Scientific American Supplement, No. 484, April 11, 1885 by Various
page 118 of 127 (92%)
page 118 of 127 (92%)
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in wavy masses round the tall stem, which has a palm-like tuft of them at
the summit, are a more ornamental feature than the flowers, which are moderate in size and come late in the axils of the upper leaves. [Illustration: HELIANTHUS ANNUUS GLOBULUS FISTULOSUS.] _H. angustifolius._--A neat and elegant species, which I first raised from seed sent by Mr. W. Thompson, of Ipswich. It has a very branching habit quite from the base like a well-grown bush of the common wallflower. The flowers are abundant, about 2½ inches across, with a black disk. The plant, though a true herb, never comes up in my garden with more than one stalk each year. [Illustration: HELIANTHUS RIGIDUS (SYN. HARPALIUM RIGIDUM).] _H. rigidus_ is well known as the best of the perennial sunflowers, and has many synonyms, the commonest Harpalium rigidum. It need not be described, but one or two things about it may be noted. The shoots, which come up a yard or more from last year's stalk, may be transplanted as soon as they appear without injury to the flowering, but if put back to the old center, the soil, which should be deep and light, ought to be enriched. The species is variable, and improved forms may be expected, as it produces seed in England. The number of ray flowers is often very large. I have one form which has several rows of them, nearly hiding the disk. A variety is figured in _Botanical Magazine_, tab. 2,668, under the name of H. atro-rubens. Another comes in the same series, tab. 2,020, as H. diffusus. Other synonyms are H. missuricus and H. missouriensis. Its native range extends across North America in longitude, and covers many degrees of latitude. It likes a dry soil. In wet soil and wet seasons the flower-stalk is apt to wither in the middle, and the bud falls over and |
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