THE BOTANICAL MAGAZINE; OR, Flower-Garden Displayed: IN WHICH The most ornamental FOREIGN PLANTS, cultivated in the Open Ground, theGreen-House, and the Stove, are accurately represented in their naturalColours, TO WHICH ARE ADDED, Their Names, Class, Order, Generic and Specific Characters, according tothe celebrated LINNÆUS; their Places of Growth, and Times of Flowering: TOGETHER WITH THE MOST APPROVED METHODS OF CULTURE. A WORK Intended for the Use of such LADIES, GENTLEMEN, AND GARDENERS, as withwhich to become scientifically acquainted with the Plants theycultivate. By WILLIAM CURTIS, Author of the FLORA LONDINENSIS. VOL. VI. * * * * * ----"nor thou disdain To check the lawless riot of the trees, To plant the grove, or turn the barren mould Oh happy he, whom, when his years decline, (His fortune and his fame by worthy means Attain'd, and equal to his mod'rate mind; His life approv'd by all the wise and good, Even envy'd by the vain) the peaceful groves Of Epicurus, from this stormy world Hereine in rest; of all ungrateful cares Absolv'd, and sacred from the selfish crowd. Happiest of men I if the same soil invites A chosen few, companions of his youth, Once fellow-rakes perhaps now rural friends; With whom in easy commerce to pursue Nature's free charms, and vie for Sylvan fame A fair ambition; void of strife, or guile, Or jealousy, or pain to be outdone. Who plans th'enchanted garden, who directs The visto best, and best conducts the stream; Whose groves the fastest thicken, and ascend; Whom first the welcome spring salutes; who shews The earliest bloom, the sweetest proudest charms Of Flora; who best gives Pomona's juice To match the sprightly genius of Champain. " ARMSTRONG. * * * * * LONDON: PRINTED BY STEPHEN COUCHMAN, For W. CURTIS, N^o 3, _St. George's-Crescent_, Black-Friars-Road; And Sold by the principal Booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland. M DCC XCIII. * * * * * [181] COLUTEA FRUTESCENS. SCARLET BLADDER SENNA. _Class and Order. _ DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-fidus. _Legumen_ inflatum, basi superiore dehiscens. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ COLUTEA _frutescens_ fruticosa, foliolis ovato-oblongis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr, p. 668. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. P. 56. _ _Mill. Icon. 99. _ COLUTEA æthiopica, flore purpureo. _Breyn. Cent. 70. T. 29. _ Of the several species of Colutea cultivated in our garden the one herefigured, is distinguished by the brilliancy of its' flowers, thelargeness of its pods, and the downy appearance of the under side of itsleaves. It appears from the _Hortus Kewensis_ to have been cultivated by Mr. JAMES SUTHERLAND as long since as the year 1683 it was not howevergenerally introduced to our gardens till the time of MILLER, who figuredit in his _Icones_, it was then understood to be an Æthiopian plant; Mr. AITON since describes it as a native of the Cape also; of course, wefind it more tender than most of its kindred, and hence it is usuallyregarded as a greenhouse plant; yet, as it is not destroyed by a smalldegree of frost, it will frequently, like the myrtle survive a mildwinter in the open border, especially if trained to a wall: it is rarelyof more than two or three years duration. It is readily raised from seeds sown in the open ground, plants fromwhich flower the August following, and, in favourable seasons, ripentheir seeds; in order, however, that they may ripen them with morecertainty, MILLER, recommends the sowing them early on a gentle hot-bed. A dry soil suits this species best. [Illustration] [Illustration] [182] SALVIA AUREA. GOLDEN SAGE. _Class And Order. _ DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cor. _ inæqualis. _Filamenta_ transverse pedicello affixa. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ SALVIA _aurea_ foliis subrotundis integerrimis, basi truncatis dentatis. _Linn. Syst. Veget. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 71. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. P. 45. _ SALVIA _Africana_ frutescens folio subrotundo glauco, flore magno aureo. _Comm. Hort. 2. 183. T. 92. _ Such as are delighted with the singular rather than the beautifulappearances of plants, cannot fail of ranking the present species ofsage among their favourites. It been called _aurea_, from the colour of its flowers, _ferruginea_would perhaps have been more expressive of them; when they first openindeed they are of a yellow colour, but they quickly and constantlybecome of the colour of rusty iron. The leaves are nearly round, and have a pleasing silvery hue: a few ofthem only, and those chiefly at the extremities of the young shoots, areof the form described by LINNÆUS in his specific character of the plant, and hence COMMELIN'S description (_vid. Syn. _) is to be preferred, asleading us with more certainty to a knowledge of the plant; the colourof the leaves, the colour and unusual magnitude of the blossoms, areindisputably the most striking features of the species, and therefore tobe resorted to: for my own part, as a friend to the advancement of thescience, rather than as the follower of that great man, I see no goodreason why colour should not in many instances, especially whereexpressive characters are wanting, form a part of the specific characterin plants, as well as in animals: we are told indeed of its inconstancy. I would ask--who ever saw the colour of the leaves or blossoms of thepresent plant to vary? and, on the contrary, who ever saw its leavesconstant in their form? The _Salvia aurea_ is a native of the Cape, and was cultivated by Mr. MILLER in 1731, it is a hardy greenhouse plant, is readily propagated bycuttings, and flowers from May to November. If suffered to grow, it will become a shrub of the height of six orseven feet. [Illustration] [183] SYRINGA VULGARIS. COMMON LILAC. _Class and Order. _ DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cor. _ 4-fida. _Capsula_ bilocularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ SYRINGA _vulgaris_ foliis ovato-cordatis integris. _Linn. Syst. Veget. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 57. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. P. 15. _ SYRINGA cærulea, _Bauh. Pin. 398. _ LILAC sive Syringa cærulea. The blew Pipe tree. _Park. Parad. P. 407. _ Few shrubs are better known in this country than the Lilac few moreuniversally cultivated; there is scarcely a cottage it does not enliven, or a shrubbery it does not beautify. It has long had a place in our gardens; both GERARD and PARKINSONdescribe two sorts, the blue and the white; to these another sort isadded by more modern writers, superior in beauty to the original, asproducing larger bunches of flowers, of a brighter hue, having more ofthe purple tint and hence called by some the purple Lilac, MILLERconsiders the three as different species. The flowers of the Lilac possess a considerable degree of fragrance, butnot of the most agreeable kind; our readers perhaps, will not bedispleased to hear the opinion of old GERARD on this point, delivered inhis own words:--"They have a pleasant sweete smell, but in my judgementthey are too sweete, troubling and molesting the head in very strangemanner: I once gathered the flowers, and laid them in my chamber window, which smelled more strongly after they had lien together a few howers, with such a ponticke and unacquainted savor, that they awaked me fromsleepe, so that I could not take any rest until I had cast them out ofmy chamber. "[1] Though a native of Persia, it bears our severest winters without injury, has a pleasing appearance when in bud, flowers in May, and is readilypropagated by suckers; but finer plants, in the opinion of MILLER, areraised from seeds. It will grow in almost any soil or situation, even in London, but, toflower well, it must have a pure air. [Footnote 1: The name, indeed, of one of our colours is taken from itsblossoms. This Quotation from Gerard referring to its Smell belongs to the Philadelphus coronarius or Mock-orange which both by him and Parkinson is called Syringa, & which led to the Mistake. ] [184] IXIA CROCATA. SAFFRON-COLOUR'D IXIA. _Class and Order. _ TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cor. _ 6-partita, campanulata, regularis. _Stigmata_ 3. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ IXIA _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus secundis corolia basi hyalino-fenestratis. _Thunb. Diss. De Ixia. _ _Linn. Syst. Veg. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 85. _ IXIA _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus alternis, tubo longitudine bractearum, corollæ laminis ovatis integerrimis basi hyalinis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. P. 60. V. 1. _ IXIA planifolia, caule multifloro spatha brevissima. _Mill. Ic. 160. T. 239. F. 2. _ To the Cape of Good Hope, that never-failing source of rare andbeautiful plants, we are indebted for most of our Ixias, and amongothers for the present species, which though not of that value, norpossessing the delicacy or fragrance of the blossoms of some others, isa very desirable plant, not only as an object of curiosity, from thetransparency of the base of the corolla, but as it adds much to thebrilliancy of a collection, is easily obtained, and as easilypropagated. It flowers in May and June, but its flowering may be prolonged byputting its bulbs into pots at different periods, or accelerated byartificial heat. It produces offsets more plentifully than many of the genus. Mr. AITON informs us that it was cultivated by Mr. MILLER in 1758, whofigures it in his _Icones_. [Illustration] [185] CORONILLA VALENTINA. RUE-LEAVED CORONILLA. _Class and Order. _ DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 2-labiatus: 2/3: dentibus superioribus connatis. _Vexillum_ vix alis longius. _Legumen_ isthmis interceptum. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ CORONILLA _valentina_ fruticosa, foliolis subnovenis, stipulis suborbiculatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 669. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. P. 58. _ POLYGALA valentina. _Clus. Hist. Pl. Rar. P. 98. Fig. Inf. _ The _Coronilla valentina_ comes very near to the _glauca_ alreadyfigured in this work, but may be distinguished by a little attention;the _valentina_ has smaller leaves, which are more numerous, and moretruly glaucous; the stipulæ, which in the _glauca_ are small, narrow, and pointed, in the _valentina_ are large, and almost round, and in theyoung plant are strikingly conspicuous; as the plant comes into flower, they drop off; the _valentina_ is not so much disposed to flower theyear through as the _glauca_, but produces its blossoms chiefly in May, June, and July; the flowers of the _glauca_ are observed to smell morestrongly in the day-time, those of the _valentina_ at all times diffusea very powerful odour, so as even to scent a small greenhouse; we haveoften been amused with hearing the different opinions entertained ofthis smell, some speaking of it in terms of rapture, others ready tofaint when they approach it: the flowers of the _valentina_ are moredisposed to produce seed-vessels than those of the _glauca_, the seedsof which usually ripen well, and afford the means of increasing theplant most readily. To have a succession of small handsome bushy plantsfor the greenhouse, the old ones must either be frequently cut down, oryoung ones raised from seed, or cuttings, the stems as they grow upbecoming naked at bottom. It is a hardy greenhouse plant, and may be kept well enough through thewinter in a common hot-bed frame, or planted against a south wall, andmatted as myrtles usually are in such situations; we have known the_glauca_, treated in prove a charming ornament. It is a native of Spain, growing, as CLUSIUS informs us, by road-sides, in sandy places, and on the declivities of hills. Cultivated here in 1656, by J. TRADESCANT, jun. H. K. [Illustration] [Illustration] [186] SELAGO OVATA. OVAL-HEADED SELAGO. _Class and Order. _ DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-fidus. _Cor. _ tubus capillaris; limbus subæqualis, _Sem. _ 1. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ SELAGO _ovata_ spicis strobilinis ovatis terminalibus, foliis sparsis linearibus, caule fruticoso. _L'Herit. Stirp. Nov. Tom. 2. T. 33. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. P. 355. _ LIPPIA _ovata_ capitulis ovatis, foliis linearibus integerrimis. _Linn. Mant. P. 89. _ LINNÆUS in his _Mantissa_ has somewhat largely described this plantunder the name of _Lippia ovata_, evidently from a dried specimen, whichmay account for the flowers being described of a dark violet colour; herecommends it to such as might have an opportunity of seeing the livingplant, to observe if it was not referable to some other genus;accordingly Mons. L'HERITIER, who, when lately in England, saw it in theroyal garden at Kew, joined it to the genus _Selago_, retaining thetrivial name of _ovata, bractæata_ would perhaps have been a bettername; for though its ovate inflorescence may be peculiar to the species, its bracteæ or floral leaves are so very singular that they constitutethe most prominent feature of the plant. Mr. AITON informs us, that it was introduced to the royal garden at Kew, from the Cape, by Mr. MASSON, in 1774. It recommends itself not so much on account of its beauty, curiousstructure of its flowering spikes, and the fragrance of its blossoms. It is a greenhouse plant, and flowers during most of the summer; itsblossoms are white with a yellow spot on the two uppermost, andsometimes on all the segments of the corolla, and an orange spot at themouth of the tube. Is propagated by cuttings. [187] IRIS SAMBUCINA. ELDER-SCENTED IRIS. _Class and Order. _ TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cor. _ 6-petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _Stigmata_ petaliformia cucullato-bilabiata. _Thunb. Diss. De Iride. _ _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ IRIS _sambucina_ barbata, foliis ensiformibus glabris erectis brevioribus scapo multifloro, petalis deflexis planis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab, ed. 14. Murr. _ _Thunb. Loc. Cit. N. 10. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. P. 69. _ IRIS latifolia germanica, sambuci odore. _Bauh. Pin. 31. _ IRIS Camerarii sive purpurea versicolor major. The greater variable coloured purple Flower-de-Luce. _Park. Par. P. 181. _ This species of Iris, said to be a native of the South of Europe, derives its name from the smell of its flowers, which very muchresembles that of elder in bloom. It is one of the tallest and handsomest of the genus, in a rich moistsoil acquiring the height of three feet or more; it is therefore moreproper for the shrubbery than the flower-garden. It flowers about the latter end of May, and is readily increased byparting its roots in autumn. The Iris of PARKINSON, referred to in the synonyms, accords so exactlywith our plant, in every circumstance but smell, which is not mentioned, that we have no doubt but it was cultivated in our gardens in his time. [Illustration] [Illustration] [188] CONVOLVULUS NIL. AZURE CONVOLVULUS. _Class and Order. _ PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cor. _ Campanulata, plicata. _Stigmata_ 2. _Caps. _ 2-locularis: loculis dispermis. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ CONVOLVULUS _Nil_ foliis cordatis trilobis, corollis semiquinquefidis, pedunculis petiolo brevioribus. _Linn. Syst. Veg. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 209. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. P. 209. _ CONVOLVULUS cæruleus hederaceo anguloso folio. _Bauh. Pin. P. 295. _ NIL Arab. _Gef. Hor. Eyst. _ CONVOLVULUS Cæruleus. Blew Bindweed. _Ger. Herb. P. 715. Cum ic. _ CONVOLVULUS trifolius five hederaceus purpureus. The greater purple Bindeweede or Bell-Flower with cornered leaves. _Park. Parad. Pl. 361. Fig. 2. _ All our writers on exotic botany treat of this plant, GERARD, one of thefirst, gives us the following account: "This beautiful Bindweed, whichwe call _Convolvulus Cæruleus_, is called of the Arabians _Nil_: of_Serapio_, _Hab al nil_, about Alepo and Tripolis in Syria, theinhabitants call it Hasmisen, the Italians _Campana azurea_, of thebeautifull azured flowers and also _Fior de notte_, bicause his beautieappeereth most in the night:" he informs us, that it grew in his garden, but perished before it ripened its seeds. PARKINSON says, it thrivesremarkably well in our country, if the year be any thing kindly: MILLERinforms us, that it is a native of Africa and America, extols it as oneof the most beautiful of the genus, observes, that it is a very distinctspecies from the purpurea, of which it has been considered by some as avariety; that it will grow to the height of eight or ten feet, that infavourable seasons the seeds will ripen in the open air, and that itrequires the same treatment as other annuals usually raised on ahot-bed. Mr. AITON considers it as a stove plant, as indeed most of ourtender annuals properly are. It flowers from July to September. Though apparently common in our gardens formerly, it is now very rarelymet with. [Illustration] [189] ERICA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWERED HEATH. _Class and Order. _ OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 4-phyllus. _Cor. _ 4-fida. _Filamenta_ receptaculo inferta. _Antheræ_ bifidæ. _Caps. _ 4-locularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ ERICA _grandiflora_ antheris muticis exfertis, corollis cylindraceis subincurvis glabris, stylo elongato, floribus axillaribus pedunculatis, foliis subsenis acerosis glabris. _Ait. Hort. Kew. Vol. 2. P. 25. _ ERICA _grandiflora_ foliis quaternis, stylo exserto, corolla cylindrica, calyce simplici, floribus lateralibus subcurvatis. _Linn. Suppl. Pl. P. 223. _ The Erica here figured, is one of the many new and beautiful species, which within these few years have been sent from the Cape by Mr. MASSON, and which have contributed so greatly to enrich the royal garden at Kew. The description given of the _grandiflora_ in the _Suppl. Plant_. Accords so ill with our plant, that we should be led to consider it asanother species, did not the respectable authority of the _HortusKewensis_ silence all doubts on that head. The blossoms of this species, whether we regard their magnitude, theircolour, their smooth and glossy surface, or the regular position of thefilaments, projecting beyond the corolla, and closing together by theantheræ, excite our notice, and claim our admiration. Like every other heath, the hardy ones excepted, it is a greenhouseplant, and flowers from May to July. Our drawing was made from a plant finely blown, in the collection ofJAMES VERE, Esq. Kensington-Gore. [190] ORNITHOGALUM AUREUM. GOLDEN ORNITHOGALUM. _Class and Order. _ HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cor. _ 6-petala, erecta, persistens, supra medium patens, _Filamenta_ alterna basi dilatata. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ ORNITHOGALUM _aureum_ foliis ovato-lanceolatis, albomargmatis, floribus racemosis confertis, filamentis nectario emarginato infidentibus. We have bestowed on this plant the name of _aureum_, from the colour ofits blossoms, which are usually of a bright orange or gold colour; insome specimens we have observed them of a paler hue, and consequentlyless beautiful. This highly ornamental species is of modern introduction, having beenreceived by Mess. LEE and KENNEDY, a few years since from the Cape, ofwhich it is a native. The root is a whitish bulb, resembling in size and shape that of the_Lachenalia tricolor_, figured on plate 82 of this work, from whencespring three or four smooth, somewhat fleshy, upright, dark-greenleaves, about half an inch wide, and three or four inches long, edgedwith white, and, if magnified, appearing fringed with very fine hairs orvilli; the stalk is naked, from eight to twelve inches high, supportingmany flowers, which spring from the alæ of large, hollow, pointedbracteæ, and which opening one after another, keep the plant aconsiderable time in flower; according to LINNÆUS'S generic character, every other filament should be dilated at the base, in the presentspecies each filament is so, or rather sits as it were on a whiteglandular nectary, emarginated on the inside, and highly deserving ofnotice. In the greenhouse, where this plant has hitherto been kept, its blossomscome forth as early as January and February, and continue for severalmonths; they will long display their beauty, if the stem be cut off andput in a phial of water. It is propagated by offsets from its bulbs, and has the appearance ofbeing a plant of kindly growth and easy management. [Illustration] [191] PRIMULA MARGINATA. SILVER-EDGED PRIMULA. _Class and Order. _ PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ PRIMULA _marginata_ foliis obovatis serrato-dentatis albo marginatis, scapo multifloro, involucri foliolis pedunculis brevioribus. There is no difficulty in determining the British plants of this genus, but much in ascertaining many of the foreign ones: Professor JACQUIN hastaken great pains to elucidate them in his _Miscel. Austr. _ wherefifteen are specifically described, none of which accord exactly withthe plant here figured, which has every appearance of being a distinctspecies: in the _Hortus Kewensis_ it is described as the _glutinosa_ ofthe _Flora Austriaca_, with which it agrees in many respects, butspecimens sent from Vienna shew it to be a different plant; in itsfarinaceous tendency it accords with the _Primula Auricula_, but is veryunlike that plant as it is figured in its wild state by Prof. _Jacquin_, in the _Fl. Austr. _ the leaves being much narrower, the flowers larger, and of a different colour; it differs from _glutinosa_ in the shortnessof its involucrum, from _villosa_ (already figured) in having leavesmuch narrower, perfectly smooth in respect to villi, and in the colourof its blossoms, which approach that of the Lilac, but more especiallyin its disposition to become mealy, particularly on the edges of itsleaves, between the serratures, where it is so strong as to make theleaf appear with a white or silvery edge; as this character is constantto it, and not to any other species of Primula that we are acquaintedwith, we have given to it the name of _marginata_. Mr. _Lee_ received it from the Alps in the year 1781, and it hascontinued in our gardens ever since unaltered by culture. | It is a very delicate pretty plant, with a pleasing musky smell, andflowers in March and April. To succeed in its cultivation, it should beplaced in a pot of stiffish loam, mixed with one-third rotten leaves, bog earth, or dung, and plunged in a north border, taking care that itdoes not suffer for want of water in dry seasons; thus treated, itincreases by its roots nearly as readily as the Auricula, and may bepropagated by parting its' roots early in April or September. | [Illustration] [Illustration] [192] CYPRIPEDIUM ACAULE. TWO-LEAVED LADY'S SLIPPER. _Class and Order. _ GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ Nectarium ventricosum, inflatum, cavum. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ CYPRIPEDIUM _acaule_ radicibus fibrosis, foliis oblongis radicalibus. _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. P. 303. _ HELLEBORINE _Calceolus_ dicta, mariana, foliis binis e radice ex adverso prodeuntibus, flore purpureo _Pluk. Mant. 101; t. 418. F. 1. _ CYPRIPEDIUM _humile_--Corolla labio superiore rhomboideo acuminato lateribus deflexo subtus carina angustissima obtusa, inferiore petalis longiore antice fisso. _Transact. Linn. Soc. V. 1. P. 76. T. 3. F. 4. _ We have not figured the present species of Cypripedium so much onaccount of its beauty as of its rarity, for it is far less handsome thanany of the other species that we are acquainted with. It is a native of different parts of North-America, and flowers with usin May. There is little difficulty in distinguishing it from the other foreignspecies, it has rarely more than two radical leaves, a very shortflowering stem compared with the others, a large nectary in proportionto its size, which in the specimens we have seen has been divided on itsupper part, through its whole length, so as in fact to destroy in agreat degree that shoe or slipper-like form, from which this genus hastaken its name. Like the rest of the family, it requires a little extraordinary care inits culture; its roots should be placed in a pot filled with loam andbog-earth, or rotten leaves, well mixed, and plunged in a north border, where in severe seasons it will be proper to shelter it; if the wholeborder be formed of the same soil or compost the pot will be lessnecessary. Our drawing was made from a plant growing with Messrs. GRIMWOOD and Co. Kensington. [Illustration] [193] NARCISSUS ANGUSTIFOLIUS. NARROW-LEAVED NARCISSUS. _Class and Order. _ HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Petala_ 6 æqualia. _Nectario_ infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. _Stamina_ intra nectarium. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ NARCISSUS _poeticus_ spatha uniflora, nectario rotato brevissimo scarioso crenulato. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 317. _ _Sp. Pl. Ed. 3. P. 414. _ NARCISSUS uniflorus, foliis ensiformibus, scypho brevissimo. _Hall. Hist. N. 1250. _ NARCISSUS albus circulo purpureo. _Bauh. Pin. P. 48. _ _Magnol. Bot. Monsp. P. 181. _ NARCISSUS poeticus medio purpureus. _Lob. _ NARCISSUS medio purpureus. _Dod. Pempt. P. 223. F. 1. _ NARCISSUS medio purpureus præcox. Timely purple ringed Daffodil. _Ger. Herb. P. 108. F. 2. _ also _præcocior, fig. 3. _ and _præcocissimus, fig. 4. _ NARCISSUS medio purpureus præcox. The early purple ringed Daffodil. _Park. Parad. P. 76. T. 75. F. 3. _ NARCISSUS latifol. Classis altera, lin. 7. Alterum vero, &c. _Clus. Hist. Pl. Rar. Lib. 2. P. 156. _ Under the name of _poeticus_ three different species of Narcissusappearing perfectly distinct (though similar in many respects) andregarded as such by the old Botanists, have been confounded by themoderns, viz. Narcissus albus circulo purpureo, v et vi } Narcissus albus magno odoro flore circulo pallido, } C. Bauh. Narcissus pallidus circulo luteo } Narcissus medio purpureus præcox, } Narcissus medio purpureus serotinus, } Park Parad. Narcissus medio luteus vulgaris, } The first of these, the one here figured is evidently the _poeticus_ of_Linnæus_, judging by the authors to whom he refers in the third editionof his _Spec. Pl. _ which are indeed few in number, and confined chieflyto _Bauh. Pin. _ _Dodonæus_; of the second, and third, he takes nonotice. The two former ones of these have the greatest affinity, inasmuch asthey both produce for the most part only one flower, of a white colour, having a very short nectary, edged with orange; to both of theseLINNÆUS'S specific description is equally applicable, as well as thetrivial name of _poeticus_, given them indiscriminately by several ofthe old Botanists, some regarding the first, some the second as theplant mentioned by THEOCRITUS[2], VIRGIL[3], and OVID[4]; unfortunatelyboth of them are found to grow in the same meadows, and have the sameobvious appearances, it is therefore utterly impossible to say which ofthe two was the Narcissus of the poets; if we have the greatestdifficulty in ascertaining what the plants were of the _Botanists_ ofthose times, how are we to discover what the _Poets_ meant, who withvery few exceptions have been unpardonably inattentive to theappearances of nature. Since then the term _poeticus_ is equallysuitable to both, and as there cannot be two with the same name, we havethought it best to get rid of it altogether, and substitute others whichtend in a certain degree to discriminate the several species, denominating the 1st. _angustifolius. _ 2d. _majalis. _ 3d. _biflorus. _ The _angustifolius_ here figured is a native of the South of Europe, andsaid by MAGNOL and CLUSIUS to grow spontaneously in the meadows aboutNarbonne and Montpelier. It flowers in our gardens early in April, about a month before the_biflorus_, and full six weeks sooner than the _majalis_, increasesreadily by offsets, and succeeds best in a soil that is moderatelymoist. In what respects it differs from the two others, will bementioned when they come to be figured. [Footnote 2: Florida sed postquam venêre in prata puellæ, His illa, hæc aliis se floribus oblectabant; Narcisso illa quidem bene olente, atq; illa Hyacintho. ] [Footnote 3: Pro molli Viola, pro purpureo Narcisso, Carduus et spinis surgit Paliurus acutis. ] [Footnote 4: Nusquam corpus erat, croceum pro corpore florem Inveniunt, foliis medium cingentibus albis. ] [Illustration] [194] FRITILLARIA IMPERIALIS. CROWN IMPERIAL. _Class and Order. _ HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cor. _ 6-petala, campanulata, supra ungues cavitate nectarifera. _Stam. _ longitudine corollæ. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ FRITILLARIA _imperialis_ racemo comoso inferne nudo, foliis integerrimis. _Linn, Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 324. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 432. _ LILIUM sive Corona Imperialis. _Bauh. Pin. P. 79. _ TUSAI sive Lilium Persicum. _Clust. Hist. 1. P. 127. _ CORONA IMPERIALIS. The Crowne Imperiall. _Park. Par. P. 27. Tab. 29. F. 1. _ The Crown Imperial, a native of the East, most probably of Persia, wasintroduced according to DODONÆUS, into the gardens of the emperor andsome of the nobility at Vienna in 1576; it appears to have beencultivated here as early as 1596: both GERARD and PARKINSON describe itminutely, the latter on account of its "stately beautifulness, gives itthe first place in his garden of delight. " It flowers usually in the beginning of April; the whole plant sendsforth a strong unpleasant smell, compared by most writers to that of afox, perceptible when you approach it; to this effluvia PARKINSONendeavours to reconcile us by saying that it is not unwholesome; it isso disagreeable however, that few choose to have many of these plants, or those in the most frequented parts of their gardens, yet it ought notto be proscribed, for independent of its beauty, there is much in it toadmire, and especially its singular Nectaria, which in the form of awhite glandular excavation decorate the base of each petal; in theseusually stands a drop of clear nectareous juice; the peduncle orflower-stalk which bends downwards when the plant is in flower, becomesupright as the seed ripens. Of this plant, as of all others which have long been objects of culture, there are many varieties; those most generally cultivated in our gardensare the common orange-flowered single and double, yellow single anddouble, gold-striped leaved, and silver-striped leaved; the Dutch intheir catalogues enumerate thirteen varieties. Luxuriant plants will sometimes produce a second and even a third whorlor crown of flowers, and the flat-stalked ones which are monsters, havebeen known to produce seventy-two blossoms, but none of these are foundto be constant. The Crown Imperial, though a native of a much warmer climate than ours, is a hardy bulb, and not very nice in regard to soil, succeeds best insuch as is stiffish, enriched with manure, and placed in a shelteredsituation. Is propagated by offsets, which are produced in tolerable abundance. [Illustration] [195] CHEIRANTHUS MUTABILIS. CHANGEABLE WALL-FLOWER. _Class and Order. _ TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA. _Generic Character. _ _Germen_ utrinque denticulo glandulato. _Cal. _ clausus foliolis duobus basi gibbis. _Sem. _ plana. _Specific Character. _ CHEIRANTHUS _mutabilis_ foliis lanceolatis acuminatis argute serratis, caule frutescente, siliquis pedunculatis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. P. 395. _ The present species of _Cheiranthus_, unknown both to MILLER andLINNÆUS, was first described in the _Hortus Kewensis_ of Mr. AITON, whoinforms us that it was introduced to the Royal Garden in 1777, and foundwild in the Island of Madeira by Mr. MASSON. Its chief merit as an ornamental plant consists in its early flowering;its blossoms which are shewy contribute to enliven the green-house inMarch and April; on their first expanding, they are white, in someplants (for they are subject to great variation) inclined to yellow, ina few days they become purple; to this change of colour observable alsoin the _Cheiranthus maritimus_ already figured, it owes its name of_mutabilis_. In sheltered gardens at the foot of a wall, we have known this speciessurvive a mild winter; it seems indeed to be almost as hardy as thecommon stock; it is most commonly however kept in the green-house. The usual way of propagating this species, which is of ready and quickgrowth, is by cuttings, which should be put into the ground as soon asthe plant has done flowering; these if properly treated will becomehandsome plants to place in the green-house at the approach of Winter, and to decorate it the ensuing Spring; in like manner may thegreen-house be annually recruited with many similar plants to greatadvantage. [196] SAXIFRAGA CRASSIFOLIA. OVAL-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE. _Class and Order. _ DECANDRIA DIGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-partitus. _Cor. _ 5-petala. _Caps. _ 2-rostris, 1-locularis, polysperma. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ SAXIFRAGA _crassifolia_, foliis ovalibus retusis obsolete serratis petiolatis, caule nudo, panicula conglomerata. _Linn. Sp. Pl ed. 3. P. 573. _ _Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 412. _ SAXIFRAGA foliis ovalibus crenulatis, caulibus nudis. _Gmel. Sib. 4. P. 166. T. 66. _ The term _grandifolia_ would have been more applicable to this speciesof Saxifrage than _crassifolia_, for it is not so much distinguished forthe thickness as the largeness of its leaves; these are almost equal insize to those of our broad-leaved Dock, red on the under and of a fineshining green on their upper surface; they may be ranked indeed amongthe more handsome kinds of foliage; the flowering stems, according tothe richness and moisture of the soil in which they are planted, risefrom one to two or even three feet high; at top supporting a large bunchof purple pendulous flowers, which blossom in April and May, and, if theseason prove favourable, make a fine appearance. Should cold windsprevail at the time of their flowering, which they are very apt to do, the plants should be covered with a hand-glass; or, if in a pot, it maybe removed into the green-house, which they will not disgrace. Is found spontaneously on the Alps of Siberia, and, according to Mr. AITON, was introduced in 1765 by Dr. SOLANDER. No plant is more readilyincreased by parting its roots, which may be done either in spring orautumn. There is another Saxifrage in our gardens exceedingly like this inappearance, but differing, in producing larger bunches of flowers, andin having larger, rounder, and more heart-shaped leaves; Mr. AITONregards this as a variety of the _crassifolia_, we are inclined toconsider it as a species under the name of _cordifolia_. The parts offructification in the _crassifolia_ are apt to be preternaturallyincreased. [Illustration] [Illustration] [197] NARCISSUS BIFLORUS. TWO-FLOWER'D NARCISSUS. NARCISSUS _biflorus_ spatha biflor, nectario brevissimo scarioso. NARCISSUS pallidus circulo luteo. _Bauh. Pin. P. 50. _ NARCISSUS medio luteus. _Dod. Pempt. P. 223. F. 2. _ NARCISSUS medio luteus. Primrose Peerles, or the common white Daffodil. _Ger. Herb. P. 110. F. 6. _ NARCISSUS medio luteus vulgaris. The common white Daffodill, called _Primrose Peerlesse_. _Park. Par. P. 74. T. 75. F. 1. _ NARCISSUS latifol classis altera, lin. 1. Nascuntur, &c. Ad intellexisse. _Clus. Hist. Pl. Rar. Lib. 2. P. 156. _ Both GERARD and PARKINSON describe and figure this plant, informing usthat it was very common in the gardens in their time; the former indeedmentions it as growing wild in fields and sides of woods in the West ofEngland; the latter says he could never hear of its natural place ofgrowth. CLUSIUS reports that he had been credibly informed of itsgrowing wild in England; it probably may, but of this it remains for usto be more clearly ascertained; it undoubtedly is the plant mentioned byRAY in his Synopsis. As it grows readily, increases in a greater degree than most others andis both ornamental and odoriferous, it is no wonder that we meet with itin almost every garden, and that in abundance, flowering towards the endof April, about three weeks later than the angustifolia. It usuallyproduces two flowers, hence we have called it biflorus; it frequentlyoccurs with one, more rarely with three, in a high state of culture itprobably may be found with more; when it has only one flower it mayeasily be mistaken for the _majalis_, but may be thus distinguished fromit; its petals are of a more yellow hue, the nectary is wholly yellow, wanting the orange rim, it flowers at least three weeks earlier; but thecharacter, which by observation we have found most to be depended on, exists in the flowering stem, the top of which in the biflorus, verysoon after it emerges from the ground, bends down and becomes elbowed, as our figure represents; in the _majalis_, it continues upright tillwithin a short time of the flowers expanding. [Illustration] [198] INDIGOFERA CANDICANS. WHITE-LEAVED INDIGO. _Class and Order. _ DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ patens. _Cor. _ carina utrinque calcari subulato patulo. _Legumen_ lineare. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ INDIGOFERA _candicans_ foliis ternatis lanceolato-linearibus subtus sericeis, spicis pedunculatis paucifloris, leguminibus cylindraceis rectis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3, p. 67. _ Of the genus _Indigofera_, twenty-three species are enumerated in Prof. MURRAY'S edition of the _Syst. Vegetab. _ of LINNÆUS; ten in the _HortusKewensis_ of Mr. AITON; in which last work only, the present plant, distinguished by the whiteness of its stalks and of the underside of itsleaves, is described, and in which we are informed, that it is a nativeof the Cape, from whence it was introduced by Mr. MASSON in 1774. Its principal period of flowering is from about the beginning of May tothe middle of June, at which time it is highly ornamental in thegreen-house: strong healthy plants produce from five to eight blossomsin a spike: on a plant growing with Mr. COLVILL, Nurseryman, King's-Road, Chelsea, we once counted nine: a few of these usuallyproduce seed-vessels containing perfect seeds, by which the plant ismostly propagated; it may also be raised by cuttings, but not veryreadily. [199] ASTER ALPINUS. ALPINE ASTER. _Class and Order. _ SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. _Generic Character. _ _Recept. _ nudum. _Pappus_ simplex. _Cor. _ radii plures 10. _Cal. _ imbricati squamæ inferiores patulæ. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ ASTER _alpinus_ foliis subspathulatis hirtis integerrimis, caulibus simplicibus unifloris. _Ait. Hort. Kew. P. 198. _ ASTER _alpinus_ foliis spatulatis hirtis: radicalibus obtusis, caule simplicissimo unifloro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. P. 761. _ _Jacq. Fl. Austr. V. 1. T. 88. _ ASTER montanus cæruleus, magno flore, foliis oblongis. _Bauh. Pin. P. 267. _ CLUSIUS and JACQUIN, by both of whom this species of Aster is figuredand described, inform us, that it grows spontaneously on the AustrianAlps: of the many hardy herbaceous species cultivated in our garden, this is by far the most humble in is growth; in its wild state acquiringthe height of about four inches, and when cultivated, rarely exceedingeight or nine: its blossoms for its size are large and shewy, makingtheir appearance much earlier than any of the others, viz. About the endof May and beginning of June, and continuing in blossom three weeks or amonth. It is readily propagated by parting its roots in the autumn, may be keptin pots, or planted in the open border, prefers a moist stiffish soil;if carefully watered in dry weather, will grow among rock-work, forwhich, from its size, it is well adapted. [Illustration] [200] ANTIRRHINUM SPARTEUM. BRANCHING TOAD-FLAX. _Class and Order. _ DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. _Cor. _ basis deorsum prominens nectarifera. _Caps. _ 2-locularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ ANTIRRHINUM _sparteum_ foliis subulatis canaliculatis carnosis: inferioribus ternis, caule paniculato corollisque glaberrimis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 555. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. 2. P. 333. _ The drawing here exhibited gives but a faint idea of the elegant andlively appearance which this plant assumes when it grows in a tuft, anda number of its branches are in blossom at the same time. It is a hardy annual, of small stature, a native of Spain, and flowersduring most of the summer. Was introduced into this country, according to Mr. AITON, in 1772, byMons. RICHARD, and deserves to be much more generally cultivated. Some regard it as a biennial, but as seeds of it sown in the springflower the ensuing summer, and as the plant dies when it has ripened itsseeds, there appears more propriety in considering it as an annual. It is to be sown in the same manner as other hardy annuals; will flowerearlier if the seeds have been raised in autumn. The upper part of the stalk, as well as the leaves of the calyx, arebeset with viscous hairs, in which respect it does not perfectly accordwith LINNÆUS's description. _Vid. Sp. Pl. Ed. 3. P. 854. _ [Illustration] [Illustration] [201] PELARGONIUM BICOLOR. TWO-COLOURED CRANE'S-BILL. _Class and Order. _ MONADELPHIA HEPTANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-partitus: lacinia suprema desinente in tubulum capillarem, nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _Cor. _ 5-petala, irregularis. _Filam. _ 10, inæqualia: quorum 3 (raro 5) castrata. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ spiralia, introrsum barbata. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ PELARGONIUM _bicolor_ umbellis multifloris, foliis ternatifidis lobatis dentatis undulatis villosis. _L'Herit. N. 64. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. P. 425. _ GERANIUM bicolor. _Jacq. Hort. 3. P. 23. T. 39. _ _Cavan. Diss. 4. P. 248. T. 111. F. 1. _ In every numerous tribe of plants, many of the species approach so nearto each other, that there is much difficulty in distinguishing them;this objection cannot be urged against the present plant, whichobviously differs from all the others of the same genus in theparticular shape of its leaves and the colour of its blossoms, thelatter are usually of a rich and very dark purple edged with white, fromwhence we apprehend it takes its name of _bicolor_; the colours howeverare scarcely distinct enough to justify such a name. Mr. AITON informs us in his _Hort. Kew. _ that this very ornamentalspecies was introduced in the year 1778, by JOHN, the late Earl of BUTE, but of what country it is a native, does not appear to be ascertained. Our drawing was made from a plant in the collection of Messrs. GRIMWOODand Co. Kensington, with whom it flowers from June to August. It is not disposed to ripen its seeds, nor is it very readily increasedby cuttings. [202] LUPINUS PERENNIS. PERENNIAL LUPINE. _Class and Order. _ DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 2-labiatus. _Antheræ_ 5, oblongæ 5, subrotundæ. _Legumen_ coriaceum. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ LUPINUS _perennis_ calycibus alternis inappendiculatis: labio superiore emarginato; inferiore integro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 655. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 3. P. 28. _ LUPINUS calycibus alternis, radice perenni repente. _Fl. Virg. 172. _ LUPINUS cæruleus minor perennis virginianus repens. _Moris. Hist. 2. P. 87. S. 2. T. 7. F. 6. _ LUPINUS floribus cæruleis inodoris, in spicas longas digestis, radice reptatrice. _Clayt. N. 779. _ Every species of Lupine described in the _Species Plantarum_ of LINNÆUS, and in the _Hortus Kewensis_ of Mr. AITON, except the one here figured, are annuals; till another perennial one therefore shall be discovered, the term _perennis_ will be strictly applicable to the present plant. Its root is not only of the kind just mentioned, but creeping also; Mr. _Miller_ informs us, that he traced some of them belonging to plants ofa year old, to the depth of three feet, they also spread out far andwide; hence the roots even of young plants are with difficulty taken upentire, and as they do not succeed well by transplanting, if the root becut or broken, our excellent author prefers raising this elegant plantfrom seed, which, though not very plentifully produced, ripen in Julyand August; care must be taken to gather them as soon as ripe. It is a native of Virginia, and appears to have been cultivated in theBotanic Garden at Oxford, as long since as 1658. Flowers from May to July. Is a hardy perennial, succeeding best in a dry situation, with a loammoderately stiff. [Illustration] [Illustration] [203] GERANIUM ANGULATUM. ANGULAR-STALKED CRANE'S-BILL. _Class and Order. _ MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. _Cor. _ 5-petala, regularis. _Nect. _ glandulæ 5, melliferæ, basi longiorum filamentorum adnatæ. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ simplicia, nuda, (nec spiralia nec barbata). _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ GERANIUM _angulatum_ foliis radicalibus subpartitis incisis hirsutis, caule erecto subangulato, petalis venosis. Having cultivated the Geranium here figured for a series of years, weare perfectly satisfied of its being a species altogether distinct fromany of the hardy and more ornamental plants of that genus usuallycultivated in our gardens. It is obviously distinguished by two characters, the angular appearanceof its stalk (whence our name of _angulatum_) and its flesh-colouredblossoms, marked with veins of a deeper red. In size it stands between _pratense_ and _aconitifolium_, in itsblossoms it has some affinity to _striatum_ and _lancastriense_, butveins are not so strongly marked as in the former, and it differs fromthe latter in having an upright stalk. It usually flowers in May, and frequently again in autumn; is a hardyperennial, and easily increased either by seeds or parting its roots. Of what country it is a native, or when it was first introduced, we haveyet to learn; we first observed it in a nursery near town, where it isregarded as a very different species. [Illustration] [204] RANUNCULUS ACONITIFOLIUS. MOUNTAIN CROWFOOT, or FAIR MAIDS OF FRANCE. _Class and Order. _ POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5-intra ungues poro mellifero. _Sem. _ nuda. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ RANUNCULUS _aconitifolius_ foliis omnibus quinatis lanceolatis inciso-serratis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 516. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 267. _ RANUNCULUS folio aconiti, flore albo multiplici. _Bauh. Pin. 179. _ RANUNCULUS montanus albus flore pleno. The double white mountain Crowfoot. _Park. Parad. P. 219. F. 9. _ Double white Bachelors Buttons. _Ger. Herb. P. 812. F. 1. _ This is one of those plants which derives its beauty from themultiplication of its petals; in its single state no one would think itdeserving of culture as an ornamental plant: when double, few plantscome in for a greater share of admiration. It is a native of the Alps of Europe, and flowers in May and June. Was very generally cultivated in our gardens in the times of GERARD andPARKINSON. Like most alpine plants, it requires a pure air, and succeeds best in asituation moderately moist and shady; is a hardy perennial, and may beincreased by parting its roots in autumn. In all seasons, with us, its foliage, as well as that of most otherCrowfoots, is liable to be disfigured, and sometimes nearly destroyed, by a very small maggot which feeds betwixt, the coats of the leaf, andwhich ultimately produces a small fly, called by us _Musca Ranunculi_. [205] ANTIRRHINUM ALPINUM. ALPINE TOAD-FLAX. _Class and Order. _ DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. _Cor. _ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera. _Caps. _ 2-locularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ ANTIRRHINUM _alpinum_ foliis quaternis lineari-lanceolatis glaucis, caule diffuso, floribus racemosis, calcari recto. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 556. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. P 335. _ _Jacq. Fl. Austr. V. 1. T. 58. _ ANTIRRHINUM caule procumbente breviter spicato, foliis verticillatis. _Hall. Hist. P. 338. _ LINARIA quadrifolia supina. _Bauh. Pin. P. 213. _ LINARIA tertia styriaca. _Clus. Hist. 1. P. 322. _ Professor JACQUIN, in describing the flowers of this plant, calls them_elegantissimi_; and to one of its varieties HALLER applies the epithet_pulcherrima_: such testimonies in its favour will, we presume, besufficient to recommend it to our readers. It is a native of various mountainous parts of Europe, affecting moist, stony situations, [5] and flowers during most of the summer: is a hardyperennial[6], according to the celebrated author of the _Fl. Austriaca_;Mr. AITON, in his _Hort. Kew. _ marks it as a biennial. It isnevertheless apt to be lost, like other small alpine plants, for want ofproper treatment and care. Mr. AITON informs us on the authority of LOBEL, that it was cultivatedhere by Mr. HUGH MORGAN, in 1570. May be propagated by cuttings, as well as by seeds, which however arenot very plentifully produced with us. Succeeds best when kept in a pot, or on rock-work, which it is wellsuited to decorate. [Footnote 5: In saxosis udis alpium. _Jacq. _] [Footnote 6: Radix perennis. _Jacq. _] [Illustration] [Illustration] [206] GERANIUM ANEMONEFOLIUM. ANEMONE-LEAV'D GERANIUM. _Class and Order. _ MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. _Cor. _ 5-petala, regularis. _Nect. _ glandulæ 5 melliferæ basi longiorum filamentorum adnatæ. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus; _rostra_ simplicia nec spiralia nec barbata. _L. Herit. Geran. _ _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ GERANIUM _anemonefolium_ foliis palmatis; foliolis pinnatifidis, caule fruticoso. _L. Herit. N. 6. T. 36. _ GERANIUM palmatum. _Cavan. Diss. 4. P. 216. T. 84. F. 2. _ Before the appearance of the _Hortus Kewensis_, _lævigatum_ was the termusually applied to this species of Geranium, by Botanists here, and thaton account of the smooth and glossy appearance of its leaves; in thatwork Mr. AITON adopts the word _anemonefolium_, by which Mons. L. HERITIER had distinguished this species, from an idea that their shapeafforded a more expressive character than their smoothness. We regretthat the small size of our plate will not admit of our givingrepresentation of those leaves, and of their mode of growth, which sostrikingly characterizes the plant and adds so considerably to itsbeauty. Mr. AITON informs us that this species is a native of Madeira, fromwhence it was introduced here by Mr. FRANCIS MASSON in 1778. It flowers from May to September, is usually and readily raised fromseeds, nor is it so tender as many other green-house plants. [Illustration] [207] DIANTHUS BARBATUS. BEARDED PINK OR SWEET WILLIAM. _Class and Order. _ DECANDRIA DIGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ cylindricus 1-phyllus: basi squamis 4. _Petala_ 5 unguiculata. _Capsula_ cylindrica, 1-locularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ DIANTHUS _barbatus_ floribus aggregatis fasciculatis: squamis calycinis ovato-subulatis tubum æquantibus, foliis lanceolatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 17. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 88. _ CARYOPHYLLUS hortensis barbatus latifolius. _Bauh. Pin. 208. _ ARMERIUS latifolius simplex. Single Sweete Williams. _Park. Parad. P. 321. _ LINNÆUS, in his _Spec. Pl. _ appears not to have known of what countrythe Sweet William was a native, and even in the _Hortus Kewensis_, thiscircumstance is left undecided; yet DODONÆUS, in his _Pemptades_[7], mentions its being found wild in Germany, and PROF. HOFFMAN confirmsthis in his _Germanys Flora_[8]. At the time DODONÆUS wrote (1552) this plant was cultivated in theNetherlands, from whence it was probably introduced to this country, where it certainly is one of the oldest inhabitants of our gardens. Beautiful as are the numerous varieties of this species of Dianthus, Florists have not deemed it worthy of that peculiar attention which theyhave bestowed on its more favoured relatives the Pink and Carnation, andhence it probably has not arrived at that degree of improvement of whichit is capable; our figure is intended to represent one of the mostesteemed of its kind, viz. The _Painted Lady_ variety, which has a deeprich purple eye, surrounded with a pure white, having the edge of thepetals slightly indented; but our colours fall far short of the beautiesof the original. Besides single flowers producing an infinite variety of colours, thereare several double varieties of the Sweet William, some of which areobserved to have more scent than others. To possess these plants in perfection, we must renew them yearly; forthough the root be perennial, it is apt to decay, especially if the soilin which it grows be either very moist, or very dry; or if the air benot pure, the single sorts must be raised from seeds, which should besaved from the choicest flowers; the double sorts may be increased bycuttings, pipings, or layers, in the same manner, and at the same timeas Pinks and Carnations; the seed should be sown early in April, theseedlings transplanted into a bed in June, taking advantage of a wet dayand placed about six inches asunder each way; in September they will befit to transplant into the flower border, where they will blossom theensuing summer, during the months of June and July, and ripen their seedin August. [Footnote 7: In petrosis collibus et asperis, fabulosis apricisquelocis, apud Germanos nascitur. _Pempt. P. 177. _] [Footnote 8: Sponte in sylvaticis, montosis (Carn. Siles. Tubing)Germanys Fl. 1791. P. 147. ] [208] MELISSA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWER'D BALM. _Class and Order. _ DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ aridus, supra planiusculus; labio superiore subfastigiato. _Corollæ_ lab. Super. Subfornicatum, 2-fidum; labium inf. Lobo medio cordato. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ MELISSA _grandiflora_ pedunculis axillaribus dichotomis longitudine florum. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 542. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 315. _ CALAMINTHA magno flore. _Bauh. Pin. 229. _ CALAMINTHA montana præstantior. The more excellent Calamint. _Ger. Herb. P. 556. _ as to the name. _Ger. Emac. 687. _ as to the figure. The _Melissa grandiflora_, a beautiful and hardy perennial, growsspontaneously on the hilly and mountainous parts of France, Italy, andGermany; GERARD mentions it as found wild in this country, which standsin need of further confirmation; there is little doubt, however, but hehad cultivated the plant; as he says, "brought into the garden, itprospereth marvellous well and very easily soweth itself. " It is the more valuable, as it flowers during most of the summer. There is a variety of it with white, and another with red flowers, bothmuch inferior in size to those of the plant here figured, and thereforenot worth cultivating; we have a variety also with variegated leaveswhich we obtained from seeds. This plant is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and mayalso be raised from seeds, which are plentifully produced: as it rarelyexceeds a foot in height, it becomes a suitable plant for the smallflower border, or for the decoration of rock-work. The leaves when bruised have the smell of garden balm. [Illustration] [Illustration] [209] HIBISCUS TRIONUM. BLADDER HIBISCUS. _Class and Order. _ MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ duplex: exterior polyphyllus. _Caps. _ 5-locularis, polysperma. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ HIBISCUS _Trionum_ foliis tripartitis incisis, calycibus inflatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 631. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 458. _ TRIONUM _Linn. Hort. Cliff. 349. _ ALCEA vesicaria. _Bauh. Pin. 317. _ ALCEA peregrina five vesicaria. Venice Mallow, or Good night at noone. _Park. Parad. P. 368. 307. F. 2. _ Seeds of the plant here figured are sold in the seed-shops under thename of Venice Mallow, a name by which it was known in the time ofGERARD and PARKINSON: Mr. AITON has changed this for the more scientificone of Bladder Hibiscus. Authors have also distinguished this plant byterms expressive of the short-lived expansion of its flowers, whichGERARD says open at eight o'clock in the morning and close about nine, from whence he observes, that it might with propriety be called Malvahoraria: MILLER lengthens the duration of its blowing to a few hours: wehave frequently observed its blossoms continue sufficiently open to shewtheir beauty the greatest part of the day, more especially towards theclose of summer. Few annuals are more admired than this, the inside of the flower is ofdelicate cream colour, having the centre embellished with a rich purplevelvet, on which its golden antheræ are proudly conspicuous. It is said to be a native of Italy; a Cape variety, differing inhairiness and a few other particulars is mentioned by MILLER, andconsidered by him as a species. The least possible trouble attends the raising of this beautiful annual, as it readily ripens its seeds, which falling on the ground produceplants in abundance the ensuing spring; to have it flower as long as maybe, it will be proper to sow it at two or three different periods. [Illustration] [210] CELSIA LINEARIS. LINEAR-LEAV'D CELSIA. _Class and Order. _ DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-partitus. _Cor. _ rotata. _Filamenta_ barbata, _Caps. _ 2-locularis. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ CELSIA _linearis_. _Jacq. Collect. V. 2. N. 210. _ _Icon. V. 2. T. 13. _ CELSIA _linearis_ foliis ternis linearibus denticulatis. We here present our readers with the figure of a plant newly introducedfrom France by Mr. WILLIAMS, Nurseryman of Paris, collected originallyin Peru by Mr. DOMBEY, whose flowers, if they do not equal those of theFuchsia already figured in elegance of form and growth, surpass themsomewhat in brilliancy of colour, whence it becomes a most desirableplant for the purpose of ornament. Professor JACQUIN, who first gave a figure and description of thisplant, informs us in his Collectanea, that he received seeds of it fromProfessor ORTEGA of Madrid, under the name of _Celsia linearis_, whichname he has adopted; and we, from respect to such authority, havecontinued; at the same time we must observe, that it ill accords withthat genus: the blossoms while in bud fold up somewhat in the samemanner as those of the Celsia, but on expansion they appear widelydifferent; their shape indeed then becomes truly singular, resembling ahalf-formed imperfect corolla, its filaments are short and want thehairs which in part characterise the Celsia; its seed-vessels also arefar from being round: its antheræ are large and close together, somewhatlike those of the Solanum, and there is so little of inequality in them, that few students would be induced to refer its flowers to the classDidynamia. Being a native of a warm climate, it comes to the greatest perfectionhere when placed in a stove in which the heat is moderate; but it willsucceed very well if treated as a tender green-house plant: it does notappear to be quite so hardy as the Fuchsia, nor to flower like thatplant at all seasons, but usually produces its blossoms in the lattersummer months, those are succeeded by seed-vessels producing perfectseeds, by which, as well as by cuttings, the plant is propagated. Its leaves, which are not deciduous, are linear, and more or lesstoothed, growing three together; this character however is somewhatobscured by others growing from their bosoms. [211] SEDUM POPULIFOLIUM. POPLAR-LEAV'D STONECROP. _Class and Order. _ DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-fidus. _Cor. _ 5-petala. _Squamæ_ nectariferæ 5 ad basin germinis. _Caps. _ 5. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ SEDUM _populifolium_ foliis planis cordatis dentatis petiolatis, corymbis terminalibus. _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 109. _ SEDUM _populifolium_ foliis petiolatis cordatis dentatis, floribus paniculatis. _Linn. Fil. Suppl. P. 242. _ SEDUM _populifolium_. _Pallas, it. 3. P. 730. T. O. Fig. 2. _ Professor PALLAS, the celebrated Russian naturalist, discovered thisspecies of Sedum in Siberia, and in the year 1780, introduced it to theroyal garden at Kew; the younger LINNÆUS describes it minutely in his_Suppl. Plantarum_, and observes, that in its general form it muchresembles the _Saxifraga rotundifolia_. Its leaves are flat as in many of the other species, and when the plantgrows in an open situation, exposed to the sun, they become as well asthe stalks of a bright red colour, which adds much to its beauty. It is the only hardy Sedum cultivated; in our gardens with a shrubbystalk, its leaves however are deciduous, so that in the winter it losesits verdure, it flowers in July and August, and is readily increased bycuttings. As most of this tribe grow readily, and many of them naturally on rocksand walls, they may be in general regarded as proper rock plants, someof them however are apt by the quickness of their growth to extend overand destroy plants of more value; this fault, if such it may be deemed, is not imputable to the _populifolius_. Some not knowing its native place of growth, keep it in thegreen-house. [Illustration] [212] TANACETUM FLABELLIFORME. FAN-LEAVED TANSY. _Class and Order. _ SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. _Generic Character. _ _Recept. _ nudum. _Pappus_ submarginatus. _Cal. _ imbricatus, hemisphæricus. _Cor. _ radii obsoletæ, trifidæ. _Linn. (interdum nullæ omnesque flosculi hermaphroditi. ) Murr. _ _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ TANACETUM _flabelliforme_ corymbis simplicibus, foliis deltoidibus apice serratis. _L'Herit. Sert. Angl. T. 27. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. P. 169. _ There is a neatness in the appearance of this plant, which joined to thesingular form of its foliage, varying also from the general hue, entitles it to a place in the green-house. Mr. MASSON discovered it at the Cape, and introduced it here in 1774. _Ait. Kew. _ It flowers from May to August, grows freely, and is usually propagatedby cuttings. [Illustration] [Illustration] [213] POLYGONUM ORIENTALE. TALL PERSICARIA. _Class and Order. _ OCTANDRIA TRIGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 0. _Cor. _ 5-partita, calycina. _Sem. _ 1. Angulatum. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ POLYGONUM _orientale_ floribus heptandris digynis, foliis ovatis, caule erecto, stipulis hirtis hypocrateriformibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 377. _ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. P. 32. _ PERSICARIA _orientalis_ nicotianæ folio calyce florum purpureo. _Tournef. Cor. 38. _ Schovanna-modelamuccu. _Rheed. Mal. 12. P. 147. T. 76. _ Of the genus Polygonum, the present well-known native of the East, aswell as of India, is the principal one cultivated in our gardens forornament, and is distinguished not less for its superior stature thanthe brilliancy of its flowers; it will frequently grow to the height ofeight or ten feet, and become a formidable rival to the giganticsun-flower. There is a dwarf variety of it, and another with white flowers; it hasbeen observed to vary also in point of hairiness. It flowers from July to October, and produces abundance of seed, which, falling on the borders, generally comes up spontaneously in the spring;but it is most commonly sown in the spring with other annuals: when theseedlings appear, they should be thinned so as to stand a foot apart. This plant requires very little care, and will bear the smoke of Londonbetter than many others. Was cultivated by the Dutchess of BEAUFORT, in 1707. _Ait. Kew. _ The Stipulæ on the stalk are deserving of notice, being unusual in theirform, and making it look as if beruffled. [214] DRACOCEPHALUM DENTICULATUM. TOOTHED DRAGON'S-HEAD. _Class and Order. _ DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. _Generic Character. _ _Corollæ faux_ inflata: _labium_ superius concavum. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ DRACOCEPHALUM _denticulatum_ floribus spicatis remotis, foliis obovato-lanceolatis superne denticulatis. _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 317. _ About the year 1786, we received from Philadelphia, seeds of a plantcollected at a considerable distance from that city, announced to us asnew and rare, and which produced the present species of _Dracocephalum_:Mr. WATSON, Nurseryman at Islington, obtained the same plant fromCarolina, about the same period. It is a hardy perennial, multiplying considerably by its roots, whichcreep somewhat; it must be planted in a moist soil, and shady situation, for such it affects, and in such only will it thrive. It flowers in August and September. It bears a considerable affinity to the _Dracocephalum virginianum_, towhich, though a much rarer plant, it is inferior in point of beauty; itspreads more on the ground, its flowering stems are not altogether soupright, nor so tall, the leaves are broader, and the flowers in thespikes less numerous. [Illustration] [Illustration] [215] RANUNCULUS ACRIS FLORE PLENO. DOUBLE UPRIGHT CROWFOOT. _Class and Order. _ POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. _Generic Character. _ _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5, intra ungues poro mellisero. _Sem. _ nuda. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ RANUNCULUS _acris_ calycibus patulis, pedunculis teretibus, foliis tripartito multifidis: summis linearibus. _Linn. Syst. Veg. Ed. 14. Murr. P. 517. _ RANUNCULUS hortensis erectus flore pleno. _Bauh. Pin. P. 178. ?. _ RANUNCULUS pratensis flore multiplici. _Park. Parad. P. 218. _ The double yellow field Crowfoot. In giving a representation of this species of Ranunculus, we have made aslight deviation from the strict letter of our plan, as expressed in thetitle page, which confines us to the figuring of foreign plants only; wehave thought, however, that it would not be inconsistent with the spiritof the _Flower-Garden Displayed_, were we occasionally to introduce suchEnglish plants as have double flowers, and which, on that account, arethought worthy of a place in every garden; they are but few in number, and we flatter ourselves that this trifling alteration will be approvedby our numerous readers. The _Ranunculus acris_ is the first that we offer of these; a plant, inits wild and single state, common in all our rich meadows, and in itsimproved, or to speak more botanically, in its monstrous state (alldouble flowers being monsters, for the most part formed from thepreternatural multiplication of their petals) it has long beencultivated in gardens abroad, as well as here. There are certain ornamental plants of the perennial kind, which, ifonce introduced, will succeed with the least possible trouble, andtherefore suit such as have little time to bestow on theirflower-gardens; the present plant is one of those: if the soil in whichwe plant it be moist, it will grow most readily, and flower during themonths of June and July; and it is easily increased, by parting itsroots in autumn. [Illustration] [216] CYPRIPEDIUM ALBUM. WHITE-PETAL'D LADIES SLIPPER. _Class and Order. _ GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. _Generic Character. _ _Nectarium_ ventricosum inflatum cavum. _Specific Character and Synonyms. _ CYPRIPEDIUM _album_ radicibus fibrosis foliis ovato-lanceolatis caulinis, petalis obtusis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. P. 303. _ HELLEBORINE Calceolus dicta mariana flore gemello candido, venis purpureis, striato. _Pluk. Mant. 101. T. 418. F. 3. _ CYPRIPEDIUM _hirsutum_ foliis oblongo ovatis venosis hirsutis flore maximo. _Mill. Dict. Ed. 6. 4to. _ CYPRIPEDIUM _spectabile_. Corolla labio superiore ovali basi retuso concavo subtus carina obtusa, inferiore petalis longiore grosso. _Salisb. Trans. Linn. Soc. V. 1. P. 78. _ Of the genus _Cypripedium_, Great-Britain produces only one, Americaseveral species; of these the _album_ here figured, (whose name isderived from the whiteness of its petals, and with which the nectarymust not be confounded) is by far the most magnificent; indeed there arefew flowers which to such singularity of structure add such elegance andbeauty: it grows spontaneously in various parts of North-America, andchiefly in the woods; was introduced to the royal garden at Kew, by Mr. WILLIAM YOUNG about the year 1770, but was known to Mr. MILLER, andcultivated by him at Chelsea long before that period; this intelligentand truly practical author informs us, that all the sorts of Cypripediumare with difficulty preserved and propagated in gardens; he recommendsthem to be planted in a loamy soil, and in a situation where they mayhave the morning sun only; they must, he observes, for the abovereasons, be procured from the places where they naturally grow; theroots should be seldom removed, for transplanting them prevents theirflowering, which usually takes place in June. A greater proof of the difficulty of increasing these plants need not beadduced than their present scarcity, though vast numbers have beenimported, how few can boast of possessing them, or of preserving themfor any length of time; careful management in their cultivation willdoubtless go far, but peculiarity of soil and situation would appear tobe of greater importance: it is well known that certain plants thrive incertain districts only, the double yellow rose, for instance, barelyexists near London, yet this plant I have seen growing most luxuriantly, and producing a profusion of bloom, in the late Mr. MASON'S garden, Cheshunt, Herts, and in which various Orchis's also acquired nearlytwice their usual size, --enviable spot! INDEX. In which the Latin Names of the Plants contained in the _Sixth Volume_are alphabetically arranged. _Pl. _ 200 Antirrhinum sparteum. 207 ---- alpinum. 199 Aster alpinus. 210 Celsia linearis. 195 Cheiranthus mutabilis. 181 Colutea frutescens. 188 Convolvulus Nil. 185 Coronilla valentina. 192 Cypripedium acaule. 216 ---- album. 207 Dianthus barbatus. 214 Dracocephalum denticulatum. 189 Erica grandiflora. 194 Fritillaria imperialis. 203 Geranium angulatum. 206 ---- anemonefolium. 209 Hibiscus Trionum. 198 Indigofera candicans. 187 Iris sambucina. 184 Ixia crocata. 202 Lupinus perennis. 208 Melissa grandiflora. 193 Narcissus angustifolius. 197 ---- biflorus. 190 Ornithogalum aureum. 201 Pelargonium bicolor. 213 Polygonum orientale. 191 Primula marginata. 204 Ranunculus aconitifolius. 215 ---- acris flore pleno. 182 Salvia aurea. 196 Saxifraga crassifolia. 211 Sedum populifolium. 186 Selago ovata. 183 Syringa vulgaris. 212 Tanacetum flabelliforme. INDEX. In which the English Names of the Plants contained in the _Sixth Volume_are alphabetically arranged. _Pl. _ 199 Aster alpine. 208 Balm great-flower'd. 181 Bladder-senna scarlet. 210 Celsia linear-leav'd. 188 Convolvulus azure. 185 Coronilla rue-leav'd. 201 Crane's-bill two-colour'd. 203 ---- angular-stalk'd. 204 Crowfoot mountain. 215 ---- upright-double. 214 Dragon's-head toothed. 206 Geranium anemone-leav'd. 189 Heath great-flower'd. 209 Hibiscus bladder. 194 Imperial crown. 198 Indigo white-leav'd. 187 Iris elder-scented. 184 Ixia saffron-colour'd. 192 Ladies-slipper two-leav'd. 216 ---- white-petal'd. 183 Lilac common. 202 Lupine perennial. 193 Narcissus narrow-leav'd. 197 ---- two-flower'd. 190 Ornithogalum golden. 213 Persicaria tall. 191 Primula silver-edg'd. 182 Sage golden. 196 Saxifrage oval-leav'd. 186 Selago oval-headed. 211 Stonecrop poplar-leav'd. 212 Tansey fan-leav'd. 200 Toad-flax branching. 207 ---- alpine. 195 Wall-flower changeable. 207 William sweet.