Volume 5 — PLATE CCCLIX.

TAGETES LUCIDA.

Sweet Chili Marygold.

CLASS XIX. ORDER II.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. Tips united. Superfluous Pointals.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx communis simplicissimus, monophyllus, tubulosus, oblongus, pentagonus, quinquedentatus.

Corolla composita radiata; corollulæ hermaphroditæ tubulosæ, plures in disco elevato; femineæ ligulatæ quinque in radio.

Propria hermaphroditis tubulosa, semiquinquefida, erecta, calyce longior; laciniis linearibus, introrsum villosis.

Femineis ligulata, hermaphrodites longior, longitudine et latitudine fere æqualis, obtusissima, versus tubum angustior, tomentosa persistens.

Stamina Hermaphroditis; filamenta quinque, capillaria, brevissima. Anthera cylindracea, tubulosa.

Pistillum Hermaphroditis; Germen oblongum. Stylus filiformis, longitudine staminum. Stigma bifidum, tenue, reflexum.

Femineis; germen oblongum. Stylus filiformis, longitudine hermaphroditis. Stigma bifidum, tenue, reflexum.

Pericarpium nullum. Calyx immutatus.

Semina Hermaphroditis solitaria, linearia, compressa, calyce paulo breviora. Pappus aristis quinque, erectis, acuminatis, inæqualibus.

Femineis similima hermaphrodites.

Receptaculum nudum, planum.

Empalement common, quite simple, one leaf, tubular, oblong, five-sided, five-toothed.

Blossom, compound raised; hermaphrodite florets tubular, numerous in an elevated center; females tongue-shaped five in the circumference.

Proper of the Hermaphrodites, tubular, half five-cleft, upright, longer than the cup; segments linear, hairy within.

Of the Females tongue-shaped longer than the hermaphrodites, of nearly the same length and breadth, very blunt, narrower towards the tube, downy, remaining.

Chives of the Hermaphrodites; five threads, hair-like, very short. Tip cylindric, tubular.

Pointal of the Hermaphrodites; seed-bud oblong. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the chives. Summit two-cleft, slender, reflexed.

Of the Females; seed-bud oblong. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the hermaphrodite. Summit two-cleft, slender, reflexed.

Seed-vessel none. Cup unchanged.

Seeds of the Hermaphrodites solitary, linear, flat, a little shorter than the cup. Feather five awns, upright, tapered, unequal.

Of the Females like the hermaphrodites.

Receptacle naked, flat.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Tagetes caule herbaceo, erecto, floribus cymosis, parvis, luteis, odoratissimis.

Marygold with an upright, herbaceous stem; flowers in tufts, small, yellow, and very sweet scented.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This plant is a native of Chili, South America, and was sent to England by Dr. Ortega, from the Royal Gardens, Madrid, to the late Marchioness of Bute; who first raised it from seeds in the year 1798. It is perfectly herbaceous, but will flower the first year from the seed; will endure moderate frost, and may be considered as a hardy herbaceous plant. Is increased either by seeds, or by parting the roots; delights in a moderately stiff soil; flowering from July till November. If kept in a pot, the flowers, which are very fragrant, will continue in succession through the whole winter.

Tagetes minuta of Linnæus’s Sp. Plant. Vol. II. p. 1250, quoted from his Hortus Cliffortianus, and Dillenius’s Hortus Elthamensis, seems much affined to this plant; but, as that is annual, this cannot be considered as a variety of it.

Our drawing was taken at the Hammersmith Nursery.