Marshallia
(named after Humphrey Marshall, an American botanical author, who published, in 1785, a list of the trees of the United States). SYNS. Persoonia (of Michaux), Therolepta, Trattenikia. ORD. Compositae. A genus comprising four species of hardy perennial herbs, natives of North America. Flower-heads purplish or rose, resembling those of a Scabious, solitary; involucral scales linear-lanceolate, leafy, in one or two rows; receptacle convex or conical, chaffy; florets all tubular. The undermentioned species (the only one cultivated) is interesting rather than handsome, and is very suitable for borders in any light soil. Propagated by seeds, sown in a warm border, during late spring.
M. caespitosa (tufted).* fl.-heads bluish-white, about 1 1/2in. across. June. l. alternate, entire, glabrous, tufted. Stems several from the same tuft. h. 1ft. Texas, 1837. (B. M. 3704.)