aves of this species have small hairs, issuing like rays from
their points, whence its name of _barbatum_; there are two others
figured by DILLENIUS, whose leaves have a great similarity of
structure, and which are considered by LINNAEUS as varieties of
this species; our plant is the _Stellatum_ of MILLER's _Dict._
_ed._ 6. 4_to_.

Like most of this tribe it inhabits the Cape, flowers in July, and is
readily propagated by cuttings.

[71]

~Statice sinuata. Purple-cup't Statice, or Thrift.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Pentagynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 1-phyllus, integer, plicatus, scariosus. _Petala_ 5. _Sem._ 1.
superum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

STATICE _sinuata_ caule herbaceo, foliis radicalibus alternatim pinnato
sinuatis: caulinis ternis triquetris subulatis decurrentibus. _Lin.
Syst. Vegetab._ _p._ 301.

LIMONIUM peregrinum foliis asplenii. _Bauh. Pin. 192._

LIMONIUM Rauwolfii Marsh Buglosse. _Parkins. Parad. p. 250._

[Illustration: 71]

That this singular species of _Statice_ was long since an inhabitant of
our gardens, appears from PARKINSON, who in his _Garden of
Pleasant Flowers_, gives an accurate description of it, accompanied with
an expressive figure; since his time it appears to have been confined to
few gardens: the nurserymen have lately considered it as a
newly-introduced species, and sold it accordingly.

It is one of those few plants whose calyx is of a more beautiful colour
than the corolla (and which it does not lose in drying); it therefore
affords an excellent example of the _calyx coloratus_, as also of
_scariosus_, it being sonorous to the touch.

Being a native of Sicily, Palestine, and Africa, it is of course liable
to be killed with us in severe seasons, the common practice is therefore
to treat it as a green-house plant, and indeed it appears to the
greatest advantage in a pot; it is much disposed to throw up new
flowering stems; hence, by having several pots of it, some plants will
be in blossom throughout the summer; the dried flowers are a pretty
ornament for the mantle-piece in winter.

Though a kind of biennial, it is often increased by parting its roots,
but more advantageously by seed; the latter, however, are but sparingly
produced with us, probably for the want, as PARKINSON expresses
it, "of sufficient heate of the Sunne."

[72]

~Helleborus lividus. Livid or Purple Hellebore.~

_Class and Order._

~Polyandria