Introduction to the Compositae of the North American Prairie planting at Wakehurst Place ‐ part 2

Summary A further eight plant portraits are provided of additional Compositae amongst the North American Prairie plantings at Wakehurst, West Sussex. Three tribes are represented amongst the portraits, the Astereae ( Symphyotrichum oolentangiense , Heterotheca camporum ), Heliantheae ( Echinacea simulata , E. purpurea and Helianthus occidentalis ) and the Eupatorieae ( Eupatorium maculatum , E. hyssopifolium , and Liatris pycnostachya ). Each of the portraits are discussed in relation of the taxon to their tribe and related species. The importance of verifying the identity of any material chosen for Curtis's Botanical Magazine plant portraits is highlighted by the need to redetermine the names of two plants growing in the prairie plantings. Material labelled as Chrysopsis mariana was redetermined as Heterotheca camporum , and that of Echinacea pallida redetermined as E. simulata . The historical plate in the then Botanical Magazine , supposedly illustrating Echinacea purpurea is discussed. The species illustrated, with its attenuate lamina base, pinnate venation, serrate leaf margins, orangish paleae, and narrow ray limbs (with almost forked apices), should now be named Echinacea laevigata . Mention is made of this year's flowering of the strange‐looking and architectural Arnoglossum plantagineum (Senecioneae), a plant first illustrated in Curtis's some 120 years ago. Discussions of Helianthus include comments on the confirmation of the earliest publication of the name H. mollis by Buc'hoz following a critical examination of his earlier publications. The three variants of the engraving are illustrated. Later duplications of the original uncoloured plate of this species showed it was modified, with the addition of an additional flowering shoot. Between the two duplications, the hand‐coloured plates differ somewhat as does the detail of the background engraving. Confirmation of the authority of Helianthus mollis is provided, as Helianthus mollis Buc'hoz; it should never be attributed to Lamarck. Although Helianthus mollis appears to have been illustrated before in the Magazine , a critical commentary suggests that Hooker incorrectly determined the material painted, and that H. decapetalus was re‐illustrated. Brief mention of Pierre‐Joseph Buc'hoz, self‐publicist, author, lawyer, physician, mineralogist, naturalist and compiler, is made; a short biography is provided later in this issue. Buc'hoz, although clearly a prolific author, was held in contempt by many as he was demonstrably a serial mass‐plagiariser, frequently of his own works. His connection with Helianthus mollis is expanded upon, and the relevance of three of his more significant works in this story is indicated.