It is an annual, growing to about the height of two feet; the whole plant is viscous, and, if bruised, smells somewhat disagreeably; the flowers do not open at any particular time as those of the _Mirabilis_ do, and each contains only three stamina; when they fall off, which they do soon after expanding, the calyx closes on the germen, enlarges, droops, and becomes deeply plaited; on the ripening of the seed it turns brown, expands, and is suspended like a little umbrella over the seed, which when perfectly ripe drops out on the ground; the expanded calyx in this state appears somewhat like the flower of a Physalis. This plant flowers from June to October, and ripens its seeds in the open air; it is not difficult of culture, requires the same treatment as other tender annuals from Peru. Our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered 1796, in the collection of the Marchioness of Bute, and was raised from Peruvian seeds, sent her by Prof. Ortega of Madrid, under the name of _Mirabilis triandra_; Mons. Cavanille has figured and described it as the _Mirabilis viscosa_; Mons. L'Heritier, from a consideration of all its characters, has been induced to make a new genus of it, which he has called _Oxybaphus_. [435] [Illustration: Nº. 435] Gnaphalium Ericoides. Heath-Leaved Gnaphalium, or Everlasting. _Class and Order._ Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua. _Generic Character._ _Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ plumosus. _Cal._ imbricatus: squamis marginalibus rotundatis scariosis coloratis. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ GNAPHALIUM _ericoides_ fruticosum foliis sessilibus linearibus, calycibus exterioribus rudibus, interioribus incarnatis. _Linn. Am. Acad. v. 6. p. 99._ _Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 746._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 174._ In the 6th vol. of the _Amoenitates Academicæ_, Linnæus describes this species of _Gnaphalium_, most probably from dried specimens collected at the Cape, where it is a native; so insignificant did the plant appear to him, that in his description, he calls it _misera_; compared with the more magnificent species, such a term might not perhaps be inapplicable: but, though small, the plant possesses much beauty when cultivated, and hence is generally kept in our green-houses. It flowers from March to August. Its branches, naturally weak and trailing, require to be carefully tied up; if this business be executed with taste and judgment, the natural beauty of the plant may be considerably heightened. It is readily increased by cuttings. Was introduced to the royal garden at Kew, by Mr. Masson, in 1774. [436] [Illustration: Nº. 436] Hibiscus Præmorsus. Bitten-Leaved Hibiscus. _Class and Order._ Monadelphia Polyandria. _Generic Character._ _Cal._ duplex: exterior polyphyllus. _Caps._ 5-locularis, polysperma. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ HIBISCUS _præmorsus_ foliis subrotundis, dentato-serratis retusis pubescentibus. _Ait. Kew. v. 2. 454._