_Specific Character and Synonyms._ AMARYLLIS _equestris_ spatha subbiflora, pedicellis erectis spatha brevioribus, tubo siliformi horizontali, limbo oblique patulo sursum curvo, fauce, pilosa. _Linn. fil. Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 417._ AMARYLLIS dubia _Linn. Am. Ac. 8. p. 254_. LILIUM americanum puniceo flore Belladonna dictum. _Herm. Par. Bat. p. 194. cum fig._ [Illustration: N^o. 305] Mr. Aiton, in his _Hortus Kewensis_, has inserted this species of Amaryllis, as named and described by the younger Linnaeus; he informs us, that it is a native of the West-Indies, and was introduced by Dr. William Pitcairn, in 1778: as its time of flowering is not mentioned, we may presume, that it had not blossomed in the royal garden when the publication before mentioned first made its appearance; it no doubt has since, as we have seen it in that state in the collections of several Nurserymen, particularly those of Mr. Grimwood and Mr. Colvill. It flowers towards the end of April. The flowering stem rises above the foliage, to the height of about a foot or more, produces from one to three flowers, similar to, but not quite so large as those of the Mexican Amaryllis, to which it is nearly related; it differs however from that plant essentially in this, that the lower part of the flower projects further than the upper, which gives to its mouth that obliquity which Linnaeus describes. The spatha is composed of two leaves, which standing up at a certain period of the plant's flowering like ears, give to the whole flower a fancied resemblance of a horse's head; whether Linnaeus derived his name of _equestris_ from this circumstance or not, he does not condescend to inform us. Mr. Aiton regards it as a greenhouse plant; like those of many of the Ixias, however, the bulbs are of the more tender kind. It is propagated by offsets, but not very readily. [306] Othonna Pectinata. Wormwood-Leaved Othonna. _Class and Order._ Syngenesia Polygamia Necessaria. _Generic Character._ _Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ subnullus, _Cal._ 1-phyllus multifidus subcylindricus. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ OTHONNA _pectinata_ foliis pinnatifidis: laciniis linearibus parallelis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 793._ _Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 276._ JACOBAEA africana frutescens, foliis absinthii umbelliferi incanis. _Comm. hort. 2. p. 137. t. 69._ [Illustration: N^o. 306] The _Othonna pectinata_ is a native of Africa, a long-established and common plant in greenhouses, having been cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 1731; it recommends itself chiefly on account of its foliage, which forms a pleasing contrast to the darker greens of other plants. It flowers in May and June, is moderately hardy, and readily increased by cuttings.