Cosmos
(from kosmos, beautiful; in reference to the flowers). ORD. Compositoe. Annuals or perennials. Flower-heads solitary; receptacle furnished with linear acute, coloured bracteoles, equalling or excelling the florets. Leaves pinnate. All are readily increased from seed, which may be sown in gentle heat, in early spring. When large enough, the seedlings should be pricked off, and finally planted out in May, similar to other annuals. The perennials require to be protected during winter, and may be propagated like Dahlias, in spring.
C. bipinnatus (bipinnate). fl.-heads rose or purple, with a yellow disk; peduncles axillary and terminal, leafy, rather short. Late summer. h. 2ft. Mexico, 1799. Annual.
C. scabiosoides (Scabious-like). fl. scarlet; outer scales of involucre shorter than the leaves. October. l. pinnate-parted, hispid beneath, with two pairs of lanceolate-oblong, sub-serrated leaflets, the terminal one the largest. Stem downy. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Mexico, 1834. This species is a half-hardy perennial, with tuberous roots, like the common Dahlia. (B. R. 1838, 15.) C. tenuifolius (slender-leaved). fl-heads rich purple; outer bracts of involucre less acuminate than those of C. bivinnatus. Autumn. l. very finely cut, almost Fennel-like. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Mexico. Annual. (B. R. 2007.)