Gnaphalium Eximium. Giant Cudweed. _Class and Order._ Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua. _Generic Character._ _Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ plumosus vel capillaris. _Cal._ imbricatus, squamis marginalibus rotundatis, scariosis, coloratis. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ GNAPHALIUM _eximium_ foliis sessilibus ovatis confertis erectis tomentosis, corymbo sessili. _Linn. Mant. Pl. p. 573._ _Syst. Nat. ed. 13. Gmel._ ELYCHRYSUM africanum foliis lanceolatis integris tomentosis decurrentibus, capitulus congestis ex rubello aureis. _Edw. Av. t. 183._ [Illustration: N^o. 300] In the summer of 1794, towards the end of July, the Gnaphalium here figured, the most magnificent and shewy of all the species hitherto introduced to this country, flowered in great perfection at Messrs. Lee and Kennedy's, Hammersmith: Mr. Lee informs me, that he raised it from seeds given him by Capt. William Paterson, author of a Narrative of four journeys into the country of the Hottentots, and Caffraria, and who has most laudably exerted himself in introducing many new and interesting plants to this country; this gentleman assured Mr. Lee, that the plant was found in a wild state, five hundred miles from the Cape, on the borders of the Caffre country, from whence the natives bring bundles of the dried plant to the Cape as presents; in the state the plant has long since been imported from that fertile coast: if we mistake not, a specimen of this sort is figured in Petiver's works, and a coloured representation is given of it in Edwards's History of Birds, taken from a dried plant, brought from the Cape, by Capt. Isaac Worth, in 1749. The plants we saw were about a foot and a half high, the stalks shrubby, and but little branched; the foliage and flowers as represented on the plate. Several of the Gnaphaliums it is well known are liable to be killed by moisture, especially in the winter season; during that time, this plant in particular, should be kept as dry as possible, and, if convenient, on a shelf, separate from the other plants of the greenhouse; when it is necessary to give it water, it should never come in contact with the foliage or flowers: with these precautions it may be kept very well in a good greenhouse, in which it should remain, even during summer. It may be raised from seeds, and also from cuttings. [301] Melianthus Minor. Small Melianthus, or Honey-Flower. _Class and Order._ Didynamia Angiospermia. _Generic Character._ _Cal._ 5-phyllus: folio inferiore gibbo. _Petala_ 4: nectario infra infima. _Caps._ 4-locularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ MELIANTHUS _minor_ stipulis geminis distinctis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 581._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 368._ MELIANTHUS africanus minor foetidus. _Comm. rar. 4. t. 4._ [Illustration: N^o. 301]