THE

 BOTANICAL MAGAZINE;

 OR, Flower-Garden Displayed:

 IN WHICH

 The most Ornamental FOREIGN PLANTS, cultivated in the Open Ground, the Green-House, and the Stove, are accurately represented in their natural Colours. 

 TO WHICH ARE ADDED, Their Names, Class, Order, Generic and Specific Characters, according to the 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 wish to become scientifically acquainted with the Plants they cultivate. 

 By _WILLIAM CURTIS_, Author of the FLORA LONDINENSIS. 

 VOL. VIII. 

 "Much I love To see the fair one bind the straggling pink, Cheer the sweet rose, the lupin, and the stock, And lend a staff to the still gadding pea. Ye fair, it well becomes you. Better thus Cheat time away, than at the crowded rout, Rustling in silk, in a small room, close-pent, And heated e'en to fusion; made to breathe A rank contagious air, and fret at whist, Or sit aside to sneer and whisper scandal. "

 VILLAGE CURATE, p. 74. 

_LONDON:_

PRINTED BY STEPHEN COUCHMAN, For W. CURTIS, No 3, _St. George's-Crescent_, Black-Friars-Road; And Sold by the principalBooksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland, M DCC XCIV. */

[253]

LATHYRUS ARTICULATUS. JOINTED-PODDED LATHYRUS. 

_Class and Order. _

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior. _Cal. _ laciniæ superiores 2-breviores. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 LATHYRUS _articulatus_ pedunculis subunifloris, cirrhis polyphyllis; foliolis alternis. _Linn. Syst. Veg. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 662. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 41. _

 CLYMENUM hispanicum, flore vario, siliqua articulata. _Tourn. Inst. 396. _

 LATHYRUS hispanicus, pedunculis bifloris, cirrhis polyphyllis foliolis alternis. _Mill. Dict. Ed. 6. 4to. _

The seed-vessels are of the first importance in ascertaining the severalspecies of Lathyrus, some being naked, others hairy, some long, othersshort, some having a smooth and perfectly even surface, others, as inthe present instance, assuming an uneven or jointed appearance. 

Of this genus we have already figured three annual species, common inflower-gardens, viz. _odoratus_, _tingitanus_, and _sativus_; to thesewe now add the _articulatus_, not altogether so frequently met with, butmeriting a place on the flower-border, as the lively red and delicatewhite so conspicuous in its blossoms, causes it to be much admired. 

It is a native of Italy, and was cultivated at the Chelsea Garden, inthe time of Mr. RAND, anno 1739. 

It is a hardy annual, requiring support, and rarely exceeding the heightof two feet, flowering in July and August, and is readily raised fromseeds, which should be sown in the open border at the beginning ofApril. 

[Illustration: No 253]

[Illustration: No 254]

[254]

LOPEZIA RACEMOSA. MEXICAN LOPEZIA. 

_Class and Order. _

MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 4-phyllus. _Cor. _ irregularis, pentapetala, duo superiora geniculata, quintum inferne declinatum, plicatum, ungue arcuata. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 LOPEZIA _racemosa_ caule herbaceo ramoso; foliis alternis ovato-lanceolatis, serratis; floribus racemosis. _Cavanilles Ic. Et descr. Pl. _

Some plants have a claim on our attention for their utility, some fortheir beauty, and some for the singularity of their structure, and thewonderful nature of their oeconomy; in the last class we must placethe present plant, the flowers of which we recommend to the examinationof such of our readers as may have an opportunity of seeing them; to thephilosophic mind, not captivated with mere shew, they will afford a mostdelicious treat. 

We first saw this novelty in flower, towards the close of the year 1792, at the Apothecaries Garden, Chelsea, where Mr. FAIRBAIRN informed me, that he had that season raised several plants of it from seeds, communicated by Dr. J. E. SMITH, who received them from Madrid, to whichplace they were sent from South-America, and where the plant as Mons. CAVANILLE informs us, grows spontaneously near Mexico. In October 1793, we had the pleasure of seeing the plant again in blossom in theaforesaid garden, raised from seeds which ripened there the precedingyear, but unfortunately from the lateness of their flowering, and thevery great injury the plants had sustained from the Cobweb Mite (_Acarusteliarius_) vulgarly called the red Spider, there seemed little prospectthat the seed-vessels would arrive at perfection. 

The seeds were sown by Mr. FAIRBAIRN, in March, and the plants kept inthe green-house till very late in the summer, when to accelerate theirblowing, they were removed into the dry stove: it is worthy of remark, that these plants, even late in the autumn, shew no signs of blossoming, but the flowers at length come forth with almost unexampled rapidity, and the seed-vessels are formed as quickly, so that if the flowers werenot very numerous, their blossoming period would be of very shortduration; future experience may perhaps point out the means of makingthe plant blow earlier: in Spain, the blossoms appeared later than here, Mons. CAVANILLE observed them in the Royal Garden, in November andDecember, most probably in the open ground, as no mention is made of theplants having been preserved from the weather. 

It was not till long after our description was taken, that we had anopportunity of seeing Mons. CAVANILLE'S most accurate and elegant work, above quoted, in which this plant is first figured and described; wehave selected the most essential parts of his generic character, andadopted his specific description: there is one point, however, in whichwe differ from him; the part which he regards as the fifth Petal, we areinclined to consider rather as that indescribable something, called byLINNÆUS the Nectary, it is indeed of little moment whether we call it aPetal or a Nectary, but there are several reasons why, strictlyspeaking, we cannot regard it as a Petal: in general the number ofPetals correspond with the number of the leaves of the Calyx, those ofthe latter are four; the base of this Nectary originates deeper than theclaws of the Petals, springing in fact from the same part as theFilament, its structure, especially the lower part of it, is evidentlydifferent from that of the Petals, corresponding indeed as nearly aspossible with that of the base of the filament. --_Vid. _ DESCER. 

Mons. CAVANILLE was induced to call this plant _Lopezia_, in complimentto TH. LOPEZ, a Spaniard[1]. 

[Footnote 1: In honorem Licent. THOMÆ LOPEZ, Burgensis, qui aliquotannos Regii Senatoris munere functus in America, CAROLO V. Imperante. Inpatriam reversus breviarium historiæ naturalis novi orbis scripsit subtitulo de tribus elementis aëre, aqua, et terra, MS. Apud eundemMuguozium. ]

DESCRIPTION OF THE LOPEZIA. 

ROOT annual. 

 STALK five or six feet high, branched almost to the bottom, square, of a deep red colour, smooth towards the bottom, slightly hairy above: _Branches_ like the stalk. 

 LEAVES alternate, ovate, pointed, toothed on the edges, more so on the larger leaves, slightly beset with soft hairs, veins prominent on the under side, usually running parallel to each other and unbranched: _Leafstalks_ hairy. 

 FLOWERS numerous, from the alæ of the leaves, growing irregularly on hairy leafy racemi, standing on long slender peduncles, which hang down as the seed-vessels are produced: in this and some others of its characters, the plant shews some affinity to the _Circæa_. 

 CALYX: a _Perianthium_ of four leaves, sitting on the Germen, leaves narrow, concave, reddish, with green tips, the lowermost one widely separated from the others, and placed immediately under the Nectary, _fig. _ 1. 

 COROLLA four _Petals_ of a pale red colour, forming in their mode of growth the upper half of a circle, the two uppermost linear, of a deeper colour near the apex, jointed below the middle, with a small green gland on each joint, standing on short round footstalks, which are hairy when magnified, the two side Petals nearly orbicular with long narrow claws, the part between the base of the Petal and the claw of a deeper red or crimson, _fig. _ 2. 

 NECTARY situated below the Petals, perfectly white, somewhat ovate, the sides folding together, before the flower fully expands, nearly upright, embracing and containing within it the Pistillum and Stamen, on touching it ever so slightly with the point of a pin, while in this state, it suddenly springs back and quits the Pistillum, the lower elastic part of it is then bent in the form represented in a magnified view of the flower on the plate, _fig. _ 4. This curious phoenomenon has not been noticed by CAVANILLE. 

 STAMEN: _Filament_ one, tapering and very slender just below the Anthera, arising from the same part as (and placed opposite to the base of) the Nectary the lower part of it broader, somewhat fleshy, cartilaginous, and of the same nature as the inferior part of the Nectary, with a groove as that has on the inside, so that before the flower expands, the bases of each are like two half tubes, the sides of which, nearly touching each other, wholly enclose the Pistillum; as the fructification goes forward, the Filament, endowed also with an elastic power, bends back soon after the flower is open, betwixt the two uppermost Petals, and becomes invisible to an inattentive observer; the Anthera, which is large, is at first yellow, and afterwards dark brown, _fig. _ 5. 

 PISTILLUM: _Germen_ below the Calyx, round, smooth, and green; _Style_ filiform, white, length of the Filament; Stigma forming a small villous head, _fig. _ 6. In some of the flowers the Pistillum appears imperfect, being much shorter than usual, and wanting the Stigma, perhaps such have not acquired their full growth, _fig. _ 6. 

 PERICARPIUM (from CAVANILLE) a round _Capsule_, of four cells, and four valves, the cells many-seeded. 

SEEDS very minute, ovate, affixed to a four-cornered receptacle. 

[Illustration: No 256]

[255]

CYTISUS SESSILIFOLIUS. SESSILE-LEAV'D, OR COMMON CYTISUS. 

_Class and Order. _

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

_Cal. _ 2-labiatus: 2/3 _Legumen_ basi attenuatum. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 CYTISUS _sessilifolius_ racemis erectis, calycibus bractæa triplici, foliis floralibus sessilibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 666. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 50. _

 CYTISUS glabris foliis subrotundis, pediculis brevissimis. _Bauh. Pin. P. 390. _

 CYTISUS vulgatior, the common Tree Trefoile. _Park. Parad. P. 440. _

The term _sessilifolius_ has been given to this species of Cytisus, because the leaves are for the most part sessile, that is sit close tothe branches, without any or very short footstalks; such they are atleast on the flowering branches when the shrub is in blossom, but at theclose of the summer they are no longer so, the leaves acquiring veryevident footstalks. 

It is a native of the more southern parts of Europe, and though in pointof size and elegance it cannot vie with its kindred Laburnum, it is adeciduous shrub of considerable beauty, rarely exceeding the height offive or six feet, and producing a great profusion of bright yellowflowers, which continue in blossom a long while; they make theirappearance in May and June, and are usually succeeded by seed-vesselswhich produce ripe seeds, by these the plant is readily propagated. 

It is one of the most common shrubs we have, as well as one of theoldest inhabitants of our shrubberies, being mentioned by PARKINSON inhis _Parad. Terrestris_. 

[256]

IXIA LONGIFLORA. LONG-FLOWER'D IXIA. 

_Class and Order. _

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 6-partita, campanulata, regularis. _Stigmata_ 3. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 IXIA _longiflora_ foliis ensiformibus linearibus strictis, tubo filiformi longissimo. _Ait. Kew. V. 4. P. 58. _

 GLADIOLUS _longiflorus_ caule tereti, tubo longissimo, spathis foliisque linearibus glabris. _Linn. Suppl. P. 96. _ _Gmel. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 86. _

We are not acquainted with a tribe of plants which stand more in need ofelucidation than those of this genus; of the vast numbers imported fromthe Cape within these few years, where they are chiefly natives, andthat for the most part by way of Holland, few comparatively are wellascertained; some of them appear subject to great variation, both in thesize and colour of their blossoms (whether in their wild state they arethus inconstant, or whether there are seminal varieties raised by thepersevering industry of the Dutch Florists, we have not yet had it inour power satisfactorily to ascertain); others like the present one havetheir characters strongly marked, and less variable; in general they areplants of easy culture, requiring chiefly to be protected from theeffects of frost, the least degree of which is presently fatal to mostof them. 

The treatment recommended for the _Ixia flexuosa_ is applicable to thisand the other Cape species. 

According to the _Hort. Kew. _ this species was introduced by Mr. MASSONin the year 1774. 

It flowers from April to June. 

[Illustration: No 256]

[Illustration: No 257]

[257]

LYCHNIS CHALCEDONICA. SCARLET LYCHNIS. 

_Class and Order. _

DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 1-phyllus, oblongus, lævis. _Petala_ 5-unguiculata. _Limbo_ sub-bifido. _Caps. _ 5-locularis. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 LYCHNIS _chalcedonica_ floribus fasciculatis fastigiatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 435. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 16. _

 LYCHNIS hirsuta flore coccineo major. _Bauh. Pin. 203. _

 FLOS Constantinopolitanus. _Dod. Pempt. 178. _

 LYCHNIS _chalcedonica_ flore simplici miniato. Single Nonsuch, or Flower of Bristow or Constantinople. _Parkins. Parad. 253. _

The Scarlet Lychnis appears to have been a great favourite withPARKINSON, he calls it a glorious flower, and in a wooden print of himprefixed to his _Paradisus Terrestris_, we see him represented with aflower of this sort in his hand of the double kind. 

It grows spontaneously in most parts of Russia, and is one of our mosthardy perennials. 

The extreme brilliancy of its flowers renders it a plant, in its singlestate highly ornamental; when double, its beauty is heightened, and theduration of it increased. 

It flowers in June and July. 

The single sort may be increased by parting its roots in autumn, butmore abundantly by seeds, which should be sown in the spring; the doublesort may also be increased by dividing its roots, but more plentifullyby cuttings of the stalk, put in in June, before the flowers make theirappearance; in striking of these, however, there requires some nicety. 

This plant is found to succeed best in a rich, loamy, soil; and certaindistricts have been found to be more favourable to its growth thanothers. 

A white and a pale red variety of it in its single state were known toCLUSIUS, and similar varieties of the double kind are said to exist; itis of little moment whether they do or not, every variation in thisplant from a bright scarlet is in every sense of the word a degeneracy. 

[Illustration: No 258]

[258]

CORONILLA VARIA. PURPLE 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 _varia_ herbacea, leguminibus erectis teretibus torosis numerosis, foliolis plurimis glabris. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 670. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 3. P. 59. _

 SECURIDACA dumetorum major, flore vario, siliquis articulatis. _Bauh. Pin. P. 349. _

 SECURIDACA II. Altera species. _Clus. Hist. 2. Ccxxxvij. _ The greater joynted Hatchet Vetch. _Park. Theat. P. 1088. _

CLUSIUS, in his work above referred to, informs us that he found thisplant growing wild in various parts of Germany, in meadows, fields, andby road sides; that it flowered in June, sometimes the whole summerthrough, and ripened its seeds in July and August; the blossoms he foundsubject to much variation of colour, being either deep purple, whitish, or even wholly white: CASP. BAUHINE notices another variety, in whichthe alæ are white and the rostrum purple; this variety, which we havehad the honour to receive from the Earl of EGREMONT is the mostdesirable one to cultivate in gardens, as it is more ornamental than theone wholly purple, most commonly met with in the nurseries, andcorresponds also better with its name of _varia_; it is to be notedhowever that this variety of colour exists only in the young blossoms. 

The Coronilla varia is a hardy, perennial, herbaceous plant, climbing, if supported, to the height of four or five feet, otherwise spreadingwidely on the ground, and frequently injuring less robust plants growingnear it; on this account, as well as from its having powerfully creepingroots whereby it greatly increases, though a pretty plant, and floweringduring most of the summer, it is not to be introduced without caution, and is rather to be placed in the shrubbery, or outskirts of the garden, than in the flower border. 

It will grow in any soil or situation, but blossoms and seeds mostfreely in a soil moderately dry. 

PARKINSON in his _Theater of Plants_, mentions its being cultivated, asan ornamental plant. _Ait. Kew. _

Its bitterness, will be an objection to its being cultivated for the useof cattle, for which purpose it has been recommended. 

[259]

LILIUM CATESBÆI. CATESBY'S LILY. 

_Class and Order. _

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 6-petala campanulata: linea longitudinali nectarifera. _Caps. _ valvulis pilo cancellato connexis. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 LILIUM _Catesbæi_ caule unifloro, petalis erectis unguiculatis. _Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 13. _ _Gmel. P. 545. _

 LILIUM _Catesbæi_ foliis sparsis, bipedali, flore unico erecto, corolla campanulata, petalis unguibus angustis longis. _Walt. Fl. Carol. P. 123. _

 LILIUM _Spectabile_ foliis sparsis; floribus solitariis erectis; petalorum unguibus angustis, alternis extus utrinque sulcatis, laminis revolutis. _Salisb. Ic. Stirp. Rar. T. 5. _

At the close of the year 1787, Mr. ROBERT SQUIBB, sent me fromSouth-Carolina roots of the Lily here figured, many of which have sinceflowered with various persons in this kingdom. 

CATESBY in his Natural History of Carolina, gives a figure and shortaccount of it; WALTER in his _Flora Caroliniana_ describes it under thename of _Lilium Catesbæi_; Mr. SALISBURY in the first number of his verymagnificent work, lately published, presents us with a very highlyfinished likeness of this lily, accompanied by a most accurate andminute description of it, and judging from some appearances in CATESBY'Sfigure, that it was not the _Lilium Catesbæi_ of WALTER, names it_spectabile_; but as we are assured by Mr. SQUIBB, who assisted hisfriend WALTER in his publication, that it was the lily figured byCATESBY, we have continued the name given in honour of that Naturalist. 

Of the different Lilies cultivated in this country, this is to benumbered among the least, the whole plant when in bloom being frequentlylittle more than a foot high; in its native soil it is described asgrowing to the height of two feet; the stalk is terminated by oneupright flower, of the form and colour represented on the plate; we haveobserved it to vary considerably in the breadth of its petals, in theircolour, and spots. 

It flowers usually in July and August. 

This plant may be raised from seeds, or increased by offsets, which, however, are not very plentifully produced, nor is the plant to be madegrow in perfection without great care, the roots in particular are to beguarded against frost; the soil and situation may be the same asrecommended for the _Cyclamen Coum. P. 4. V. 1_. 

[Illustration: No 259]

[260]

METROSIDEROS CITRINA. HARSH-LEAV'D METROSIDEROS. 

_Class and Order. _

ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 5-dentatus, sinu germen fovens. _Petala_ 5, caduca. _Stam. _ discreta, petalis multoties longiora. _Caps. _ 3-4 locularis, polysperma. _Banks. Gærtner. _

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 METROSIDEROS _citrina_ foliis lineari-lanceolatis rigentibus. 

Though many species of this genus have been raised from seeds, broughtwithin these few years from the South Seas, where they are said to bevery numerous; this is, we believe, the only one that as yet hasflowered in this country: our drawing was made from a plant whichblossomed toward the close of last summer at Lord CREMORNES, the root ofwhich had been sent from Botany-Bay; previous to this period we havebeen informed, that the same species flowered both at Kew andSion-House: as it is without difficulty raised both from seeds andcuttings, young plants of it are to be seen in most of the Nurseriesnear town; it would seem that they do not flower till they are at leastfive or six years old. 

_Metrosideros_ is a name given originally by RUMPHIUS in _Herb. Amboin_to some plants of this genus, the term applies to the hardness of theirwood, which by the Dutch is called Yzerhout (Ironwood): FORSTER in his_Gen. Pl. _ figures this and another genus on the same plate, under thename of _Leptospermum_; SCHREBER in his edition of the _Gen. Pl. _ ofLINNÆUS, unites _Metrosideros_, _Melaleuca_, _Leptospermum_, and_Fabricia_, under the genus _Melaleuca_; GÆRTNER in his elaborate workon the seeds of plants, makes separate genera of these, agreeably to theideas of Sir JOSEPH BANKS and Mr. DRYANDER, who on this subject cancertainly boast the best information. 

We cannot, without transgressing the allotted limits of ourletter-press, give a minute description of the plant figured; suffice itto say, that it is an ever-green shrub, growing to the height of fromfour to six or more feet, that its leaves on the old wood feel veryharsh or rigid to the touch, and when bruised give forth an agreeablefragrance, the flowers grow in spikes on the tops of the branches, andowe their beauty wholly to the brilliant colour of the filaments. 

[Illustration: No 260]

[Illustration: No 261]

[261]

ERODIUM INCARNATUM. FLESH-COLOURED CRANE'S-BILL. 

_Class and Order. _

MONADELPHIA PENTANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. _Cor. _ 5-petala. _Nect. Squamulæ_ 5 cum filamentis alternantes; et glandulæ melliferæ, basi staminum insidentes. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus; rostra spiralia, introrsum barbata. _L'Herit. Geran. _

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 ERODIUM _incarnatum_ pedunculis paucifloris, foliis tripartitis ternatisve trifidis scabris, caule fruticuloso. _L'Herit. N. 21. Tab. 5. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 415. _

 GERANIUM incarnatum pedunculis bifloris, foliis tripartitis trifidis glabris, petalis integris, arillis glabris. _Linn. Suppl. Pl. _

 GERANIUM _incarnatum_ foliis incisis quinquelobis punctatis; petiolis longissimis, pedunculis trifloris. _Cavanill. Diff. 4. P. 223. N. 314. T. 97. F. 3. _

In the 80th number of this work we gave a figure of the _Pelargoniumtricolor_, a plant very generally regarded as the most beautiful of thegenus; we now present our readers with the representation of an_Erodium_, which has to boast nearly an equal share of admiration. 

This species, as we learn from the _Hortus Kewensis_, is a native of theCape, and was introduced by Mr. MASSON in the year 1787. 

Its usual time of flowering is July and August; in this point it isinferior to the _Pelargonium tricolor_, which blossoms through thespring as well as summer months. 

It produces seeds but sparingly; cuttings of the plant are struck withless difficulty than those of the _Pelargonium_ above mentioned, thesame treatment is applicable to both plants, they must be regarded asgreen-house plants of the more tender kind, which are liable to bedestroyed in the winter season by a moist cold atmosphere. 

[262]

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM AUREUM. GOLDEN FIG-MARIGOLD. 

_Class and Order. _

ICOSANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 5-fidus. _Petala_ numerosa linearia. _Caps. _ carnosa infera polysperma. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _aureum_ foliis cylindrico-triquetris punctatis distinctis, pistillis atro purpurascentibus. _Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 10. P. 1060. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 190. _

This Mesembryanthemum is one of the taller and more upright species, aswell as the earliest in point of flowering, producing its blossoms fromFebruary to May; these are large and of a bright orange hue, thepistilla in the centre are purple, and serve at once to distinguish andembellish them. 

It was first described in the _10th ed. _ of _Linn. Syst. Nat. _ andafterwards inserted in the _Hort. Kew. _ of Mr. AITON, who informs usthat it is a native of the Cape, and was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, inthe year 1750. Prof. MURRAY omits it in his _12th ed. _ of the _Syst. Vegetab. _ of LINNÆUS, as does Prof. GMELIN in the last edition of _Linn. Syst. Nat. _

The facility with which this tribe in general is increased by cuttingsis well known; this is raised as readily as the others. 

[Illustration: No 262]

[Illustration: No 263]

[263]

GLYCINE BIMACULATA. PURPLE GLYCINE. 

_Class and Order. _

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 2-labiatus. _Corollæ_ carina apice vexillum reflectens. 

_Specific Character. _

 GLYCINE _bimaculata_ caule volubili lævi, foliis simplicibus cordato-oblongis, racemis multifloris. 

Of the many plants which within these few years have been raised fromBotany-Bay seeds, this is one of the first which flowered in thiscountry, and one of the most ornamental; to the greenhouse it is indeedan invaluable acquisition: we regret that the size of our paper and theimperfection of the colouring art, will not admit of our giving arepresentation of it more adequate to its beauty. 

It rises up with a twining shrubby stalk to the height of six, eight, ormore feet; these multiplying greatly by age, become loaded with aprofusion of purple flowers, growing in racemi, the richness of which isenlivened by the appearance of two green spots at the base of thevexillum; for the most part the blossoms go off with us withoutproducing any seed-vessels; in some instances, however, perfect seedshave been produced, and we have seen a plant in bloom raised from suchin the charming retreat of JOHN ORD, Esq. Walham-Green. 

A great excellence of this plant is the duration of its floweringperiod, it begins to put forth its blossoms in February, and continuesto do so during most of the summer. 

In the Nurseries about town, it is known by the name of _Glycinevirens_, a name given the plant originally by Dr. SOLANDER; the latterof these terms we have taken the liberty of changing to _bimaculata_, asbeing more expressive of an obvious character in the flower: we might, perhaps, been justified in altering the genus, as its characters do notappear to be peculiarly expressive of a Glycine, nor indeed of any othergenus in this numerous natural order. 

It is raised readily from seeds. 

We think it highly probable, that in warm sheltered situations, thisclimber might grow in the open ground; to such as have it in abundance, we recommend them to make the experiment. 

[264]

CISTUS FORMOSUS. BEAUTIFUL CISTUS. 

_Class and Order. _

POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 5-petala. _Cal. _ 5-phyllus, foliolis duobus minoribus. _Capsula. _

Mr. LEE, Nurseryman of Hammersmith, informs me, that in the year 1780, he raised the Cistus here figured from seeds, the produce of Portugal, and as its flowers were uncommonly beautiful, he was induced to name it_formosus_. 

It approaches so near to the _Cistus halimifolius_ in point of habit, inthe form and colour of its leaves and flowers, that we are inclinedrather to regard it as a variety of that plant, than as a distinctspecies; at the same time it must be allowed to be a very strikingvariety, the flowers being at least thrice as large as those of the_halimifolius_ usually are, and the whole plant more hairy: as anornamental shrub, it is highly deserving a place in all curiouscollections. 

It will grow very well in the open border in warm sheltered situations, it may be kept also in a pot, by which means it may more readily besheltered during the winter, either in the greenhouse or under a frame. 

It flowers early in May, and may be increased by cuttings. 

[Illustration: No 264]

[Illustration: No 265]

[265]

IXIA BULBOCODIUM. CROCUS-LEAV'D IXIA. 

_Class and Order. _

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 1-petala, tubulosa; tubo recto, filiformi; limbo 6-partito, campanulato, æquali. _Stigmata_ tria, simplicia. _Thunb. Diss. De Ixia. _

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 IXIA _Bulbocodium_ scapo unifloro brevissimo, foliis angulatis caulinis, stigmatibus sextuplicibus. _Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 13. P. 76. _

 IXIA _Bulbocodium_ scapo ramoso, floribus solitariis, foliis sulcatis reflexis. _Thunb. Diss. N. 3. _

 CROCUS vernus angustifolius. 1. 11. _Clus. Hist. I. P. 207. _ violaceo flore, 208. _ejusd. _

There are three plants cultivated in the gardens of the curious to which_Bulbocodium_ is applied, either as a generic or a trivial name, viz. _Narcissus Bulbocodium_, _Bulbocodium vernum_, already figured, and thepresent plant: the _Ixia Bulbocodium_ and _Bulbocodium vernum_ are givenin this work, not so much for their beauty as their rarity, not so muchto gratify the eye, as to communicate a knowledge of two plants butlittle known, and liable to be confounded from a similarity of theirnames. 

This is one of the few hardy species of the genus, and grows wild inmany parts of Spain and Italy; it is said to have been found inGuernsey: it affects hilly and dry situations, will grow readily inalmost any soil, especially if fresh, and not infested with vermin: itflowers about the middle of April, the blossoms do not expand fullyunless exposed to the sun, and are not of long duration: authorsdescribe the wild plants as varying greatly in colour, _vid. Clus. _ theyare most commonly pale blue. 

Like the Crocus, it increases readily by offsets. 

Was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1739, _Ait. Kew. _ Bulbocodium, 1. Inthe 6th edition of his Dictionary in 4to, is not this plant, but the_Anthericum scrotinum_, _Jacq. Fl. Austr. V. 5. App. T. 38. _

[266]

RANUNCULUS AMPLEXICAULIS. PLANTAIN-LEAVED CROWFOOT. 

_Class and Order. _

POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ deciduus. 5 phyllus, (rarius 3-phyllus) _Petala_ 5, (rarius 2, 3, aut 8) intra ungues squamula vel poro mellifero. _Styli_ persistentes. _Sem. _ incrustata, erecta. _Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 13. Gmel. _

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 RANUNCULUS _amplexicaulis_ foliis ovatis acuminatis amplexicaulibus, caule multifloro, radice fasciculata. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 515. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 265. _

 RANUNCULUS montanus foliis plantaginis. _Bauh. Pin. 180. _

 RANUNCULUS pyrenæus albo flore. _Clus. App. Alt. Auct. Ic. 4 ta. _ _Ger. Emac. 963. Fig. 2. _

The leaves of the _Ranunculus amplexicaulis_ in part surround the stalkat their base, whence its trivial name; in colour they differ from mostothers of the genus, being of a greyer or more glaucous hue, whichpeculiarity joined to the delicate whiteness of the flowers, rendersthis species a very desirable one to add to a collection of hardy, ornamental, herbaceous plants, more especially as it occupies but littlespace, and has no tendency to injure the growth of others. 

It is a native of the Apennine and Pyrenean mountains, and flowers inApril and May. 

CLUSIUS is the first author who describes and figures this species. JOHNSON in his _ed. _ of GERARD copies his figure, and mentions it asbeing then made a denizen of our gardens. 

It is readily propagated by parting its roots in Autumn, and provided ithas a pure air will succeed in most soils an situations. 

[Illustration: No 266]

[Illustration: No. 267]

[267]

PYRUS SPECTABILIS. CHINESE APPLE TREE. 

_Class and Order. _

ICOSANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 5-fidus. _Petala_ 5. _Pomum_ inferum, 5-loculare, polyspermum. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 PYRUS _spectabilis_ umbellis sessilibus, foliis ovali oblongis serratis lævibus, unguibus calyce longioribus, stylis basi lanatis. _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 175. _ _Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 13. _ _Gmel. P. 842. _

The Chinese Apple-Tree when it blossoms in perfection, answers truly tothe name of _spectabilis_; a more shewy or ornamental tree can scarcelybe introduced to decorate the shrubbery or plantation; its beauty likethat of most trees, whose ornament consists chiefly in their blossoms, is however but of short duration, and depends in some degree on thefavourableness of the season at the time of their expansion, whichusually takes place about the end of April or beginning of May; theflowers are large, of a pale red when open, and semi-double, the budsare of a much deeper hue, the fruit is of little account, and butsparingly produced. Trees of this species are to be met with in somegardens of the height of twenty or thirty feet. 

Dr. FOTHERGILL is regarded as the first who introduced this Chinesenative, he cultivated it in the year 1780; such plants of it as were inhis collection, passed at his decease into the hands of Messrs. GORDONand THOMPSON, in whose rich and elegant Nursery, at Mile-End, this treemay be seen in great perfection. 

Though perfectly hardy, as its blossoms are liable to be injured bycutting winds, it will be most proper to plant it in a shelter'dsituation. 

It is usually increased by grafting it on the Crab stock. 

[268]

GLYCINE RUBICUNDA. DINGY-FLOWERED GLYCINE. 

_Class and Order. _

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 2-labiatus. _Corollæ_ carina apice vexillum reflectens. 

_Specific Character. _

 GLYCINE _rubicunda_ caule perenni volubili, foliis ternatis, foliolis subovalibus integerrimis, pedunculis subtrifloris. 

The plant here figured, and very generally known to the Nurserymen, inthe neighbourhood of London, by the name of _Glycine rubicunda_, is anative of New South-Wales, and was introduced to this country about thesame time as the _Glycine bimaculata_ already figured. 

It is a shrubby, twining plant, running up to the height of five, six, or more feet, producing blossoms abundantly from April to June, whichare usually succeeded by seed-vessels which ripen their seeds with us. 

The flowers though large and shewy, have a kind of dingy or luridappearance, which greatly diminishes their beauty. We have observed theblossoms of some plants more brilliant than those of others, and wethink it highly probable, that, at some future period, seminal varietiesmay be obtained with flowers highly improved in colour. 

This species is readily raised from seeds, is of quick growth, and maybe regarded as one of our more hardy green-house plants: probably it maysucceed in the open air, if planted in a warm situation, and shelteredin inclement seasons. 

[Illustration: No 268]

[Illustration: No 269]

[269]

ORNITHOGALUM NUTANS. NEAPOLITAN STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 

_Class and Order. _

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 6 petala, erecta, persistens, supra medium patens, _Filamenta_ alterna basi dilatata. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 ORNITHOGALUM _nutans_ floribus secundis pendulis, nectario stamineo campaniformi. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 328. _ _Ait. Kew. V. I. P. 443. _

 ORNITHOGALUM exoticum magno flore minori innato. _Bauh. Pin. P. 70. _

 ORNITHOGALUM Neopolitanum, the Starre-flower of Naples. _Park. Parad. P. 138. P. 137. F. 8. _ _Clus. App. Alt. P. 9. Fig. 7. _

Authors have given to this species of Ornithogalum the name ofNeapolitan, following CLUSIUS by whom the plant is figured anddescribed, and who so called it, merely on receiving it from Naples; itmay perhaps be doubted whether it be originally a native of Italy. Prof. JACQUIN has figured it in his _Flora Austriaca_, the plant being commonabout Vienna, in garden-walks, under hedges, and in meadows, he does nothowever, from that circumstance, regard it as an original native there. CASP. BAUHIN informs us that HONORIUS BELLI sent it him from Crete underthe name of _Phalangium_, leaving its true habitat to be settled moreprecisely hereafter, we shall observe, that it is one of those plantswhich soon accommodate themselves to any country; producing a numerousprogeny both from roots and seeds, and by no means nice as to soil orsituation; it is not long before it becomes a weed in the garden, fromwhence it is apt like the _Hyacinthus racemosus_, already figured, topass into the field or meadow. 

Its flowers, which if not beautiful are singular and delicate, maketheir appearance towards the end of April, they are of no long duration, seldom continuing above a fortnight, and are succeeded by seed-vesselswhich produce abundance of ripe seed, by which, as well as by its bulbs, the plant may be increased. 

In the _Hortus Kewensis_ it is set down as a Greenhouse plant, one ofthe rare errors which occur in that most useful work. 

[Illustration: No 270]

[270]

GLYCINE COCCINEA. SCARLET GLYCINE. 

_Class and Order. _

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 2-labiatus. _Corollæ_ carina apice vexillum reflectens. 

_Specific Character. _

 GLYCINE _coccinea_ foliis ternatis, foliolis subrotundis undulatis. 

We here present our readers with another Glycine, very lately raised byseveral persons in the neighbourhood of London from Botany-Bay seeds, and which we have called _coccinea_ from the colour of its blossoms. 

It is a shrubby, climbing plant, which, if supported, will grow to theheight of many feet, producing a great number of flowers on its pendantbranches; the leaves, which grow three together, are nearly round, and, in the older ones especially, are crimped or curled at the edges; theflowers grow for the most part in pairs, are of a glowing scarletcolour, at the base of the carina somewhat inclined to purple, thebottom of the vexillum is decorated with a large yellow spot, verging togreen, which adds much to the beauty of the flower. 

It blossoms from April to June, and appears to be fully as much disposedto produce seed vessels, and perfect seeds, as the _rubicunda_, and bywhich alone it has hitherto been propagated. 

We must rank it among the more tender green-house plants. 

[271]

CYRTANTHUS ANGUSTIFOLIUS. NARROW-LEAVED CYRTANTHUS. 

_Class and Order. _

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ tubulosa, clavata, curva, 6-fida, laciniæ ovato-oblongæ. _Filamenta_ tubo inserta, apice conniventia. _Linn. Fil. _

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 CYRTANTHUS _angustifolius_ foliis obtuse carinatis rectis, floribus cernuis, _Linn. Fil. Ait. Kew. V. I. P. 414. _

 CRINUM _angustifolium_ foliis linearibus obtusis, corollis cylindricis: laciniis alternis interglandulosis. _Linn. Suppl. 195. _

CYRTANTHUS is a genus which takes its name from the curvature of itsflower, was established by the younger LINNÆUS, and adopted by Mr. AITONin the _Hortus Kewensis_. 

The present species is a native of the Cape, and was added to the royalcollection at Kew, by Mr. MASSON, in the year 1774. The plant fromwhence our drawing was made flowered the preceding May with Mr. WHITLEY, Nurseryman, Old Brompton, who received it from Holland, and who has beenso fortunate as to obtain young plants of it from seed. 

It flowers in May and June; requires the same treatment as other Capebulbs, and may be increased by offsets and seeds. 

At the extremity of each alternate segment of the corolla there is akind of small glandular hook, deserving of notice. 

[Illustration: N. 271]

[272]

GLADIOLUS TRISTIS. SQUARE-LEAVED CORN-FLAG. 

_Class and Order. _

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 6-partita, ringens. _Stamina_ adscendentia. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 GLADIOLUS _tristis_ foliis lineari-cruciatis, corollis campanulatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 86. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 63. _

 LILIO-GLADIOLUS bifolius et biflorus, foliis quadrangulis. _Trew. Ehret. T. 39. _

 GLADIOLUS _tristis_ foliis linearibus sulcatis, caule bifloro, tubo longissimo, segmentis æqualibus. _Mill. Dict. Ed. 6. 4to. _

LINNÆUS gave to this species of _Gladiolus_ the name of _tristis_, fromthe colour of its flowers, which however possess scarcely sufficient ofthe sombre to justify the appellation; still less so if they vary in themanner represented in TREW'S _Ehret_, where they are painted in gay andlively colours: in the specimens we have seen, the blossoms have been ofa sulphur colour, shaded in particular parts with very fine pencillings, especially on the under side: most authors describe the flowering stemsas producing only two flowers, LINNÆUS has observed that they sometimesproduce many, we have seen them do so where the plant has grown inperfection; in their expansion, which usually takes place in April andMay, they give forth a most agreeable fragrance. 

It is a native of the Cape, and other parts of Africa; was cultivated byMr. MILLER, and flowered in the Chelsea Garden in the year 1745. _Ait. Kew. _

The leaves which so characteristically distinguish this species arehighly deserving of notice, instances of such rarely occur; as the bulbsproduce numerous offsets, the plant is propagated by them withoutdifficulty, and requires the same treatment as other Cape bulbs. 

[Illustration: No 272]

[Illustration: No 273]

[273]

DIOSMA UNIFLORA. ONE-FLOWERED DIOSMA. 

_Class and Order. _

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 5-petala. _Nectaria_ 5, supra germen. _Caps. _ 3. S. 5. Coalitæ. _Sem. _ calyptrata. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 DIOSMA _uniflora_ foliis ovato oblongis, floribus solitariis terminalibus. _Linn. Sp. Pl. Ed. 3. P. 287. _ _Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 239. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 276. _

 CISTUS humilis æthiopicus, inferioribus foliis rosmarini sylvestris punctatis, cæteris autem serpylli subrotundis, flore carneo. _Pluk. Mant. 49. T. 342. F. 5. _

The _Diosma uniflora_ another native of the Cape, that never failingsource of vegetable riches, was introduced to the Royal Garden at Kew byMr. MASSON in the year 1775, it flowers in our Green-Houses from Aprilto June, and is usually propagated by cuttings. 

This plant forms a small bushy shrub, the leaves are thickly andirregularly set on the branches, quite up to the flowers, which standsingly on their summits, and are larger than those of any other knownspecies of Diosma, expanding as we have found on trial beyond the sizeof half-a-crown, which the blossom does in our figure, though it willnot appear to do so to the eye of most observers; they are withoutscent, the calyx is large and continuing, composed of fiveovato-lanceolate leaves, reddish on the upper side, and if viewed fromabove visible between the petals; the petals are five in number, muchlarger than the calyx, and deciduous, of a white colour with a streak ofred running down the middle of each, surface highly glazed, the staminaare composed of five short filaments, white and slightly hairy, broad attheir base and tapering gradually to a fine point, by which they areinserted into the hind part of the antheræ, near the bottom; theantheræ are as long as the filaments, of a brown purple colour, bendingover the stigma, and opening inwardly, each carrying on the upper partof its back a gland-like substance, of a pale brown colour: besidesthese parts there are five filamentous bodies alternating with, and ofthe same length as the stamina, of a white colour, and hairy, eachdilating at its extremity where it is of a reddish hue, and presentingtowards the antheræ an oval somewhat concave surface, which secretes aviscous liquid; in some flowers that we have examined, and we regretseeing but few, we have observed these nectaries (for such they may bestrictly called) closely adhering by their viscous summits to theglandular substances at the back of the antheræ[2]; the germen isstudded with a constellation of little glands, which pour forth, andalmost deluge it with nectar; the stigma is composed of five littleround knobs: seed vessels we have not seen. 

[Footnote 2: What the use of this very extraordinary apparatus may be wecan at present scarcely conjecture, future observation may perhapsenable us to speak more decisively; when we figure the _Diosmaericoides_ we shall probably have more to say of this species. ]

[274]

BORBONIA CRENATA. HEART-LEAVED BORBONIA. 

_Class and Order. _

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ acuminato-spinosus. _Stigma_ emarginatum. _Legumen_ mucronatum. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 BORBONIA _crenata_ foliis cordatis multinerviis denticulatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 643. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 9. _

 FRUTEX _æthiopicus_ leguminosus, foliis rusci majoribus in ambitu spinulis fimbriatis. _Pluk. Alm. 159. _

 PLANTA leguminosa æthiopica, foliis rusci. _Breyn. Cent. T. 28. _

_Borbonia_ is a genus of plants established by LINNÆUS in the 6thedition of his _Genera Plantarum_; of this genus there are six speciesenumerated in the 3d edition of the _Species Plant_. And two in the_Hort. Kew. _ the latter of which, the _crenata_, introduced from theCape by Mr. MASSON, in 1774, is here figured. 

It is a small shrubby plant, rarely exceeding the height of three feet, producing its flowers in a small cluster on the summits of the branches;these are of a yellow colour, and have nothing about them peculiarlysingular, or beautiful; it is the foliage alone which renders this plantdesirable in a collection. 

It flowers from June to August, and in favourable seasons ripens itsseeds, by which the plant is usually propagated. 

[Illustration: No 274]

[Illustration: No 275]

[275]

LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA. COMMON TULIP-TREE. 

_Class and Order. _

POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 3-phyllus. _Petala_ 6. _Sem. _ imbricata in strobilum. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 LIRIODENDRON _Tulipifera_ foliis lobatis. _Linn. Syst. Veg. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 507. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. 250. _

 TULIPIFERA virginiana, tripartito aceris folio: media lacinia velut abscissa. _Pluk. Alm. 379. T. 117. F. 5. & t. 248. F. 7. _ _Catesb. Carol. 1. P. 48. T. 48. _

 LIRIODENDRON foliis angulatis truncatis. _Trew. Ehret. T. X. _

The Tulip-tree is a native of most parts of North-America, MARSHALLdescribes it as often growing to the size of a very large tree, 70 or 80feet in height, and above 4 feet in diameter; he mentions two varieties, one with yellow and the other with white wood; that with yellow wood issoft and brittle, much used for boards, heels of shoes, also turned intobowls, trenchers, &c. The white is heavy, tough, and hard, and is sawedinto joists, boards, &c. For building. 

RAY informs us in his _Hist. Pl. _ that this tree was cultivated here byBishop COMPTON, in 1688: and from MILLER we learn, that the first treeof the kind which flowered in this country, was in the gardens of theEarl of PETERBOROUGH, at Parsons-Green, near Fulham; in Mr. ORD'Sgarden, at Walham-Green, there is, among other choice old trees, a veryfine tulip-tree, which is every year covered with blossoms, and whichafforded us the specimen here figured. It flowers in June and July, rarely ripens its seeds with us, though it does readily in America. 

The foliage of this plant is extremely singular, most of the leavesappearing as if truncated, or cut off at the extremity; they varygreatly in the division of their lobes, the flowers differ from those ofthe tulip in having a calyx, but agree as to the number of petals, whichis six; and so they are described in the sixth edition of the _Gen. Pl. _of LINN. But in _Professor_ MURRAY'S _Syst. Veg. Ait. H. K. Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 13_, by GMELIN, 9 are given, this in the first instance must bea mere typographical error arising from the inversion of the 6. 

This tree is found to flourish most in a soil moderately stiff andmoist, is usually raised from seeds, the process of which is amplydescribed by MILLER in his Dictionary. 

[Illustration: No 276]

[276]

BLITUM VIRGATUM. STRAWBERRY BLITE. 

_Class and Order. _

MONANDRIA DIGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Col. _ 3-fidus. _Petala_ O. _Sem. _ 1. Calyce baccato. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 BLITUM _virgatum_ capitellis sparsis lateralibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 53. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 7. _

 ATRIPLEX sylvestris mori fructu. _Bauh. Pin. P. 519. _

 ATRIPLEX sylvestris baccifera. _Clus. Hist. Cxxxv. _

This plant, not unfrequently met with in gardens, is known to mostcultivators by the name of _Strawberry Spinach_; the leaves somewhatresembling those of the latter, and the fruit that of the former: C. BAUHINE likens its berries to those of the Mulberry, to which theycertainly bear a greater resemblance: in most of the species of thisgenus the calyx exhibits a very singular phenomenon, when the floweringis over, it increases in size, becomes fleshy, and finally pulpy, containing the ripe seed, which however it does not wholly envelope;thus from each cluster of flowers growing in the alæ of the leaves areproduced so many berries, of a charming red colour, to which the plantowes its beauty altogether, for the flowers are small, herbaceous, andnot distinctly visible to the naked eye; they can boast however of beingof the first class in the Linnean system _Monandria_, to which fewbelong. 

Strawberry Blite is a hardy annual, growing spontaneously in some partsof France, Spain, and Tartary; is not a very old inhabitant of ourgardens, Mr. AITON mentioning it as being first cultivated by Mr. MILLERin 1759. Its berries are produced from June to September; in their tastethey have nothing to recommend them, though not pleasant they areharmless. 

CLUSIUS we believe to be the first author who gives a figure anddescription of it. 

It affects a dry soil, and open situation; in such there is no necessityto give any particular directions for its cultivation, as it comes upreadily from seed spontaneously scattered, so much so as sometimes toprove a troublesome weed. 

[277]

MAHERNIA PINNATA. WINGED MAHERNIA. 

_Class and Order. _

PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 5-dentatus. _Petala_ 5. _Nectaria_ 5 obcordata, filamentis supposita. _Caps. _ 5-locularis. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 MAHERNIA _pinnata_, foliis tripartito pinnatifidis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 308. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 398. _

 HERMANNIA foliis tripartitis, media pinnatifida. _Linn. Sp. Pl. Ed. 3. P. 943. _

 HERMANNIA frutescens, folio multifido tenui, caule rubro. _Boerh. Lugd. 1. P. 273. _

LINNÆUS, in his _Spec. Pl. _ regarded this plant as a species of_Hermannia_; finding afterwards that it differed materially in itsfructification from that genus, he made a new one of it in his_Mantissa_, by the name of _Mahernia_; still, however, the two generaare very nearly related: one principal difference consists in thenectaria of the _Mahernia_, which are very remarkable. 

This species was introduced from the Cape, where it is a native, by Mr. MASSON, in 1774, and is now very generally met with in our green-houses. It produces its little bells, of a lively red when they first open, fromJune to August, or September; is a small delicate plant, and easilyraised from cuttings. 

[Illustration: No 277]

[Illustration: No 278]

[278]

LILIUM CANDIDUM. WHITE LILY. 

_Class and Order. _

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ 6-petala, campanulata: linea longitudinali nectarifera. _Caps. _ valvulis pilo cancellato connexis. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 LILIUM _candidum_ foliis sparsis, corollis campanulatis, intus glabris. _Linn. Sp. Pl. Ed. 3. P. 433. _ _Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 324. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 429. _

 LILIUM album flore erecto et vulgare. _Bauh. Pin. 76. _

 LILIUM album vulgare. The ordinary White Lily. _Park. Parad. P. 39. T. 37. F. 4. _

We may rank the White Lily among the very oldest inhabitants of theflower-garden; in the time of GERARD it was very generally cultivated, and doubtless at a much earlier period; a plant of such stateliness, soshewy, so fragrant, and at the same time so much disposed to increase, would of course soon be found very generally in gardens, into which itsintroduction would be accelerated on another account; it was regarded asa plant of great efficacy; among other extraordinary powers attributedto it, we are gravely told that it taketh away the wrinkles of the face. 

LINNÆUS makes it a native of Palestine and Syria; Mr. AITON of theLevant. 

Its blossoms, which open early in July, continue about three weeks, andwhen they go off leave the flower-garden greatly thinned of itsinhabitants. 

Of the White Lily there are three principal varieties:

 1. With double flowers. 2. With flowers blotched with purple. 3. With striped leaves, or leaves edged with yellow. 

The two first of these are to be esteemed merely as curiosities; in thethird the plant acquires an accession of beauty which it has notoriginally; though many persons object to variegated leaves, asconveying an idea of fickliness, that complaint cannot be urged againstthe foliage of the striped Lily, to which the borders of theflower-garden are indebted for one of their chief ornaments during theautumnal and winter months; early in September these begin to emerge, and towards spring another set rises up in their centre, of more uprightgrowth, and which announce the rising of the flowering stem. 

Besides these varieties, LINNÆUS has considered the _Lilium albumfloribus dependentibus s. Peregrinum_ of C. BAUHINE, the _SultanZambach_ of CLUSIUS, and the _Hortus Eystettensis_, as one of itsvarieties also: MILLER regards this plant as a distinct species, andthose who have attentively examined the figures and descriptions ofCLUSIUS and the _Hort. Eyst. _ will be of the same opinion. 

The Lily increases most abundantly by offsets, hence it becomesnecessary that the bulbs should be taken up, and reduced every second orthird year; but the striped leaved variety increasing much more slowly, should remain unmolested for a greater length of time. 

There is scarcely a soil or situation in which the Lily will not grow, it will thrive most in a soil moderately stiff and moist; though anative of a warm climate no severity of weather affects it with us: wemay learn from this, not to regulate the culture of plants invariably bythe climate in which they grow spontaneously. 

The best time for removing the bulbs of this plant is about the middleof August, before they shoot forth their leaves; but they may betransplanted any time from September to spring. 

[Illustration: No 279]

[279]

PLUMERIA RUBRA. RED PLUMERIA. 

_Class and Order. _

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 Contorta. _Folliculi_ 2. Reflexi. _Semina_ membranæ propriæ inserta. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 PLUMERIA _rubra_ foliis ovato-oblongis, petiolis biglandulosis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 254. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 298. _

 PLUMERIA flore roseo odoratissimo. _Tourn. Inst. 659. _ _Trew. Ehret. Tab. Xli. _

_Plumeria_ is a genus of plants named by TOURNEFORT in honour of hiscountryman the celebrated PLUMIER, it comes near to Nerium or Oleander, and contains several species, all natives of warm climates. 

The present plant is a native of Jamaica, where it is known by the nameof Red Jasmine, from whence seeds and large cuttings are often sent tothis country; here they require the stove to bring them to flower:seed-vessels they are never known to produce. 

The flowers, which are very odoriferous, are produced in July and Augustin large bunches, on the summits of the branches, from whence the leavesalso proceed; the stems, which grow to a considerable height as well asthickness, are naked, and the whole plant loses its foliage from themiddle of winter till about the beginning of May; the branches and otherparts of the plant, when broken off, give forth a milky juice, theleaves are handsome, and the veins remarkable. 

Being too tender to bear the open air of this climate, it is kept in thestove even during summer, in hot weather it must have plenty of air, andin cold seasons be sparingly watered. 

Is propagated by seeds, but more frequently by cuttings, which MILLERrecommends to be put by for two months or ten weeks, previous to theirbeing committed to the earth. 

[Illustration: No 280]

[280]

APOCYNUM ANDROSÆMIFOLIUM. TUTSAN-LEAV'D, or FLY-CATCHING DOGSBANE. 

_Class and Order. _

PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ campanulata. _Glandulæ_ 5 cum staminibus alternæ. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 APOCYNUM _androsæmifolium_ caule rectiuseulo herbaceo, foliis ovatis utrinque glabris, cymis terminalibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 258. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 303. _

 APOCYNUM canadense; foliis androsæmi majoris. _Bocc. Sicc. 35. T. 16. F. 3. _ _Moris. Hist. 3. P. 609. S. 15. T. 3. F. 16. _

In addition to the powerful recommendations of beauty and fragrance, theTutsan-leav'd Dogsbane interests us on account of the curious structureof its flowers, and their singular property of catching flies. 

This species is a native of different parts of North-America; Mr. W. HALE, of Alton, Hants, who resided at Halifax in Nova-Scotia severalyears, brought me some seeds of it gathered in that neighbourhood, whichvegetated, and produced flowering plants: it is not new to this country, being known to MORISON who figures it, and to MILLER, who cultivated itin 1731. 

It is a hardy perennial plant, growing to about the height of a foot anda half, or two feet, and flowering from the beginning of July, toSeptember; it has a creeping root, thereby it increases greatly in lightdry soils, and warm situations, so as even to be troublesome; it willnot thrive in a wet soil; with us it produces seed-vessels but rarely;is propagated by parting its roots in Autumn or Spring; MILLERrecommends March as the most proper season, or it may be raised fromseeds, which in certain situations and seasons ripen here. 

The flowers of this Apocynum have a sweet honey-like fragrance, whichperfumes the air to a considerable distance, and no doubt operatespowerfully in attracting insects; when a plant of this sort is fullyblown, one may always find flies caught in its blossoms, usually by thetrunk, very rarely by the leg; sometimes four, or even five, which isthe greatest possible number, are found in one flower, some dead, othersendeavouring to disentangle themselves, in which they are now and thenso fortunate as to succeed; these flies are of different species, the_musca pipiens_, a slender variegated fly with thick thighs, is a verycommon victim, the _musca domestica_, or house fly, we have neverobserved among the captives. 

Previous to our explaining the manner in which it appears to us thatthese insects are caught, it will be necessary that we should describe, in as plain a manner as possible, those parts of the flower which moreparticularly constitute this fatal fly trap. 

On looking into the flower we perceive five Stamina, the Antheræ ofwhich are large, of a yellow colour, and converge into a kind of cone;each of these Antheræ is arrow-shaped, towards the top of the cone theirsides touch but do not adhere, below they separate a little, so as toleave a very narrow opening or slit between each, they are placed onvery short filaments, which stand so far apart that a considerableopening is left between them, which openings, however, are closed up byprocesses of the corolla, nicely adapted to, and projecting into them;at the bottom of, and in the very centre of the flower, we perceive twogermina, or seed-buds, the rudiments of future seed-vessels, surroundedby glandular substances, secreting a sweet liquid; on the summit ofthese germina, and betwixt the two, stands the stigma, in the form of alittle urn, the middle of which is encircled by a glandular ring, whichsecretes a viscid honey-like substance, to this part of the stigma theAntheræ interiorly adhere most tenaciously, so as to prevent theirseparation unless considerable force be applied; it is, as we apprehend, the sweet viscid substance thus secreted by the stigma, within theAntheræ, which the fly endeavours to obtain, and to this end insinuatesits trunk first into the lowermost and widest part of the slit, betwixteach of the Antheræ above described, pushing it of necessity upwards:when gratified, not having the sense to place itself in the sameposition as that in which it stood when it inserted its trunk, and todraw it out in the same direction downwards, unfortunately for it, itvaries its position, and pulling its trunk upwards, draws it into thenarrow part of the slit, where it becomes closely wedged in, and themore it pulls the more securely it is caught, and thus this heedlessinsect, as THOMSON calls it, terminates its existence in captivity mostmiserable. 

In the incomparable poem of Dr. DARWIN, entitled the _Botanic Garden_, there is a figure given of this plant; and in the Supplement we have thefollowing account written by Mr. DARWIN, of Elston. 

"In the Apocynum Androsæmifolium the Anthers converge over thenectaries, which consist of five glandular oval corpuscles, surroundingthe germ, and at the same time admit air to the nectaries at theinterstice between each anther; but when a fly inserts its proboscisbetween these anthers to plunder the honey, they converge closer, andwith such violence as to detain the fly, which thus generally perishes. "

This explanation of a phænomenon entitled to much attention, is widelydifferent from ours; which of the two is most consonant to truth andnature, we shall leave to the determination of future observers. 

In explaining the preceding appearances, to prevent confusion we calledthose parts which form the cone in the middle of the flower Antheræ, butstrictly speaking they are not such, the true Antheræ being situated onthe inside of their summits, where they will be found to be ten innumber, making in fact the Apocynum a decandrous plant. 

[281]

TURNERA ANGUSTIFOLIA. NARROW-LEAV'D TURNERA. 

_Class and Order. _

PENTANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 5-fidus, infundibuliformis, exterior 2-phyllus. _Petala_ 5 calyci inserta. _Stigmata_ multifida. _Caps. _ 1-locularis, 3-valvis. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 TURNERA _angustifolia_ floribus sessilibus petiolaribus, foliis lanceolatis rugosis acuminatis. _Mill. Dict. Ed. 6. 4to. _

 TURNERA frutescens folio longiore et mucronato. _Mart. Cent. 49. T. 49. _

This plant here represented is generally known to the Nurserymen aboutLondon as the _Turnera ulmifolia_, or _Elm-leav'd Turnera_, its foliagehowever does not answer to the name, nor to the figures of the plant asgiven by MARTYN in his _Cent. Pl. _ and LINNÆUS in his _HortusCliffortianus_, which figures indeed are so similar that they look likecopies of each other, these represent the true elm leaf; on the sameplate of _Martyn's Cent. _ there is given a very excellent figure of whathe considers as another species of Turnera, vide Synon. And whichMILLER, who cultivated it about the year 1773, also describes as adistinct species, under the name of _angustifolia_, asserting, from theexperience of thirty years, that plants raised from its seeds haveconstantly differed from those of the _ulmifolia_; this is our plant, which on his authority we have given as a species, though LINNÆUSregards it as a variety. 

PLUMIER gave to this genus the name of _Turnera_, in honour of Dr. WILLIAM TURNER, a celebrated English Botanist and Physician, whopublished an Herbal, black letter, folio, in 1568. 

The present species is a native of the West-Indies, and is commonlycultivated in our stoves, where it rises with a semi-shrubby stalk, tothe height of several feet, seldom continuing more than two or threeyears; young plants generally come up in plenty from seeds spontaneouslyscattered, so that a succession is easily obtained. 

It flowers from June to August. 

Its foliage has a disagreeable smell when bruised; its flowers areshewy, but of short duration, and are remarkable for growing out of thefootstalk of the leaf. 

[Illustration: No 281]

[Illustration: No 282]

[282]

HEDYSARUM OBSCURUM. CREEPING-ROOTED HEDYSARUM. 

_Class and Order. _

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ carina transverse obtusa. _Legumen_ articulis 1-spermis. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 HEDYSARUM _obscurum_ foliis pinnatis, stipulis vaginalibus, caule erecto flexuoso, floribus pendulis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 676. _ _Mant. 447. _ _Jacq. Fl. Austr. V. 2. T. 168. _

 HEDYSARUM caule recto, ramoso; foliis ovatis; siliquis pendulis, lævissimis, venosis. _Hall. Hist. Helv. N. 395. _

 ONOBRYCHIS semine clypeato lævi. _Bauh. Pin. 350. _

Prof. JACQUIN, in the second volume of the _Flora austriaca_, gives anexcellent figure and accurate description of our plant, a native of theAlps of Germany and Switzerland, and points out the characters in whichit differs from the _alpinum_, for which it has sometimes been mistaken. 

It is a hardy perennial, rarely exceeding a foot in height, produces itsspikes of pendulous flowers, which are of a most beautiful purplecolour, in July and August; hitherto these have not been succeeded byseed-vessels with us; though we have cultivated the plant for severalyears. 

Its size renders it a suitable plant for rock-work, on which it willgrow readily, increasing by its roots, which are of the creeping kind. 

HALLER mentions a variety of it with white flowers. 

[283]

MIMULUS RINGENS. NARROW-LEAVED MONKEY-FLOWER. 

_Class and Order. _

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 4-dentatus, prismaticus. _Cor. _ ringens; labio superiore lateribus replicato. _Caps. _ 2-locularis, polysperma. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 MIMULUS _ringens_ erectus, foliis oblongis linearibus sessilibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 575. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 2. P. 361. _

 EUPHRASIA floridana lysimachiæ glabræ siliquosæ foliis, quadrato caule ramosior. _Pluk. Amalth. 83. T. 393. F. 3. _

 LYSIMACHIA galericulata s. Gratiola elatior non ramosa, &c. _Gron. Fl. Virg. P. 97. _

 DIGITALIS perfoliata glabra flore violaceo minore. _Moris. Hist. 2. P. 479. S. 5. T. 8. F. 6. _

CLAYTON, in the _Fl. Virg. _ published by GRONOVIUS, describes this plantas a native of Virginia, and says of it, "maddidis gaudet locis, " itdelights in wet places: LINNÆUS makes it a native of Canada also. 

It is a hardy, perennial, herbaceous plant, growing with us to theheight of about two feet, and producing its flowers, which are of a paleviolet colour, in July and August; these are frequently succeeded bycapsules containing perfect seeds, by which the plant may be propagated, as also by parting its roots in Autumn; MILLER recommends the seeds tobe sown as soon as ripe. 

The plant succeeds best in a moist and somewhat shady situation, with aloamy soil. 

A perusal of the synonyms will shew to what a variety of genera thisplant has been referred by different authors; LINNÆUS first gave to itthe name of _Mimulus_, of which term we find in his _PhilosophiaBotanica_ the following concise explanation:--"MIMULUS mimuspersonatus;" in plain English, a masked mimick: MIMMULUS is a classicalword for the Pedicularis, or Lousewort; the English term Monkey flowerhas probably been given it, from an idea that _mimulus_ originated from[Greek: mimô] a monkey, as in _mimusops_ monkey face. 

[Illustration: No 283]

[284]

ROSA SEMPERFLORENS. EVER-BLOWING ROSE. 

_Class and Order. _

ICOSANDRIA POLYGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Petala_ 5. _Cal. _ urceolatus, 5-fidus, carnosus, collo coarctatus, demum baccatus, coloratus. _Antrum_ duplicatum, 1-loculare, superne apertum, pericarpiis osseis intus nidulantibus. 

_Specific Character. _

 ROSA _semperflorens_ caule aculeato, foliis subternis, pedunculis subunifloris aculeato-hispidis, calycis laciniis integris. 

We are induced to consider the rose here represented, as one of the mostdesirable plants in point of ornament ever introduced to this country;its flowers, large in proportion to the plant, are semi-double, and withgreat richness of colour unite a most delightful fragrance; they blossomduring the whole of the year, more sparingly indeed in the wintermonths; the shrub itself is more hardy than most greenhouse plants, andwill grow in so small a compass of earth, that it may be reared almostin a coffee cup; is kept with the least possible trouble, and propagatedwithout difficulty by cuttings or suckers. 

For this invaluable acquisition, our country is indebted to the lateGILBERT SLATER, Esq. Of Knots-Green, near Laytonstone, whose untimelydeath every person must deplore, who is a friend to improvements inornamental gardening: in procuring the rarer plants from abroad, moreparticularly from the East-Indies, Mr. SLATER was indefatigable, nor washe less anxious to have them in the greatest perfection this countrywill admit; to gain this point there was no contrivance that ingenuitycould suggest, no labour, no expence withheld; such exertions must soonhave insured him the first collection of the plants of India: it is nowabout three years since he obtained this rose from China; as he readilyimparted his most valuable acquisitions to those who were most likely toincrease them, this plant soon became conspicuous in the collections ofthe principal Nurserymen near town, and in the course of a few yearswill, no doubt, decorate the window of every amateur. 

The largest plants we have seen have not exceeded three feet, it may nodoubt be trained to a much greater height; a variety of it much morerobust, having usually several flowers on a footstalk, of a pale redcolour, and semi-double also, has more lately been introduced, and asfar as we can learn from the same source. 

[Illustration: No 284]

[Illustration: No 285]

[285]

JASMINUM ODORATISSIMUM. SWEETEST JASMINE. 

_Class and Order. _

DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Corolla_ hypocrateriformis. _Bacca_ dicocca. _Semina_ solitaria, arillata. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 JASMINUM _odoratissimum_ foliis alternis obtusiusculis ternatis pinnatisque, ramis teretibus, laciniis calycinis brevissimis. _Ait. Hort. H. V. 1. P. 10. _ _Linn. Syst. Veget. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 56. _

 JASMINUM flavum odoratum. _Barr. Ic. 62. _

The flowers of most of the species of Jasmine are odoriferous, trivialnames therefore expressive of this quality are ineligible, as wantingcharacter; the present name is peculiarly objectionable, inasmuch asseveral other species are greatly superior to this in point offragrance; a lesson for Botanists to abstain from trivial names of thesuperlative degree, such as _odoratissimum_, _foetidissimum_, _maximum_, _minimum_, &c. 

The present species, according to Mr. AITON, is a native of Madeira, andwas cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1730; it is now a plant common in mostgreenhouses: it will form a shrub of considerable size, which requiresno support; its leaves are glossy, inclining to yellow, growing for themost part three together, sometimes pinnated; its blossoms, which areyellow, make their appearance from May to November: in point ofhardiness it is superior to many greenhouse plants, and may bepropagated without difficulty by cuttings. 

[286]

PORTLANDIA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWERED PORTLANDIA. 

_Class and Order. _

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cor. _ clavato-infundibuliformis. _Antheræ_ 4-6. Longitudinales. _Caps. _ 5-gona, 2-valvis, retusa, 2-locularis, polysperma, coronata calyce 5-phyllo. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 PORTLANDIA _grandiflora_ floribus pentandris. _Linn. Syst. Veg. Ed. 14. _ _Murr. P. 213. _ _Ait. Kew. V. 1. P. 228. Foliis ovatis. _ _Syst. Nat. Ed. 13. _ _Gmel. P. 360. _

 PORTLANDIA _grandiflora_ floribus pentandris, capsulis ovatis, foliis oblongis acuminatis. _Swartz. Obs. Bot. P. 69. _

Dr. BROWN, in his Natural History of Jamaica, gives to this genus thename of _Portlandia_, in honour of the Duchess Dowager of PORTLAND, whoemployed many of the leisure hours of a long and happy life, in thepursuits of natural history, in which she was eminently skilled. --Shewas the friend and patron of Mr. LIGHTFOOT, who dedicates to her his_Flora Scotica_; the fine collection of rare and valuable trees andshrubs which enrich part of the grounds at Bulstrode, were of herplanting. 

Dr. SWARTZ, in his Observations on the Plants of the West-Indies, informs us, that this species grows wild in Jamaica, where (_incolitcalcareosa petrosa_) it inhabits calcareous rocky places[3], forms asmall tree about the height of six feet, and flowers from the middle ofSummer to Autumn; its bark, he observes, as in other plants of the samegenus, is extremely bitter. 

From Mr. AITON we learn, that it was introduced here by ---- ELLIS, Esq. In 1775. 

It forms a very beautiful stove plant, not of difficult growth, andreadily disposed to flower; we have seen blowing plants of it littlemore than a foot high; its blossoms are not only uncommonly large, shewy, and curious in their structure, but fragrant also, and very muchso when dried. 

It is usually increased by cuttings. 

[Footnote 3: We wish that every person who describes foreign plants onthe spot, would do thus; it would greatly facilitate their culture. ]

[Illustration: No 286]

[Illustration: No 287]

[287]

GOODENIA LÆVIGATA. SMOOTH GOODENIA. 

_Class and Order. _

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Flores_ monopetali, superi. _Caps. _ bilocularis. _Cor. _ supra longitudinaliter fissa, stigma urceolatum ciliatum. _Smith Trans. Linn. Soc. V. 2. P. 346. _

_Specific Character. _

 GOODENIA lævigata foliis obovato-lanceolatis dentatis glabris. 

In the Autumn of 1792, SAMUEL TOLFREY Esq. Most kindly invited me toinspect a vast number of the natural productions of Botany-Bay, in hispossession; collected with great assiduity, and brought over in highpreservation by Captain TENCH; among other curiosities, he shewed mespecimens of the earths of that country, imported in very small bags. Isuggested to Mr. TOLFREY, that those earths might possibly contain theseeds of some curious and unknown plants; he readily acquiesced in theidea, and permitted me to make trial of them: accordingly, in the Springof 1793, I exposed them in shallow pans, on a gentle tan heat, keepingthem duly watered; in the course of the Summer they yielded me fourteenplants, most of which were altogether new, and among others the speciesof _Goodenia_ here figured; this we have since found to be a hardygreenhouse plant, flowering from July to October, and very readilyincreased by cuttings. 

The oldest plant in our possession is about a foot and a half high, muchbranched, the stalks are round and smooth to the naked eye, green below, above purplish, the leaves are smooth, a deep bright green colour, alternate, standing on footstalks, which gradually widen into theleaves, somewhat ovate, and deeply toothed; the flowers grow in the alæof the leaves, forming a thin spike, they are sessile, of a pale violetcolour, and have a peculiar smell which is rather unpleasant; at theside of each flower are two long narrow Bracteæ; the Calyx, which isplaced on the germen, is composed of five short ovate leaves, whichappear edged with hairs if magnified; the Corolla is monopetalous, thelower part, which at first is tubular, splits longitudinally above, andforms a kind of half tube, the edges of which are brown, the insideyellow, the outside greenish, the mouth beset with short hairs, each ofwhich is terminated by a small villous head; the limb is deeply dividedinto five linear segments, spreading out like a hand, and terminated byshort points; the Filaments are five in number, of a whitish colour, somewhat broadest above, rather flat, inserted into the receptacle;Antheræ oval, flattened, yellow, bilocular, a little bent, the length ofthe pistillum; but this is to be understood of such flowers as are notyet fully expanded, in those that are, they are much shorter, and appearwithered; the Style, in flowers about to open, the length of thefilaments, upright, in those that are opened much longer, and bentsomewhat downward; Stigma at first upright, in the form of a cup, having the edge curiously fringed with white hairs, afterwards it closestogether, loses its hollow, and assumes a flat appearance, and nodssomewhat, the back part of it is bearded; Germen beneath the calyx, oblong, usually abortive with us. 

The name of _Goodenia_ has been given to this genus by Dr. SMITH, inhonour of the Rev. SAMUEL GOODENOUGH, LL. D. Of _Ealing_, mymuch-honoured friend, whose name will be ever dear to Botanists for hislaborious investigation of the British Carices[4]. 

[Footnote 4: Vide a Dissertation on the British species of Carex, by Dr. GOODENOUGH, in the second volume of the Transactions of the LinneanSociety. ]

[Illustration: No 288]

[288]

PASSIFLORA CILIATA. FRINGED-LEAVED PASSION-FLOWER. 

_Class and Order. _

GYNANDRIA HEXANDRIA. 

_Generic Character. _

 _Cal. _ 5-phyllus. Petala 5. Stamina germini vicina. _Nectarium_ multi-radiatum. _Antrum_ pedicellatum duplicatum 1-loculare. 

_Specific Character and Synonyms. _

 PASSIFLORA _ciliata_ foliis trilobis glabris ciliato serratis intermedio longissimo, petiolis eglandulosis. _Ait. Kew. V. 3. P. 310. _

This Passion-Flower is described in the _Hort. Kew. _ as a new one, underthe name of _ciliata_, introduced by Mrs. NORMAN, from the West-Indies, in 1783: we saw it during the latter part of the last Summer, with greatprofusion of flowers, in several collections, more particularly in thatof Mr. VERE, Kensington-Gore, from whence our figure and descriptionwere taken. 

Its stalks are round, perfectly smooth, and run to a very great height;leaves dark green, glossy, perfectly smooth, except on the edges, wherethey are beset with strong glandular hairs, divided into three large andtwo small lobes, the middle lobe running out to a considerable length, the footstalks of the leaves are beset with a few hairs thinlyscattered, at the base of each leaf is a tendril, and two finely-dividedstipulæ, edged also with glandular hairs. The Involucrum is composed ofthree leaves, dividing into capillary segments, each of which terminatesin a viscid globule, fetid when bruised; betwixt the involucrum and theblossom is a short peduncle; the pillar which supports the germen is ofa bright purple colour, with spots of a darker hue, the germen is smoothand green; Styles green; Stigmata of a dark green; Filaments six innumber; Antheræ pale yellow green, the former dotted with purple; ofRadii, there may be said to be four rows, variegated with white andpurple, petals ten, externally greenish, internally red, deeper or paleraccording to circumstances. 

The leaves of this plant vary greatly in form, according to the healthand luxuriance of the plant; on comparing it with the _foetida_, westrongly suspect it to be a variety merely of that species: time willshew. 

It is increased by cuttings, or seeds. 

INDEX. 

In which the Latin Names of the Plants contained in the _Eighth Volume_are alphabetically arranged. 

 Pl. 

 280 Apocynum androsæmifolium. 

 276 Blitum virgatum. 

 274 Borbonia crenata. 

 264 Cistus formosus. 

 258 Coronilla varia. 

 271 Cyrtanthus angustifolius. 

 255 Cytisus sessilifolius. 

 273 Diosma uniflora. 

 261 Erodium incarnatum. 

 272 Gladiolus tristis. 

 263 Glycine bimaculata. 

 268 ------- rubicunda. 

 270 ------- coccinea. 

 287 Goodenia lævigata. 

 282 Hedysarum obscurum. 

 285 Jasminum odoratissimum. 

 256 Ixia longiflora. 

 265 ---- Bulbocodium. 

 253 Lathyrus articulatus. 

 259 Lilium Catesbæi. 

 278 ------ candidum. 

 275 Liriodendron Tulipifera. 

 254 Lopezia racemosa. 

 257 Lychnis chalcedonica. 

 277 Mahernia pinnata. 

 262 Mesembryanthemum aureum. 

 260 Metrosideros citrina. 

 283 Mimulus ringens. 

 269 Ornithogalum nutans. 

 288 Passiflora ciliata. 

 279 Plumeria rubra. 

 286 Portlandia grandiflora. 

 267 Pyrus spectabilis. 

 266 Ranunculus amplexicaulis. 

 284 Rosa semperflorens. 

 281 Turnera angustifolia. 

INDEX. 

In which the English Names of the Plants contained in the _EighthVolume_ are alphabetically arranged. 

 Pl. 

 267 Apple-tree Chinese. 

 276 Blite strawberry. 

 274 Borbonia heart-leaved. 

 264 Cistus beautiful. 

 272 Corn-flag square-leaved. 

 258 Coronilla purple. 

 261 Crane's-bill flesh-coloured. 

 266 Crowfoot plantain-leaved. 

 271 Cyrtanthus narrow-leaved. 

 255 Cytisus common. 

 273 Diosma one-flowered. 

 280 Dogsbane tutsan-leaved. 

 262 Fig-marigold golden. 

 263 Glycine purple. 

 268 ------- dingy-flowered. 

 270 ------- scarlet. 

 287 Goodenia smooth. 

 282 Hedysarum creeping-rooted. 

 285 Jasmine sweet. 

 256 Ixia long-flowered. 

 265 ---- crocus-leaved. 

 253 Lathyrus jointed-podded. 

 259 Lily Catesby's. 

 278 ---- white. 

 254 Lopezia mexican. 

 257 Lychnis scarlet. 

 277 Mahernia winged. 

 260 Metrosideros harsh-leaved. 

 283 Monkey-flower narrow-leav'd. 

 288 Passion-flower fringed-leaved. 

 279 Plumeria red. 

 286 Portlandia great-flowered. 

 284 Rose ever-blowing. 

 269 Star of Bethlehem Neapolitan. 

 275 Tulip-tree common. 

 281 Turnera narrow-leaved.