GOMPHRÆNA, GLOBE AMARANTH; a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants. There are seven species; but only one of them is commonly cultivated in our gardens, viz. the globosa. It hath an upright stalk branching all round, two or three feet high, garnished with oval, lanceolate, and opposite leaves; and every branch and side-shoot terminated by a close globular head of flowers, composed of numerous, very small starry florets closely covered with dry scaly calices placed imbricatum, persistent, and beautifully coloured purple, white, red, or striped and variegated. The flowers themselves are so small, and closely covered with the scaly calices, that they scarcely appear. The numerous closely placed scaly coverings being of a dry, firm, consistency, coloured and glittering, collected into a compact round head, about the size of an ordinary cherry, make a fine appearance. They are annual plants,
natives of India; and require artificial heat to raise and forward them to a proper growth, so that they may flower in perfection, and produce ripe seed. They flower from June to November; and if the flowers are gathered when at full growth, and placed out of the sun, they will retain their beauty several months.