CHRYSAN'THEMUM (Gr. gold-flower), a genus of plants of the natural order compo sita3, sub-order corymbiferm; having a hemispherical or nearly flat involucre, with imbri cated scales, which are membranous at the margin, a naked receptacle, the florets of the disk tubular and hermaphrodite, those of the ray strap-shaped and female, the fruit destitute of pappus. The species of this genus are annuals, perennials, or shrubby; and all have leafy stems. They are natives chiefly of the temperate parts of the old world. C.leucanthemunz, the Ox-m'i;, or Ox-EvE DAISY, is abundant in fields, meadows, and grassy places of woods, in most parts of Europe. It has large flowers, with white ray and yellow disk. It is often a troublesome weed among bay and in pastures; being peren nial, and having a creeping brittle root-stock, it is not easily extirpated. It is common in Britain, which has only one other native species, C. segetum, CORN .MARIGOLD, a fre quent weed in cornfields—although rare in the neighborhood of Edinburgh—an annual, with large deep yellow flowers. It is dealt with like annual weeds in general, by pull
ing it up when young.—C. carinatum, an annual species with white ray and dark-red disk, the scales of the involucre keeled, a native of Barbary, is frequently cultivated in green-houses or—where the climate permits—in flower-gardens. The favorite species of the gardener is, however, C. Indieum, the CHINESE or INDIAN C., a native of China, Cochin-China, and Japan; which has long been cultivated in its Dative countries as an ornamental plant, and of which there are many varieties. Its. colors are also very various—red, lilac, rose-color. white, yellow, orange, or two colors combined. It flowers in autumn and winter. It is easy of cultivation, succeeds best in a light rich soil, is easily propagated by cuttings, suckers, or parting the roots, but requires the green house in Britain. It was introduced in 1789. It is reckoned among florists' flowers.