Waitzia
(named in honour of F. A. C. Waitz, who travelled in Java, and wrote on the plants of that island). SYN. Viraya. Including Morna. ORD. Compositae. A genus comprising half-a-dozen species of pretty, greenhouse, annual, Australian herbs. Flower-heads ("everlasting") in terminal corymbs, or rarely in oblong, leafy racemes; involucral bracts all coloured and petal-like, imbricated in many rows; receptacle without scales; florets numerous, all hermaphrodite, tubular, five-toothed; achenes terminating in a slender beak. Leaves alternate, linear. The best-known species are here described. For culture, see Celosia.
W. acuminata (taper-pointed). A synonym of W. corymbosa. W. aurea (golden).* fl.-heads rather larger, fewer, and in a looser corymb, than in W. corymbosa; involucre golden-yellow or tinged with brown, the bracts distinctly exceeding the florets. Summer. l. resembling those of W. corymbosa. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1835. See Fig. 208. SYN. Morna nitida (B. R. 1941). W. corymbosa (corymbose). fl.-heads usually numerous, in a dense, terminal corymb; involucre pale or dark yellow, white or light pink, the outer bracts passing into small scales. Summer. l. linear, the lower ones often 2in. to 3in. long, stem-clasping at base, the margins revolute. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1864. Plant scabrous-pubescent or hoary. (B. M. 5443) SYN. W. acuminata (R. G. 401). W. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl.-heads bright yellow, much larger than those of W. aurea. Summer. l. much resembling those of W. aurea, but less hairy. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1863.
W. nivea (snowy).* fl.-heads rather large, usually few in a loose corymb; involucral bracts pure white or pink, or very rarely pale yellowish, not exceeding the florets. Summer. l. linear, scabrous-pubescent or almost glabrous. h. 1 1/2ft. 1836. SYN. Morna nivea (B. R. 1838, 9). W. Steetziana (Steetz'). fl.-heads solitary or in loose corymbs, smaller than in W. nivea; involucre varying from a pure white to a pale or bright yellow, hemispherical, about 1/2in. in diameter. Summer. l. linear. h. less than 1ft. 1861. SYN. W. tenella (B. M. 5342).
W. tenella (tender). A synonym of W. Steetziana.