[Illustration: N^o. 293]
The _Catananche caerulea_ is a native of the South of France, where it
grows in hilly situations that are stony: it is a perennial herbaceous
plant, moderately hardy, and has long been cultivated in our gardens,
Mr. Aiton says, by Parkinson in 1640: Miller, who treats of it in his
Dictionary, describes it as a pretty ornament to a garden, and one that
is easily kept within bounds; there is certainly much about it to excite
our admiration, more especially in the structure of the calyx, and the
florets: the flowers, which are of a pale blue colour with a dark eye,
make their appearance from July to October.
It is propagated by seeds, which Miller recommends to be sown in the
Spring; the seedlings should be transplanted in the Autumn, into the
borders where they are to remain; it may also be increased by slips: the
plant requires a situation moderately dry, and is most productive of
flowers and seeds when it stands long in one spot.
In the 14th _edit._ of the _Systema Vegetab._ of Prof. Murray, mention
is made of a variety with double flowers, which we believe has not been
seen in this country.
[294]
Amaryllis Sarniensis. Guernsey Amaryllis.
_Class and Order._
Hexandria Monogynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ hexapetaloidea irregularis. _Filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta
declinata inaequalia proportione vel directione. _Linn. fil. Ait.
Kew. p. 415._
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
AMARYLLIS _sarniensis_, petalis linearibus planis, staminibus
pistilloque rectiusculis corolla longioribus, stigmatibus partitis
revolutis. _Linn. fil. Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 420. Thunb. Jap. p. 131._