Francoa
(named in honour of F. Franco, M.D., of Valentia, a promoter of botany in the sixteenth century). ORD. Saxifrageae. A Chilian genus, all the species of which are described below. They are very handsome hardy or half-hardy perennials, beset with simple hairs or glands. Flowers terminal, copious, in spicate racemes. Leaves lyrate, nearly like those of the Turnip, reticulately veined. Seeds should be sown, about February or March, in a well-drained pan of sandy peat, covered over with a pane of glass, and in a heat of about 50deg. The glass covering may be removed when the seedlings have made a little growth. So soon as the plants are large enough to handle, they should be transferred to other pans, at a distance of about 2in. apart. About April or May, they may be potted off into 4in. pots, and placed in a cool greenhouse or frame. Increased also by divisions.
F. appendiculata (appendaged).* fl., petals pale red, marked each by a deeper spot near the base; scape nearly simple; racemes compact. July. l. petiolat, lyrate. h. 2ft. 1830. (B. M. 3178; misnamed F. sonchifolia in L. B. C. 1864.) F. ramosa (branched).* fl. white, loosely arranged; rachis and sepals glabrous; inflorescence much branched. July, August. l. shortly stalked, usually decurrent. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1831. Plant caulescent. (B. M. 3824.) F. sonchifolia (Sowthistle-leaved).* fl. loosely arranged; petals pink, often with a darker blotch near the base. July. l. with short petioles, usually decurrent below the auricles to the extreme base. h. 2ft. 1830. (B. M. 3309; S. B. F. G. vol. 5, 169.)