NEW HYBRIDS OF DIMORPHOTHECA AURANTIACA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 5, 31 January 1912, Page 40

NEW HYBRIDS OF DIMORPHOTHECA AURANTIACA.

Those who are familiar with th“ beautiful orange-coloured flowers of Diniorphotheca aurantiaca. a half-hardy annual introduced into England a few years ago by Messrs Barr and Sons from South Africa, and whirl; is known to many under the popular name of the Namaqiialand Daisy, will welcome the new hybrids. These hybrids have been put into com nierce by Messrs linage and Schmidt of Erfurt, ami seeds of the same are being distributed by Mes-rs Barr ami Sons, ot Covent Garden and Ta plow. These hybrids an* the result of a cross between Diniorphotheca aurantiaca and D. (Cal-

endula) pluvialis, the old Cape Marigold. The first cross was made in 1909. and prod lived three hybrids, namely, a pure satiny white with yellow on reverse of petals, an ivory white, and a lemon-col-oured variety. Seeds saved since then have given further beautiful range of colours. These Diniorphotheca hybrids must be classed as half-hardy annuals. The habit of growth, foliage, and height of the plant (12 inches to 15 inches), also the size

of the flowers (2A inches to 2£ .inches across), resemble the parent D. aurantiaca. Seeds sown in spring produce plants which commence blooming in summer. and go on flowering for a very long period. As pot plants, these Dimorphothecas will be greatly appreciated in the cool greenhouse for their elegant growth and the great abundance of attractive flowers that they produce. Under glass the flowers develop to a larger size than in the open. During the past summer. when most of the other annuals were scorched up. D. aurantiaca was giving us a rare display of its brilliant flowers, and if these new hybrids prove as useful as this parent, we predict a great future for them. Indeed, they promise fair to occupy the same position among annuals as the beautiful Gerbera hybrids do among herbaceous plants, with the additional merit that they are easy to cultivate successfully.