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Arctotis (From arktos a bear and ous)

(from arktos, a bear, and ous, an ear; in reference to the shaggy fruit). ORD. Compositae. Mostly half-hardy herbaceous perennials. Involucral bracts numerous, imbricated, scariose on the margin; receptacle pitted, studded with bristles between the florets; achenes grooved, crowned with a pappus of membranous scales. The species of this genus are of easy culture in a compost of loam and leaf soil. Propagated by cuttings at any time of the year; these should be pricked in pots of very sandy soil, and placed in gentle warmth; they must be kept uncovered and moderately dry, or they will rot. The Arctotis are very handsome plants in sunny, dry positions outside during the summer months, but they must be protected during winter. A. acaulis (stemless).* fl.-heads yellow and red. Summer. l hoary on each side, ternate, lyrate. Stem very short, decumbent. h. 4in. Cape of Good Hope, 1759. Very rarely met with.

A. arborescens (tree-like).* fl.-heads, ray-florets white above, pink beneath; disk-florets yellow; disposed in large circular Daisy-like heads. Summer. l. linear-oblong, pinnate; upper ones amplexicaul; lower ones stalked. h. 2ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1815.

A. argentea (silvery). fl.-heads orange. August. l. lanceolate-linear, entire, downy. h. 1ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1774.

A. aureola (golden). Synonymous with A. grandiflora. A. breviscapa (short-stalked). Synonymous with A. speciosa. A. grandiflora (large-flowered).* fl.-heads orange; outer scales of involucre reflexed, cuneate, oblong, with a broad short point, somewhat cobwebbed. July. l. pinnatifid, serrulate, three-nerved. h. 1 1/2ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1710. SYNS. A. aureola and A. undulata.

A. reptans (creeping). fl.-heads white, orange. July. l. hairy beneath; lower lyrate toothed; upper lanceolate toothed. Stem ascending. h. 8in. Cape of Good Hope, 1795.

A. rosea (rosy). fl.-heads pink. Autumn. l. spathulate-lanceolate, repand-toothed, hoary. Stem procumbent. Cape of Good Hope, 1793. A. speciosa (showy).* fl.-heads yellow; outer scales of involucre linear recurved. July. l. lyrate, pinnatifid, hoary beneath, three-nerved. Plant stemless. h. 1 1/2ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1812. Closely allied to A. acaulis. SYN. A. breviscapa.

A. undulata (wavy). Synonymous with A. grandiflora.