TUSSILAGO fragrans.
Fragrant Coltsfoot.
Class and Order.—Syngensia, Polygamia, Superflua.
Syn. Tussilago Fragrans. Curt. Bot. Mag. pl. 1388.
Root creeping, fleshy—scape about eight inches high, woolly, appearing before the leaves—leaves radical, large, cordate, margins crenate—young leaves covered with a deciduous down, cauline leaves cordate, sheathing the stem—peduncles rising from concave bracteas—calyx many segments, lanceolate, acute, tinged with brown—radiated florets ligulate, pink, florets of the disk, five segments, white—style projecting, stigma dark purple.
This plant possesses little beauty to recommend it to our notice, but its delightful fragrance, which strongly resembles the Heliotropium Peruvianum, renders it an acceptable addition to our small stock of winter flowers. It is a native of Italy, and was introduced into this country by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, in 1806. Though frequently treated as a green-house or frame-plant, it is perfectly hardy, and if grown in a moist situation, it will spread so rapidly as to become troublesome; the best plan therefore is to confine it in a pot, and plunge it in common garden soil, where it will flower about December or January, without the least protection.
This is the only species suitable for a flower garden.
Pl. 51.