIT OF GROWTH.]

_Helianthus multiflorus_, or, according to Asa Gray, speaking botanically,
H. decapetalus hort. var. multiflorus, is mentioned first, because it is
the subject of the colored illustration. The name multiflorus is