cock's-comb: A genus of the monoecious order, belonging to the pentandria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 54th order, Miscellaneous. The calyx is triphyllous; the corolla is five-petalled in appearance; the stamens are conjoined at the base to the plaited nectarium; the capsule gaping horizontally. There are eight species, of which the most worthy of notice is the cristata, or common cock's-comb, so called on account of its crested head of flowers, resembling a cock's comb; of these there are a great variety of species. The principal colours of their flowers are red, purple, yellow, and white; but there are some whose heads are variegated with two or three colours. The heads are sometimes divided like a plume of feathers, and are of a beautiful scarlet colour. These plants are very tender exotics, and require a great deal of care to cultivate them in this country. Three hot-beds must be prepared; a small one in March, on which to raise the plants an inch or two in height; a second in April, of larger dimensions, in which to transplant them when proper; and a third in May for a large frame, to receive them transplanted into pots, to remain till the end of June or beginning of July to grow to full size: all of which hot-beds must be covered with frames and glades, and have five or six inches depth of fine rich light earth for the reception of the feed and plants; and in the second and third hot-bed, the frames must occasionally be raised or augmented, according as the plants shall rise in height.