Miller, by mistake, calls this plant Caelirosa.

[25]

Dianthus chinensis.  China or Indian Pink.

Class and Order.

Decandria Digynia.

Generic Character.

Calyx cylindricus, 1-phyllus:  basi squamis 4. Petala 5, unguiculata. Capsula cylindrica, 1-locularis.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

DIANTHUS chinensis floribus solitariis, squamis calycinis subulatis patulis, tubum aequantibus, corollis crenatis. Lin.  Syst.  Vegetab. p. 418. Sp.  Pl. 588.

CARYOPHYLLUS sinensis supinus, leucoji folio, flore unico. Tournef. act. 1705. p. 348. f. 5.

[Illustration:  No. 25]

This species, unknown to the older botanists, is a native of China, hence its name of China Pink; but, in the nurseries, it is in general better known by the name of Indian Pink.

Though it cannot boast the agreeable scent of many of its congeners, it eclipses most of them in the brilliancy of its colours; there are few flowers indeed which can boast that richness and variety found among the most improved varieties of this species; and as these are easily obtained from seed, so they are found in most collections, both single and double.

It is little better than an annual, but will sometimes continue two years in a dry soil, which it affects.

Attempts have been made to force it, but, as far as we have learned, with no great success.

[26]

Stapelia variegata.  Variegated Stapelia.

Class and Order.

Pentandria Digynia.

Generic Character.

Contorta. Nectarium duplici stellula tegente genitalia.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

STAPELIA variegata denticulis ramorum patentibus. Lin.  Syst.  Vegetab. p. 260. Sp.  Pl. p. 316.

ASCLEPIAS aizoides africana. Bradl. suc. 3. p. 3. t. 22.

[Illustration:  No. 26]

This very singular plant is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where it grows and flourishes on the rocks with the Stapelia hirsuta.

If these plants be kept in a very moderate stove in winter, and in summer placed in an airy glass-case where they may enjoy much free air, but screened from wet and cold, they will thrive and flower very well; for although they will live in the open air in summer, and may be kept through the winter in a good green-house; yet these plants will not flower so well as those managed in the other way.  They must have little water given them, especially in winter.

It is very seldom that the variegata produces seed-vessels in this country; MILLER observes, in upwards of forty years that he cultivated it, he never saw it produce its pods but three times, and then on such plants only as were plunged into the tan-bed in the stove.