file made using scans of public domain works at the university of georgia.) 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. ii~ "a garden is the purest of human pleasures." verulam. london: printed by couchman and fry, throgmorton-street, for w. curtis, at his botanic-garden, lambeth-marsh; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xc. [ ] ~chironia frutescens. shrubby chironia.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _cor._ rotata. _pistillum_ declinatum. _stamina_ tubo corollæ infidentia. _antheræ_ demum spirales. _peric._ -loculare. _specific character and synonyms._ chironia _frutescens_, foliis lanceolatis subtomentosis, calycibus campanulatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ centaurium foliis binis oppositis angustis linearibus, flore magno rubente. _burm. afric. . t. . fig. ._ [illustration: no ] of the genus _chironia_, ten species are enumerated in prof. murray's last edition of the _syst. vegetab._ of linnÆus, exclusive of the _chironia centaurium_ which we first added to this genus in the d number of the _flora londinensis_. of these, the _frutescens_ is the most shewy, and therefore the most cultivated. it is a native of different parts of africa. the flowers are produced from june to autumn, and the seeds ripen in october. this plant should be placed in an airy glass case in winter, where it may enjoy a dry air, and much sun, but will not thrive in a warm stove, nor can it be well preserved in a common green-house, because a damp moist air will soon cause it to rot. the seed of this plant should be sown in small pots filled with light sandy earth, and plunged into a moderate hot-bed; sometimes the seeds will lie a long time in the ground; so that if the plants do not appear the same season, the pots should not be disturbed, but preserved in shelter till the following spring, and then plunged into a fresh hot-bed, which will bring up the plants in a short time if the seeds are good. when the plants are fit to remove, they should be transplanted into small pots, four or five in each pot, then plunged into a moderate hot-bed, where they must have a large share of air in warm weather; when they have obtained some strength, they must be gradually inured to the open air; when exposed abroad, they should be mixed with such plants as require little water, placed in a warm situation, and screened from heavy rains, which are apt to rot them. the cuttings of this sort take root if properly managed. _miller's gard. dict._ [ ] ~viburnum tinus. common laurustinus.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria trigynia.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus, superus. _cor._ -fida. _bacca_ -sperma. _specific character and synonyms_. viburnum _tinus_ foliis integerrimis ovatis: ramificationibus venarum subtus villoso-glandulosis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ laurus sylvestris, corni fæminæ foliis subhirsutis. _bauh. pin. ._ the wild bay-tree. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] we scarcely recollect a plant whose blossoms are so hardy as those of the laurustinus, they brave the inclemency of our winters, and are not destroyed but in very severe seasons. the beauties of this most charming shrub can be enjoyed by those only who cultivate it at some little distance from town, the smoke of london being highly detrimental to its growth. it is a native of portugal, spain, and italy. botanists enumerate many varieties of the laurustinus, and so considerably do some of these differ, that miller has been induced to make two species of them, which he distinguishes by the names of _virburnum tinus_ and _v. lucidum_; the last of these is the most ornamental, and at the same time the most tender; there are some other trifling varieties, besides those, with variegated leaves, or the gold and silver-striped. it is only in very favourable situations that these shrubs ripen their seeds in england, hence they are most commonly propagated by layers, which readily strike root: miller says, that the plants raised from seeds are hardier than those produced from layers. it thrives best in sheltered situations and a dry soil. [ ] ~franklin's tartar.~ _a scarlet bizarre carnation._ [illustration: no ] the carnation here exhibited is a seedling raised by mr. franklin, of lambeth-marsh, an ingenious cultivator of these flowers, whose name it bears: we have not figured it as the most perfect flower of the kind, either in form or size, but as being a very fine specimen of the sort, and one whose form and colours it is in the power of the artist pretty exactly to imitate. the _dianthus caryophyllus_ or _wild clove_ is generally considered as the parent of the carnation, and may be found, if not in its wild state, at least single, on the walls of rochester castle, where it has been long known to flourish, and where it produces two varieties in point of colour, the pale and deep red. flowers which are cultivated from age to age are continually producing new varieties, hence there is no standard as to _name_, _beauty_, or _perfection_, amongst them, but what is perpetually fluctuating; thus the _red hulo_, the _blue hulo_, the _greatest granado_, with several others celebrated in the time of parkinson, have long since been consigned to oblivion; and it is probable, that the variety now exhibited, may, in a few years, share a similar fate; for it would be vanity in us to suppose, that the carnation, by assiduous culture, may not, in the eye of the florist, be yet considerably improved. to succeed in the culture of the carnation, we must advert to the situation in which it is found wild, and this is observed to be dry and elevated; hence excessive moisture is found to be one of the greatest enemies this plant has to encounter; and, on this account, it is found to succeed better, when planted in a pot, than in the open border; because in the former, any superfluous moisture readily drains off; but, in guarding against too much wet, we must be careful to avoid the opposite extreme. to keep any plant in a state of great luxuriance, it is necessary that the soil in which it grows be rich; hence a mixture of light-loam, and perfectly rotten horse or cow dung, in equal proportions, is found to be a proper compost for the carnation. care should be taken that no worms, grubs, or other insects, be introduced with the dung; to prevent this, the dung, when sifted fine, should be exposed to the rays of the sun, on a hot summer's day, till perfectly dry, and then put by in a box for use; still more to increase the luxuriance of the plants, water it in the spring and summer with an infusion of sheep's dung. the carnation is propagated by seeds, layers, and pipings; new varieties can only be raised from seed, which, however, is sparingly produced from good flowers, because the petals are so multiplied, as nearly to exclude the parts of the fructification essential to their production. "the seed must be sown in april, in pots or boxes, very thin, and placed upon an east border. "in july, transplant them upon a bed in an open situation, at about four inches asunder; at the end of august transplant them again upon another bed, at about ten inches asunder, and there let them remain till they flower: shade them till they have taken root, and in very severe weather in winter, cover the bed with mats over some hoops. "the following summer they will flower, when you must mark such as you like, make layers from, and pot them." _ellis's gardener's pocket calendar._ the means of increasing these plants by layers and pipings, are known to every gardener. such as wish for more minute information concerning the culture, properties, divisions, or varieties, of this flower, than the limits of our work will admit, may consult _miller's gard. dict._ or the _florists catalogues_. [ ] ~trillium sessile. sessile trillium.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria trigynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -petala. _bacca_ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ trillium flore sessili erecto. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ paris foliis ternatis, flore sessili erecto. _gron. virg. ._ solanum triphyllum. _pluk. alm. . t. . f. ._ _catesb. car. t. ._ [illustration: ] of this genus there are three species, all of which are natives of north-america, and described by miller, in his _gardener's dictionary_, where the genus is called _american herb paris_; but as the _paris_ and _trillium_, though somewhat similar in the style of their foliage, are very different in their parts of fructification, we have thought it most expedient to anglicise _trillium_, it being to the full as easily pronounced as _geranium_, and many other latin names now familiar to the english ear. this species takes its' trivial name of _sessile_, from the flowers having no foot-stalk, but sitting as it were immediately on the end of the stalk. the figure here exhibited was taken from a plant which flowered in my garden last spring, from roots sent me the preceding autumn, by mr. robert squibb, gardener, of charleston, south-carolina, who is not only well versed in plants, but indefatigable in discovering and collecting the more rare species of that country, and with which the gardens of this are likely soon to be enriched. it grows in shady situations, in a light soil, and requires the same treatment as the _dodecatheon_ and _round-leav'd cyclamen_. we have not yet had a fair opportunity of observing whether this species ripens its seeds with us: though of as long standing in this country as the _dodecatheon_, it is far less common; hence one is led to conclude that it is either not so readily propagated, or more easily destroyed. [ ] ~calceolaria pinnata. pinnated slipper-wort.~ _class and order._ ~diandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _cor._ ringens inflata. _caps._ -locularis, -valvis. _cal._ -partitus æqualis. _specific character and synonyms._ calceolaria _pinnata_ foliis pinnatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ calceolaria foliis scabiosæ vulgaris. _fewill peruv. , t. . fig. ._ [illustration: ] there being no english name to this plant, we have adopted that of _slipper-wort_, in imitation of _calceolaria_, which is derived from _calceolus_, a little shoe or slipper. this species of calceolaria is one of the many plants introduced into our gardens, since the time of miller: it is an annual, a native of peru, and, of course, tender: though by no means a common plant in our gardens, it is as easily raised from seed as any plant whatever. these are to be sown on a gentle hot-bed in the spring; the seedlings, when of a proper size, are to be transplanted into the borders of the flower-garden, where they will flower, ripen, and scatter their seeds; but being a small delicate plant, whose beauties require a close inspection, it appears to most advantage in a tan stove, in which, as it will grow from cuttings, it may be had to flower all the year through, by planting them in succession. this latter mode of treatment is used by mr. hoy, gardener to his grace of northumberland, at sion-house, where this plant may be seen in great perfection. [ ] ~camellia japonica. rose camellia.~ _class and order._ ~monadelphia polyandria.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ imbricatus, polyphyllus: foliolis interioribus majoribus. _specific character and synonyms._ camellia _japonica_ foliis acute serratis acuminatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. ed. . p. ._ _thunberg fl. japon. t. ._ tsubaki _kempfer amoen. . t. ._ rosa chinensis. _ed. av. . p. . t. ._ thea chinensis pimentæ jamaicensis folio, flore roseo. _pet. gaz. t. . fig. ._ [illustration: ] this most beautiful tree, though long since figured and described, as may be seen by the above synonyms, was a stranger to our gardens in the time of miller, or at least it is not noticed in the last edition of his dictionary. it is a native both of china and japan. thunberg, in his _flora japonica_, describes it as growing every where in the groves and gardens of japan, where it becomes a prodigiously large and tall tree, highly esteemed by the natives for the elegance of its large and very variable blossoms, and its evergreen leaves; it is there found with single and double flowers, which also are white, red, and purple, and produced from april to october. representations of this flower are frequently met with in chinese paintings. with us, the _camellia_ is generally treated as a stove plant, and propagated by layers; it is sometimes placed in the green-house; but it appears to us to be one of the properest plants imaginable for the conservatory. at some future time it may, perhaps, not be uncommon to treat it as a _laurustinus_ or _magnolia_: the high price at which it has hitherto been sold, may have prevented its being hazarded in this way. the blossoms are of a firm texture, but apt to fall off long before they have lost their brilliancy; it therefore is a practice with some to stick such deciduous blossoms on some fresh bud, where they continue to look well for a considerable time. petiver considered our plant as a species of tea tree; future observations will probably confirm his conjecture. [ ] ~cistus incanus. hoary, or rose cistus.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala. _calyx_ -phyllus, foliolis duobus minoribus. _capsula_. _specific character and synonyms._ cistus _incanus_ arborescens exstipulatus, foliis spatulatis tomentosis rugosis inferioribus basi connatis vaginantibus. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ cistus mas angustifolius. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: ] few plants are more admired than the cistus tribe; they have indeed one imperfection, their petals soon fall off: this however is the less to be regretted, as they in general have a great profusion of flower-buds, whence their loss is daily supplied. they are, for the most part, inhabitants of warm climates, and affect dry, sheltered, though not shady, situations. the present species is a native of spain, and the south of france, and being liable to be killed by the severity of our winters, is generally kept with green-house plants. it may be propagated either by seeds, or cuttings; the former make the best plants. [ ] ~cyclamen persicum. persian cyclamen.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ rotata, reflexa, tubo brevissimo: fauce prominente. _bacca_ tecta capsula. _specific character._ cyclamen _persicum_ foliis cordatis serratis. _miller's dict. to. ed. ._ [illustration: ] linnÆus in this, as in many other genera, certainly makes too few species, having only two; miller, on the contrary, is perhaps too profuse in his number, making eight. the ascertaining the precise limits of species, and variety, in plants that have been for a great length of time objects of culture, is often attended with difficulties scarcely to be surmounted, is indeed a gordian knot to botanists. our plant is the _cyclamen persicum_ of miller, and has been introduced into our gardens long since the european ones; being a native of the east-indies, it is of course more tender than the others, and therefore requires to be treated more in the style of a green-house plant. it is generally cultivated in pots, in light undunged earth, or in a mixture of loam and lime rubbish, and kept in frames, or on the front shelf of a green-house, where it may have plenty of air in the summer, but guarded against too much moisture in the winter. may be raised from seeds in the same manner as the round-leaved cyclamen already figured in this work, p. n. . flowers early in the spring, and is admirably well adapted to decorate the parlour or study. varies with fragrant flowers, and the eye more or less red. [ ] ~crocus vernus. spring crocus.~ _class and order_ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ -partita, æqualis. _stigmata_ convoluta. _specific character and synonyms._ crocus _vernus_ foliis latioribus margine patulo. _jacq. fl. austr. vol. . app. t. ._ _lin. syst. vegetab. p. . var. sativ._ crocus vernus latifolius. _bauh. pin. , ._ the yellow crocus. _parkins. parad. p. ._ [illustration: ] linnÆus considers the crocus, or saffron of the shops, which blows invariably in the autumn, and the spring crocus, with its numerous varieties (of which parkinson, in his garden of pleasant flowers, enumerates no less than twenty-seven) as one and the same species; other botanists have considered them as distinct, particularly prof. jacquin, whose opinion on this subject we deem the most decisive. we have figured the yellow variety, which is the one most commonly cultivated in our gardens, though according to the description in the _flora austriaca_, the _crocus vernus_, in its wild state, is usually purple or white. the cultivation of this plant is attended with no difficulty; in a light sandy loam, and dry situation, the roots thrive, and multiply so much as to require frequent reducing; they usually flower about the beginning of march, and whether planted in rows, or patches, on the borders of the flower-garden, or mixed indiscriminately with the herbage of the lawn, when expanded by the warmth of the sun, they produce a most brilliant and exhilirating effect. the most mischievous of all our common birds, the sparrow, is very apt to commit great depredations amongst them when in flower, to the no small mortification of those who delight in their culture; we have succeeded in keeping these birds off, by placing near the object to be preserved, the skin of a cat properly stuffed: a live cat, or some bird of the hawk kind confined in a cage, might perhaps answer the purpose more effectually, at least in point of duration. [ ] ~leucojum vernum. spring snow-flake.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ campaniformis, -partita, apicibus incrassata, _stigma_ simplex. _specific character and synonyms._ leucojum _vernum_ spatha uniflora, stylo clavato. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ leucojum bulbosum vulgare. _bauh. pin. ._ the great early bulbous violet. _park. parad._ [illustration: ] the blossoms of the _leucojum_ and _galanthus_, or snow-drop, are very similar at first sight, but differ very essentially when examined; the snow-drop having, according to the linnæan description, a three-leaved nectary, which is wanting in the leucojum; the two genera then being very distinct, it becomes necessary to give them different names; we have accordingly bestowed on the leucojum the name of _snow-flake_, which, while it denotes its affinity to the snow-drop, is not inapplicable to the meaning of leucojum. as the spring snow-flake does not increase so fast by its roots, as the snow-drop, or even the summer snow-flake, so it is become much scarcer in our gardens; it may, indeed, be almost considered as one of our plantæ rariores, though at the same time a very desirable one. it does not flower so soon by almost a month, as the snow-drop; but its blossoms, which are usually one on each foot-stalk, sometimes two, are much larger, and delightfully fragrant. it is found wild in shady places and moist woods in many parts of germany and italy. the most proper situation for it is a north or east border, soil a mixture of loam and bog earth; but by having it in different aspects, this, as well as other plants, may have its flowering forwarded or protracted, and, consequently, the pleasure of seeing them in blossom, considerably lengthened. in a favourable soil and situation, it propagates tolerably fast by offsets. [ ] ~amaryllis formosissima. jacobæan amaryllis.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala, campanulata. _stigma_ trifidum. _specific character and synonyms._ amaryllis _formosissima_ spatha uniflora, corolla inæquali petalis tribus, staminibus pistilloque declinatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ lilio-narcissus jacobæus, flore sanguineo nutante, _dillen. elth. . t. . f. ._ the indian daffodil with a red flower. _park. par. . f. ._ [illustration: ] a native of south-america: according to linnÆus, first known in europe in , figured by parkinson in , and placed by him among the daffodils; stoves and green-houses were then unknown, no wonder therefore it did not thrive long. "is now become pretty common in the curious gardens in england, and known by the name of jacobæa lily; the roots send forth plenty of offsets, especially when they are kept in a moderate warmth in winter; for the roots of this kind will live in a good green-house, or may be preserved through the winter under a common hot-bed frame; but then they will not flower so often, nor send out so many offsets as when they are placed in a moderate stove in winter. this sort will produce its flowers two or three times in a year, and is not regular to any season; but from march to the beginning of september, the flowers will be produced, when the roots are in vigour. "it is propagated by offsets, which may be taken off every year; the best time to shift and part these roots is in august, that they may take good root before winter; in doing of this, there should be care taken not to break off the fibres from their roots. they should be planted in pots of a middling size, filled with light kitchen-garden earth; and, if they are kept in a moderate degree of warmth, they will produce their flowers in plenty, and the roots will make great increase." _miller's gard. dict._ [ ] ~narcissus triandrus. reflexed daffodil.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _petala_ sex, æqualia. _nectario_ infundibuliformi, -phyllo, _stamina_ intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _triandrus_ spatha sub-biflora, floribus cernuis, petalis reflexis, staminibus tribus longioribus. narcissus _triandrus_ spatha sub-uniflora, nectario campanulato crenato dimidio petalis breviore, staminibus ternis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ narcissus juncifolius, albo flore reflexo. _clus. app. alt._ the yellow turning junquilia, or rush daffodil. _parkins. parad. . fig. , ._ [illustration: ] the present species of _narcissus_ is considered by the nursery-men near london as the _triandrus_ of linnÆus, which it no doubt is, though it does not accord in every particular with his description: his _triandrus_ is white, ours is pale yellow, but colour is not in the least to be depended on, for it is found to vary in this as in all the other species; his _triandrus_ he describes as having in general only three stamina, whence the name he has given it; ours, so far as we have observed, has constantly six, three of which reach no further than the mouth of the tube, a circumstance so unusual, that linnÆus might overlook it without any great impeachment of his discernment; he says, indeed, that it has sometimes six: perhaps, the three lowermost ones may, in some instances, be elongated so as to equal the others; if he had observed the great inequality of their length, he would certainly have mentioned it. this species is found wild on the pyrenean mountains; was an inhabitant of our gardens in the time of parkinson (who has very accurately described it, noticing even its three stamina) to which, however, it has been a stranger for many years: it has lately been re-introduced, but is as yet very scarce. our figure was taken from a specimen which flowered in mr. lee's nursery at hammersmith. it grows with as much readiness as any of the others of the genus, and flowers in march and april. [ ] ~soldanella alpina. alpine soldanella.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata, lacero-multifida. _caps._ -locularis, apice multidentata. _specific character and synonyms._ soldanella _alpina._ _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ soldanella alpina rotundifolia. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: ] of this genus there is at present only one known species, the _alpina_ here figured, which is a native of germany, and, as its name imports, an alpine plant. its blossoms are bell-shaped, of a delicate blue colour, sometimes white, and strikingly fringed on the edge. it flowers usually in march, in the open ground; requires, as most alpine plants do, shade and moisture in the summer, and the shelter of a frame, in lieu of its more natural covering snow, in the winter; hence it is found to succeed best in a northern aspect: will thrive in an open border, but is more commonly kept in pots. may be increased by parting its roots early in autumn. [ ] ~iris sibirica. siberian iris.~ _class and order._ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _thunb. diss. de iride._ _specific character and synonyms._ iris _sibirica_ imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti, germinibus trigonis. _lin. syst. vegetab._ _p._ . iris pratensis angustifolia, non foetida altior. _bauh. pin. ._ iris _bicolor._ _miller's dict. ed. , to._ the greater blue flower-de-luce with narrow leaves. _parkins. parad. p. . fig. ._ [illustration: ] this species of iris is a native of germany and siberia, and is distinguished from those usually cultivated in our gardens by the superior height of its stems, and the narrowness of its leaves; from which last character it is often, by mistake, called _graminea_; but the true _graminea_ is a very different plant. the _iris sibirica_ is a hardy perennial, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; but grows most luxuriantly in a moist one, and flowers in june. is propagated most readily, by parting its roots in autumn. [ ] ~narcissus major. great daffodil.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _petala_ æqualia: _nectario_ infundibuliformi, -phyllo. _stamina_ intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _major_ foliis subtortuosis, spatha uniflora, nectario campanulato patulo crispo æquante petala. narcissus _major_ totus luteus calyce prælongo. _bauhin pin. ._ narcissi sylvestris alia icon. _dodon. stirp. p. ._ the great yellow spanish bastard daffodil. _parkins. parad. t. . fig. ._ [illustration: ] the present species of daffodil is the largest of the genus, and bears the most magnificent flowers, but, though it has long been known in this country, it is confined rather to the gardens of the curious. it is a native of spain, and flowers with us in april. as its roots produce plenty of offsets, it is readily propagated. it approaches in its general appearance very near to the _narcissus pseudo-narcissus_, but differs in being a much taller plant, having its leaves more twisted, as well as more glaucous, its flowers (but especially its nectary) much larger, and its petals more spreading; and these characters are not altered by culture. it answers to the _bicolor_ of linnÆus in every respect but colour, and we should have adopted that name, had not the flowers with us been always of a fine deep yellow; we have therefore taken bauhin's name as the most expressive. it varies with double flowers. [ ] ~gentiana acaulis. large-flowered gentian, or gentianella.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria digynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ monopetala. _capsula_ bivalvis, -locularis. _receptaculis_ -longitudinalibus. _specific character and synonyms._ gentiana _acaulis_ corolla quinquefida campanulata caulem excedente. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ gentiana alpina latifolia magno flore. _bauh. pin. ._ small gentian of the spring. _park. par. p. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: ] plants growing in mountainous situations, where they are constantly exposed to strong-blowing winds, are always dwarfish; in such situations, the present plant has no stalk, whence its name _acaulis_, but cultivated in gardens it acquires one. most of the plants of this family are beautiful, and, cultivated in gardens, in brilliancy of colour none exceed the present species. as most alpine plants do, this loves a pure air, an elevated situation, and a loamy soil, moderately moist; it is however somewhat capricious, thriving without the least care in some gardens, and not succeeding in others; at any rate it will not prosper very near london. it flowers usually in may, and sometimes in the autumn. is propagated by parting its roots at the close of summer; but miller says, the strongest and best plants are produced from seed. [ ] ~cineraria lanata. woolly cineraria.~ _class and order._ ~syngenesia polygamia superflua.~ _generic character._ _receptaculum_ nudum. _pappus_ simplex. _calyx_ simplex, polyphyllus, æqualis. _specific character and synonyms._ cineraria _lanata_ caule suffruticoso, foliis subquinquelobis, subtus tomentosis; foliolis ad pedunculos lanatis. [illustration: ] in the beauty of its blossoms, this species of _cineraria_, lately introduced from africa, by far eclipses all the others cultivated in our gardens; its petals exteriorly are of a most vivid purple, interiorly white; this change of colour adds much to the brilliancy of the flower. what renders this plant a more valuable acquisition to the green-house, is its hardiness, its readiness to flower, and the facility with which it may be propagated. it flowers early in the spring, and, by proper management, may be made to flower the whole year through; it is sometimes kept in the stove, and may be made to flower earlier by that means; but it succeeds better in a common green-house, with no more heat than is just necessary to keep out the frost, indeed it may be preserved in a common hot-bed frame through the winter, unless the weather prove very severe. certain plants are particularly liable to be infested with _aphides_, or, in the vulgar phrase, to become lousy, this is one: the only way to have handsome, healthy, strong-flowering plants, is to procure a constant succession by cuttings, for there is no plant strikes more readily; these should be placed in a pot, and plunged into a bed of tan. [ ] ~anemone sylvestris, snowdrop anemony.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria polygynia.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ nullus. _petala_ - . _semina_ plura. _specific character and synonyms._ anemone _sylvestris_ pedunculo nudo, feminibus subrotundis, hirsutis, muticis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ anemone sylvestris alba major. _bauh. pin. p. ._ the white wild broad-leafed wind-flower. _park. par. ._ [illustration: ] parkinson very accurately notices the striking characters of this species of anemone, which are its creeping roots, its large white flowers standing on the tops of the flower-stalks, which sometimes grow two together, but most commonly singly; the leaves on the stalk, he observes, are more finely divided than those of the root, and its seeds are woolly. miller describes it as having little beauty, and therefore but seldom planted in gardens; it is true, it does not recommend itself by the gaudiness of its colours, but there is in the flowers, especially before they expand, a simple elegance, somewhat like that of the snowdrop, and which affords a pleasing contrast to the more shewy flowers of the garden. it flowers in may, and ripens its seeds in june. it will grow in almost any soil or situation, is propagated by offsets from the root, which it puts out most plentifully, so as indeed sometimes to be troublesome. is a native of germany. [ ] ~geranium striatum. striped geranium.~ _class and order._ ~monadelphia decandria.~ _generic character._ monogynia. _stigmata_ . _fructus_ rostratus -coccus. _specific character and synonyms._ geranium _striatum_ pedunculis bifloris, foliis quinquelobis: lobis medio dilatatis, petalis bilobis venosoreticulatus. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ geranium _striatum_ pedunculis bifloris, foliis caulinis trilobis, obtuse crenatis. _miller's dict._ geranium romanum versicolor sive striatum. the variable striped cranesbill. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: ] this species is distinguished by having white petals, finely reticulated with red veins, and the corners of the divisions of the leaves marked with a spot of a purplish brown colour, which parkinson has long since noticed. is said by linnÆus to be a native of italy, is a very hardy plant, flowers in may and june, and may be propagated by parting its roots in autumn, or by seed; prefers a loamy soil and shady situation. [ ] ~geranium lanceolatum. spear-leaved geranium.~ _class and order._ ~monadelphia decandria.~ _generic character._ monogyna. _stigmata_ . _fructus_ rostratus -coccus. _specific character and synonyms._ geranium _glaucum_ calycibus monophyllis, foliis lanceolatis integerrimis glaucis, caule erecto suffruticoso. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. . supp. pl. p. ._ [illustration: ] this elegant and very singular species of _geranium_ appears to have been first cultivated in this country; its introduction was attended with circumstances rather unusual. mr. lee, nurseryman of the vineyard, hammersmith, in looking over some dried specimens in the possession of sir joseph banks, which he had recently received from the cape of good hope, was struck with the singular appearance of this geranium, no species having before been seen in this country with spear-shaped leaves; on examining the specimens attentively, he perceived a few ripe seeds in one of them, those he solicited, and obtained; and to his success in making them vegetate, we are indebted for the present species. the shape of the leaf readily suggested the name of _lanceolatum_, an epithet by which it has been generally distinguished in this country, and which, from its extreme fitness, we have continued, notwithstanding young professor linnÆus has given it that of _glaucum_, though, at the same time, his illustrious father had distinguished another species by the synonymous term of _glaucophyllum_. this species rarely ripens its seeds with us, and is therefore to be raised from cuttings, which however are not very free to strike. it has been usual to keep it in the stove, but we have found by experience, that it succeeds much better in a common green-house, in which it will flower during the whole of the summer. small young plants of this, as well as most other geraniums, make the best appearance, and are therefore to be frequently obtained by cuttings. [ ] ~papaver orientale. eastern poppy.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _cor._ -petala. _cal._ -phyllus. _capsula,_ -locularis sub stigmate persistente poris dehiscens. _specific character and synonyms._ papaver _orientale_ capsulis glabris, caulibus unifloris scabris foliosis pinnatis serratis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ papaver orientale hirsutissimum, magno flore. _tournes. cor. . itin. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: ] most of the plants of this tribe are distinguished by the splendour of their colours, most of them also are annuals, in gaiety of colour none exceed the present species; but it differs in the latter character, in having not only a perennial root, but one of the creeping kind, whereby it increases very much, and by which it is most readily propagated. though a native of the east, as its name imports, it bears the severity of our climate without injury, flowers in may, and as its blossoms are extremely shewy, it gives great brilliancy to the flower-garden or plantation; prefers a dry soil. [ ] ~iris spuria. spurious iris.~ _class and order._ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _conf. thunb._ _diss. de iride._ _specific character and synonyms._ iris _spuria_ imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti, germinibus hexagonis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ _jacq. fl. austr. tab. ._ iris pratensis angustifolia, folio foetido. _bauh. pin. ._ the greater blue flower-de-luce with narrow leaves. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: ] some plants afford so little diversity of character, that an expressive name can scarcely be assigned them; such is the present plant, or linnÆus would not have given it the inexpressive name of _spuria_, nor we have adopted it. this species is distinguished by the narrowness of its leaves, which emit a disagreeable smell when bruised, by the colour of its flowers, which are of a fine rich purple inclining to blue, and by its hexangular germen. it is a native of germany, where, as professor jacquin informs us, it grows in wet meadows; is a hardy perennial, thrives in our gardens in almost any soil or situation, flowers in june, and is propagated by parting its roots in autumn. [ ] ~mesembryanthemum bicolorum. two-coloured fig-marigold.~ _class and order._ ~icosandria pentagynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala_ numerosa, linearia. _caps._ carnosa, infera, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ mesembryanthemum _bicolorum_ foliis subulatis punctatis lævibus distinctis, caule frutescente, corollis bicoloribus. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ mesembryanthemum tenuifolium fruticescens, flore croceo. _dill. elth. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: ] contrary to the _mesembryanthemum dolabriforme_, lately figured in this work, this species expands its flowers in the day-time, and that only when the sun shines powerfully on them; on such occasions, the blossoms on the top of the branches being very numerous, exhibit a most splendid appearance. it is a native of the cape of good hope, flowers in july, and is most readily propagated by cuttings. like most of the cape plants, it requires the shelter of a green-house during the winter. [ ] ~lathyrus odoratus. sweet pea, or vetchling.~ _class and order._ ~diadelphia decandria.~ _generic character._ _stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior. _cal._ laciniæ superiores -breviores. _specific character and synonyms._ lathyrus _odoratus_ pedunculis bifloris, cirrhis diphyllis, foliolis ovato-oblongis, leguminibus hirsutis, _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ lathyrus distoplatyphyllos hirsutus mollis, magno et peramæno flore odoro. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: ] there is scarcely a plant more generally cultivated than the _sweet pea_, and no wonder, since with the most delicate blossoms it unites an agreeable fragrance. several varieties of this plant are enumerated by authors, but general cultivation extends to two only, the one with blossoms perfectly white, the other white and rose-coloured, commonly called the _painted lady pea_. the sweet pea is described as a native of sicily, the painted lady variety as an inhabitant of ceylon; they have both been introduced since the time of parkinson and evelyn. it is an annual, and not a very tender one; seedling plants sown in autumn frequently surviving our winters. as it is desirable to have this plant in flower for as great a length of time as possible, to have them early, we must sow them in the autumn, either in pots or in the open border; if sown in pots, they can the more readily be secured from any severe weather, by placing them in a hot-bed frame, a common practice with gardeners who raise them for the london markets, in which they are in great request: others again should be sown early in the spring, and the sowings repeated every month; they grow readily in almost any soil or situation, and by this means may be had to flower most of the year through. if sown in pots, care must be taken to water them frequently. [ ] ~iris ochroleuca. tall iris.~ _class and order._ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _thunb. diss. de iride._ _specific character and synonyms._ iris _ochroleuca_ imberbis foliis ensiformibus, scapo subtereti germinibus hexagonis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ [illustration: ] of the several species of iris cultivated in our gardens, this excels in point of height; we have taken our english name therefore from this character, and not from the term _ochroleuca_, which, if translated, would be too expressive of the colour of the blossoms of the _iris pseudacorus_, with which the _ochroleuca_ has some affinity in point of size as well as colour. notwithstanding mr. miller's description of his _orientalis_ accords very badly with that of linnÆus's _ochroleuca_, they have been generally considered in this country as one and the same plant, distinguished by the name of pococke's iris, dr. pococke being the person who, according to miller, in his time first introduced it from _carniola_ (by inadvertence spelt _carolina_, in the th to edition of the dictionary). there are grounds, however, for suspecting some error in the habitat of this plant, for had it grown spontaneously in carniola, it is not probable that scopoli would have omitted it in his _flora carniolica_. leaving its place of growth to be more accurately ascertained hereafter, we shall observe, that it appears perfectly naturalized to this country, growing luxuriantly in a moist rich soil, and increasing, like most of the genus, very fast by its roots. it flowers later than most of the others. [ ] ~centaurea glastifolia. woad-leaved centaurea.~ _class and order._ ~syngenesia polygamia superflua.~ _generic character._ _receptaculum_ setosum. _pappus_ simplex. _corollæ_ radii infundibuliformes, longiores, irregulares. _specific character and synonyms._ centaurea _glastifolia_ calycibus scariosis, foliis indivisis integerrimis decurrentibus. _lin. syst. veg. p. ._ _gmelin sib. . p. ._ centaurium majus orientale erectum, glasti folio, flore luteo. _comm. rar. . t. ._ [illustration: ] assumes the name of _glastifolia_ from the similitude which the leaves bear to those of the _isatis tinctoria_, or _woad_, _glastum_ of the old botanists. in this plant we have an excellent example of the _folium decurrens_ and _calyx scariosus_ of linnÆus, the leaves also exhibit a curious phenomenon, having veins prominent on both their sides; the scales of the calyx are moreover distinguished by a beautiful silvery appearance, which it is difficult to represent in colours. it is a native of the east, as well as of siberia; flowers with us in july, in the open border, and is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, which are of the creeping kind: requires no particular treatment. miller, in the last to edition of his dictionary, enumerates a _cent. glastifolia_; but his description in detail, by no means accords with the plant. [ ] ~fragaria monophylla. one-leaved strawberry, or strawberry of versailles.~ _class and order._ ~icosandria polygynia.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ -fidus. _petala_ . _receptaculum_ feminum ovatum, baccatum, deciduum. _specific character and synonyms._ fragaria _monophylla_ foliis simplicibus. _lin. syst. veg. p. ._ _le fraisier de versailles. duchesne hist. nat. des frais, p. ._ [illustration: ] the first mention made of this strawberry, we find in duchesne's _histoire naturelle des fraisiers_, where we have its complete history, and from which we learn, that it was originally raised by him at versailles, in the year , from seeds of the wood strawberry. from france this plant has been conveyed to most parts of europe; how it has happened we know not, but it is certainly very little known in this country: in the th edit of the _syst. veg._ of linnÆus, it appears as a species under the name of _monophylla_, originally imposed on it by duchesne; linnÆus, however, has his doubts as to its being a species distinct from the _vesca_, and, in our humble opinion, not without reason; for it can certainly be regarded as a very singular variety only; its origin indeed is a proof of this; in addition to which we may observe, that plants raised from the runners will sometimes, though very rarely indeed, have three leaves instead of one: and it is observed by the very intelligent author of the _hist. nat._ abovementioned, that seedling plants sometimes produced leaves with three divisions, like those of the wood strawberry. besides the remarkable difference in the number of the leaves in this plant, the leaves themselves are observed to be much smaller in the winter season, and their ribs less branched; the runners also are slenderer and more productive, and the fruit in general more oblong or pyramidal. as an object of curiosity, this plant is deserving a place in every garden of any extent; nor is its singularity its only recommendation, its fruit being equal to that of the finest wood strawberry, with which it agrees in the time of its flowering, fruiting, and mode of treatment. [ ] ~hemerocallis fulva. tawny day-lily.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata: tubo cylindrico. _stamina_ declinata. _specific character and synonyms._ hemerocallis _fulva_ foliis lineari-subulatis carinatis, corollis fulvis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ lilium rubrum asphodeli radice. _bauh. pin. ._ the gold red day-lily. _park. parad. p. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: ] according to linnÆus, this species is a native of china. it has long been inured to our climate, and few plants thrive better in any soil or situation, but a moist soil suits it best; its leaves on their first emerging from the ground, and for a considerable time afterwards, are of the most delicate green imaginable; the appearance which the plant assumes at this period of its growth is, indeed, so pleasing, that it may be said to constitute one half of its beauty; its blossoms which appear in july and august, are twice the size of those of the _flava_, of a tawny orange colour, without gloss or smell, the petals waved on the edge, the flowers are rarely or never succeeded by ripe capsules as in the _flava_, which is a circumstance that has been noticed by parkinson; when these several characters, in which the _fulva_ differs so essentially from the _flava_, are attentively considered, we shall wonder that linnÆus could entertain an idea of their being varieties of each other. the _hemerocallis fulva_, from its size, and from the great multiplication of its roots, is best adapted to large gardens and plantations. may be propagated by parting its roots in autumn. [ ] ~clematis integrifolia. entire-leaved clematis, or virgins-bower.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria polygynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ . _petala_ . rarius .--vel . _sem._ caudata. _specific character and synonyms._ clematis _integrifolia_ foliis simplicibus ovato-lanceolatis, floribus cernuis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ clematitis coerulea erecta. _bauh. pin. ._ clematis coerulea pannonica. the hungarian climer. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: ] the _clematis integrifolia_ is not an uncommon plant in the nurseries about london, and is deserving a place in gardens, if not for the beauty of its flowers, at least for their singularity. it is a native of germany, flowers in july, and is one of those hardy perennials which suit most people, requiring little more than an introduction. is propagated by parting its roots in autumn. [ ] ~passiflora alata. winged passion-flower.~ _class and order._ ~gynandria pentandria.~ _generic character._ trigyna. _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ . _nectarium_ corona. _bacca_ pedicellata. _specific character._ passiflora _alata_ foliis indivisis cordatis integerrimis, petiolis quadriglandulosis, cauli membranaceo tetragono. [illustration: ] this species of passion-flower is one of those which have been introduced into the english gardens since the time of miller; if it does not equal the _coerulea_ in elegance, it excels it in magnificence, in brilliancy of colour, and in fragrance, the blossoms being highly odoriferous: as yet, it is by no means so general in this country, as its extraordinary beauty merits, we have seen it flower this year, both summer and autumn, in great perfection in the stove of our very worthy friend james vere, esq. kensington-gore; at the physic garden, chelsea; and at mr. malcom's, kennington; at chelsea, in particular, it afforded the richest assemblage of foliage and flowers we ever saw. it appears to the greatest advantage, when trained up an upright pole, nearly to the height of the back of the stove, and then suffered to run along horizontally. by some it has been considered as a variety only of the _passiflora quadrangularis_, others, with whom we agree in opinion, have no doubt of its being a very distinct species; it differs from the _quadrangularis_, in having leaves more perfectly heart-shaped, and less veiny; in having four glands on the foot-stalks of the leaves, instead of six; and in not producing fruit with us, which the _quadrangularis_ has been known frequently to do. the nursery-men report, that this species was first raised in this country, by a gentleman in hertfordshire, from west-india seeds. the usual mode of propogating it here, is by cuttings. [ ] ~mesembryanthemum pinnatifidum. jagged-leaved fig-marigold.~ _class and order._ ~icosandria pentagynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala_ numerosa linearia. _caps._ carnosa infera polysperma. _specific character._ mesembryanthemum _pinnatifidum_ foliis pinnatifidis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. . suppl. p. ._ [illustration: ] this species of _mesembryanthemum_, so different in the shape of its foliage from all the others hitherto introduced into this country, is first described in the _supplementum plantarum_ of the younger linnÆus, from which we learn that it grew in the upsal garden, into which it was most probably introduced by professor thunberg, as on his authority it is mentioned as a native of the cape of good hope. mr. zier, apothecary, of castle-street, was so obliging as to present me this summer with the seeds of this curious plant, i sowed them in a pot of earth, plunged in a tan pit, whose heat was nearly exhausted; they quickly vegetated, and though the summer was far advanced, they proceeded rapidly into flower, and bid fair to produce ripe seeds, as the capsules have long since been formed. the whole plant is sprinkled over with glittering particles like the ice plant, to which it bears some affinity in its duration, being an annual and requiring the same treatment. the blossoms are small and yellow, and if the weather be fine, open about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, the stalks are of a bright red colour, and the foliage yellowish green. [ ] ~sempervivum arachnoideum. cobweb houseleek.~ _class and order._ ~dodecandria dodecagynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus. _petala_ . _caps._ . polyspermæ. _specific character._ sempervivum _arachnoideum_ foliis pilis intertextis, propaginibus globosis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ sedum montanum tomentosum. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: ] by the old botanists, this plant was considered as a _sedum_; and to this day it is generally known in the gardens by the name of the _cobweb sedum_, though its habit or general appearance, independent of its fructification, loudly proclaims it a _houseleek_. in this species the tops of the leaves are woolly; as they expand they carry this woolly substance with them, which being thus extended, assumes the appearance of a cobweb, whence the name of the plant. like most of the houseleeks it is best kept in a pot, or it will grow well and appear to great advantage on a wall or piece of rock-work; the more it is exposed to the sun, the more colour will enliven its stalks and foliage, and the more brilliant will be its flowers; the latter make their appearance in july. it is propagated by offsets which it sends forth in abundance. it is no uncommon practice to treat this beautiful species of houseleek, as a native of a warm climate; under such an idea we have seen it nursed up in stoves, while the plant spontaneously braves the cold of the switzerland alps. [ ] ~rosa muscosa. moss rose.~ _class and order._ ~icosandria polygynia.~ _generic character._ _petala_ . _cal._ urceolatus, -fidus, carnosus, collo coarctatus. _sem._ plurima, hispida, calycis interiori lateri affixa. _specific character and synonyms._ rosa _muscosa_ caule petiolisque aculeatis, pedunculis calycibusque pilosissimis. _miller's dict._ [illustration: ] if there be any one genus of plants more universally admired than the others, it is that of the rose--where is the poet that has not celebrated it? where the painter that has not made it an object of his imitative art? in the opinion of miller, the moss rose, or moss province, as it is frequently called, is a perfectly distinct species; linnÆus considers it as a variety only of the _centifolia_: as it is found in our nurseries in a double state only, and as we are ignorant of what country it is the produce, the decision of this matter must be left to future observation and inquiry. though it may not increase so fast by suckers, nor be increased so readily by layers, as the _centifolia_, there is no difficulty in propagating it either way; the latter mode is usually adopted. [ ] ~mesembryanthemum barbatum. bearded fig-marigold.~ _class and order._ ~icosandria pentagynia~. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. petala numerosa, linearia. _caps._ carnosa, infera, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ mesembryanthemum _barbatum_, foliis subovatis papulosis distinctis, apice barbatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ mesembryanthemum radiatum, ramulis prolixis recumbentibus. _dillen. hort. elth. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: ] the leaves of this species have small hairs, issuing like rays from their points, whence its name of _barbatum_; there are two others figured by dillenius, whose leaves have a great similarity of structure, and which are considered by linnÆus as varieties of this species; our plant is the _stellatum_ of miller's _dict._ _ed._ . _to_. like most of this tribe it inhabits the cape, flowers in july, and is readily propagated by cuttings. [ ] ~statice sinuata. purple-cup't statice, or thrift.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria pentagynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, integer, plicatus, scariosus. _petala_ . _sem._ . superum. _specific character and synonyms._ statice _sinuata_ caule herbaceo, foliis radicalibus alternatim pinnato sinuatis: caulinis ternis triquetris subulatis decurrentibus. _lin. syst. vegetab._ _p._ . limonium peregrinum foliis asplenii. _bauh. pin. ._ limonium rauwolfii marsh buglosse. _parkins. parad. p. ._ [illustration: ] that this singular species of _statice_ was long since an inhabitant of our gardens, appears from parkinson, who in his _garden of pleasant flowers_, gives an accurate description of it, accompanied with an expressive figure; since his time it appears to have been confined to few gardens: the nurserymen have lately considered it as a newly-introduced species, and sold it accordingly. it is one of those few plants whose calyx is of a more beautiful colour than the corolla (and which it does not lose in drying); it therefore affords an excellent example of the _calyx coloratus_, as also of _scariosus_, it being sonorous to the touch. being a native of sicily, palestine, and africa, it is of course liable to be killed with us in severe seasons, the common practice is therefore to treat it as a green-house plant, and indeed it appears to the greatest advantage in a pot; it is much disposed to throw up new flowering stems; hence, by having several pots of it, some plants will be in blossom throughout the summer; the dried flowers are a pretty ornament for the mantle-piece in winter. though a kind of biennial, it is often increased by parting its roots, but more advantageously by seed; the latter, however, are but sparingly produced with us, probably for the want, as parkinson expresses it, "of sufficient heate of the sunne." [ ] ~helleborus lividus. livid or purple hellebore.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria polygynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ nullus. _petala_- . sive plura. _nectaria_ bilabiata, tubulata. _caps._ polyspermæ, erectiusculæ. _specific character._ helleborus _lividus_ caule multifloro folioso, foliis ternatis. _ait. hort. kew. ined. . p. ._ [illustration: ] it is not a little extraordinary that this plant which has for many years been cultivated in this country, should have escaped the notice of linnÆus; it is equally wonderful that we should at this moment be strangers to its place of growth. having three leaves growing together, it has been considered by many as the _trifoliatus_ of linnÆus but his _trifoliatus_ is a very different plant, a native of canada, producing small yellow flowers. it has been usual to treat this species as a green-house plant, or at least to shelter it under a frame in the winter; probably it is more hardy than we imagine. it is propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and by seeds, though few of the latter in general ripen, nor do the roots make much increase--to these causes we must doubtless attribute its present comparative scarcity. it flowers as early as february; on which account, as well as that of its singularity, it is a very desirable plant in collections. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _second volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ amaryllis formosissima. anemone sylvestris. calceolaria pinnata. camellia japonica. centaurea glastifolia. chironia frutescens. cineraria lanata. cistus incanus. clematis integrifolia. crocus vernus. cyclamen persicum. dianthus caryophyllus, var. fragaria monophylla. gentiana acaulis. geranium striatum. ---- lanceolatum. helleborus lividus. hemerocallis fulva. iris ochroleuca. ---- sibirica. ---- spuria. lathyrus odoratus. leucojum vernum. mesembryanthemum barbatum. ---- bicolorum. ---- pinnatifidum. narcissus major. ---- triandrus. papaver orientale. passiflora alata. rosa muscosa. soldanella alpina. sempervivum arachnoideum. statice sinuata. trillium sessile. viburnum tinus. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _second volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ amaryllis jacobean. anemony snowdrop. camellia rose. centaurea woad-leaved. chironia shrubby. cineraria woolly. cistus, hoary or rose. clematis, or virgin's-bower entire-leaved. crocus spring. cyclamen persian. daffodil great. ---- reflexed. day-lily tawny. franklin's tartar. fig-marigold bearded. ---- jagged-leaved. ---- two-coloured. gentian large-flowered, or gentianella. geranium spear-leaved. ---- striped. houseleek cobweb. hellebore, livid or purple. iris siberian. ---- spurious. ---- tall. laurustinus common. passion-flower winged. pea, or vetchling sweet. poppy eastern. rose moss. slipper-wort pinnated. snow-flake spring. soldanella alpine. strawberry one-leav'd. trillium sessile. thrift purple-cup't. file made using scans of public domain works at the university of georgia.) 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 with which to become scientifically acquainted with the plants they cultivate. 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 , _st. george's-crescent_, black-friars-road; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xciii. * * * * * [ ] colutea frutescens. scarlet bladder senna. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _legumen_ inflatum, basi superiore dehiscens. _specific character and synonyms._ colutea _frutescens_ fruticosa, foliolis ovato-oblongis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr, p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ _mill. icon. ._ colutea æthiopica, flore purpureo. _breyn. cent. . t. ._ of the several species of colutea cultivated in our garden the one here figured, is distinguished by the brilliancy of its' flowers, the largeness of its pods, and the downy appearance of the under side of its leaves. it appears from the _hortus kewensis_ to have been cultivated by mr. james sutherland as long since as the year it was not however generally introduced to our gardens till the time of miller, who figured it 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, we find it more tender than most of its kindred, and hence it is usually regarded as a greenhouse plant; yet, as it is not destroyed by a small degree of frost, it will frequently, like the myrtle survive a mild winter in the open border, especially if trained to a wall: it is rarely of more than two or three years duration. it is readily raised from seeds sown in the open ground, plants from which flower the august following, and, in favourable seasons, ripen their seeds; in order, however, that they may ripen them with more certainty, miller, recommends the sowing them early on a gentle hot-bed. a dry soil suits this species best. [illustration] [illustration] [ ] 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. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ salvia _africana_ frutescens folio subrotundo glauco, flore magno aureo. _comm. hort. . . t. ._ such as are delighted with the singular rather than the beautiful appearances of plants, cannot fail of ranking the present species of sage 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 open indeed they are of a yellow colour, but they quickly and constantly become of the colour of rusty iron. the leaves are nearly round, and have a pleasing silvery hue: a few of them only, and those chiefly at the extremities of the young shoots, are of the form described by linnÆus in his specific character of the plant, and hence commelin's description (_vid. syn._) is to be preferred, as leading us with more certainty to a knowledge of the plant; the colour of the leaves, the colour and unusual magnitude of the blossoms, are indisputably the most striking features of the species, and therefore to be resorted to: for my own part, as a friend to the advancement of the science, rather than as the follower of that great man, i see no good reason why colour should not in many instances, especially where expressive characters are wanting, form a part of the specific character in 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 the present plant to vary? and, on the contrary, who ever saw its leaves constant in their form? the _salvia aurea_ is a native of the cape, and was cultivated by mr. miller in , it is a hardy greenhouse plant, is readily propagated by cuttings, and flowers from may to november. if suffered to grow, it will become a shrub of the height of six or seven feet. [illustration] [ ] syringa vulgaris. common lilac. _class and order._ diandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -fida. _capsula_ bilocularis. _specific character and synonyms._ syringa _vulgaris_ foliis ovato-cordatis integris. _linn. syst. veget. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ syringa cærulea, _bauh. pin. ._ lilac sive syringa cærulea. the blew pipe tree. _park. parad. p. ._ few shrubs are better known in this country than the lilac few more universally 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 parkinson describe two sorts, the blue and the white; to these another sort is added by more modern writers, superior in beauty to the original, as producing larger bunches of flowers, of a brighter hue, having more of the purple tint and hence called by some the purple lilac, miller considers the three as different species. the flowers of the lilac possess a considerable degree of fragrance, but not of the most agreeable kind; our readers perhaps, will not be displeased to hear the opinion of old gerard on this point, delivered in his own words:--"they have a pleasant sweete smell, but in my judgement they are too sweete, troubling and molesting the head in very strange manner: 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 from sleepe, so that i could not take any rest until i had cast them out of my chamber."[ ] though a native of persia, it bears our severest winters without injury, has a pleasing appearance when in bud, flowers in may, and is readily propagated by suckers; but finer plants, in the opinion of miller, are raised from seeds. it will grow in almost any soil or situation, even in london, but, to flower well, it must have a pure air. [footnote : the name, indeed, of one of our colours is taken from its blossoms. 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.] [ ] ixia crocata. saffron-colour'd ixia. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -partita, campanulata, regularis. _stigmata_ . _specific character and synonyms._ ixia _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus secundis corolia basi hyalino-fenestratis. _thunb. diss. de ixia._ _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ ixia _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus alternis, tubo longitudine bractearum, corollæ laminis ovatis integerrimis basi hyalinis. _ait. hort. kew. p. . v. ._ ixia planifolia, caule multifloro spatha brevissima. _mill. ic. . t. . f. ._ to the cape of good hope, that never-failing source of rare and beautiful plants, we are indebted for most of our ixias, and among others for the present species, which though not of that value, nor possessing the delicacy or fragrance of the blossoms of some others, is a very desirable plant, not only as an object of curiosity, from the transparency of the base of the corolla, but as it adds much to the brilliancy of a collection, is easily obtained, and as easily propagated. it flowers in may and june, but its flowering may be prolonged by putting its bulbs into pots at different periods, or accelerated by artificial heat. it produces offsets more plentifully than many of the genus. mr. aiton informs us that it was cultivated by mr. miller in , who figures it in his _icones_. [illustration] [ ] coronilla valentina. rue-leaved coronilla. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -labiatus: / : 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. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ polygala valentina. _clus. hist. pl. rar. p. . fig. inf._ the _coronilla valentina_ comes very near to the _glauca_ already figured in this work, but may be distinguished by a little attention; the _valentina_ has smaller leaves, which are more numerous, and more truly glaucous; the stipulæ, which in the _glauca_ are small, narrow, and pointed, in the _valentina_ are large, and almost round, and in the young plant are strikingly conspicuous; as the plant comes into flower, they drop off; the _valentina_ is not so much disposed to flower the year through as the _glauca_, but produces its blossoms chiefly in may, june, and july; the flowers of the _glauca_ are observed to smell more strongly in the day-time, those of the _valentina_ at all times diffuse a very powerful odour, so as even to scent a small greenhouse; we have often been amused with hearing the different opinions entertained of this smell, some speaking of it in terms of rapture, others ready to faint when they approach it: the flowers of the _valentina_ are more disposed to produce seed-vessels than those of the _glauca_, the seeds of which usually ripen well, and afford the means of increasing the plant most readily. to have a succession of small handsome bushy plants for the greenhouse, the old ones must either be frequently cut down, or young ones raised from seed, or cuttings, the stems as they grow up becoming naked at bottom. it is a hardy greenhouse plant, and may be kept well enough through the winter in a common hot-bed frame, or planted against a south wall, and matted 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 , by j. tradescant, jun. h. k. [illustration] [illustration] [ ] selago ovata. oval-headed selago. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _cor._ tubus capillaris; limbus subæqualis, _sem._ . _specific character and synonyms._ selago _ovata_ spicis strobilinis ovatis terminalibus, foliis sparsis linearibus, caule fruticoso. _l'herit. stirp. nov. tom. . t. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ lippia _ovata_ capitulis ovatis, foliis linearibus integerrimis. _linn. mant. p. ._ linnÆus in his _mantissa_ has somewhat largely described this plant under the name of _lippia ovata_, evidently from a dried specimen, which may account for the flowers being described of a dark violet colour; he recommends it to such as might have an opportunity of seeing the living plant, to observe if it was not referable to some other genus; accordingly mons. l'heritier, who, when lately in england, saw it in the royal garden at kew, joined it to the genus _selago_, retaining the trivial name of _ovata, bractæata_ would perhaps have been a better name; for though its ovate inflorescence may be peculiar to the species, its bracteæ or floral leaves are so very singular that they constitute the 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 . it recommends itself not so much on account of its beauty, curious structure of its flowering spikes, and the fragrance of its blossoms. it is a greenhouse plant, and flowers during most of the summer; its blossoms are white with a yellow spot on the two uppermost, and sometimes on all the segments of the corolla, and an orange spot at the mouth of the tube. is propagated by cuttings. [ ] iris sambucina. elder-scented iris. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -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. . murr._ _thunb. loc. cit. n. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ iris latifolia germanica, sambuci odore. _bauh. pin. ._ iris camerarii sive purpurea versicolor major. the greater variable coloured purple flower-de-luce. _park. par. p. ._ 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 much resembles that of elder in bloom. it is one of the tallest and handsomest of the genus, in a rich moist soil acquiring the height of three feet or more; it is therefore more proper for the shrubbery than the flower-garden. it flowers about the latter end of may, and is readily increased by parting its roots in autumn. the iris of parkinson, referred to in the synonyms, accords so exactly with 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] [ ] convolvulus nil. azure convolvulus. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ campanulata, plicata. _stigmata_ . _caps._ -locularis: loculis dispermis. _specific character and synonyms._ convolvulus _nil_ foliis cordatis trilobis, corollis semiquinquefidis, pedunculis petiolo brevioribus. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ convolvulus cæruleus hederaceo anguloso folio. _bauh. pin. p. ._ nil arab. _gef. hor. eyst._ convolvulus cæruleus. blew bindweed. _ger. herb. p. . cum ic._ convolvulus trifolius five hederaceus purpureus. the greater purple bindeweede or bell-flower with cornered leaves. _park. parad. pl. . fig. ._ all our writers on exotic botany treat of this plant, gerard, one of the first, gives us the following account: "this beautiful bindweed, which we call _convolvulus cæruleus_, is called of the arabians _nil_: of _serapio_, _hab al nil_, about alepo and tripolis in syria, the inhabitants call it hasmisen, the italians _campana azurea_, of the beautifull azured flowers and also _fior de notte_, bicause his beautie appeereth most in the night:" he informs us, that it grew in his garden, but perished before it ripened its seeds. parkinson says, it thrives remarkably well in our country, if the year be any thing kindly: miller informs us, that it is a native of africa and america, extols it as one of the most beautiful of the genus, observes, that it is a very distinct species from the purpurea, of which it has been considered by some as a variety; that it will grow to the height of eight or ten feet, that in favourable seasons the seeds will ripen in the open air, and that it requires the same treatment as other annuals usually raised on a hot-bed. mr. aiton considers it as a stove plant, as indeed most of our tender annuals properly are. it flowers from july to september. though apparently common in our gardens formerly, it is now very rarely met with. [illustration] [ ] erica grandiflora. great-flowered heath. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -fida. _filamenta_ receptaculo inferta. _antheræ_ bifidæ. _caps._ -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. . p. ._ erica _grandiflora_ foliis quaternis, stylo exserto, corolla cylindrica, calyce simplici, floribus lateralibus subcurvatis. _linn. suppl. pl. p. ._ 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 as another species, did not the respectable authority of the _hortus kewensis_ silence all doubts on that head. the blossoms of this species, whether we regard their magnitude, their colour, their smooth and glossy surface, or the regular position of the filaments, projecting beyond the corolla, and closing together by the antheræ, excite our notice, and claim our admiration. like every other heath, the hardy ones excepted, it is a greenhouse plant, and flowers from may to july. our drawing was made from a plant finely blown, in the collection of james vere, esq. kensington-gore. [ ] ornithogalum aureum. golden ornithogalum. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -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 of its blossoms, which are usually of a bright orange or gold colour; in some specimens we have observed them of a paler hue, and consequently less beautiful. this highly ornamental species is of modern introduction, having been received by mess. lee and kennedy, a few years since from the cape, of which it is a native. the root is a whitish bulb, resembling in size and shape that of the _lachenalia tricolor_, figured on plate of this work, from whence spring three or four smooth, somewhat fleshy, upright, dark-green leaves, about half an inch wide, and three or four inches long, edged with white, and, if magnified, appearing fringed with very fine hairs or villi; the stalk is naked, from eight to twelve inches high, supporting many flowers, which spring from the alæ of large, hollow, pointed bracteæ, and which opening one after another, keep the plant a considerable time in flower; according to linnÆus's generic character, every other filament should be dilated at the base, in the present species each filament is so, or rather sits as it were on a white glandular nectary, emarginated on the inside, and highly deserving of notice. in the greenhouse, where this plant has hitherto been kept, its blossoms come forth as early as january and february, and continue for several months; they will long display their beauty, if the stem be cut off and put in a phial of water. it is propagated by offsets from its bulbs, and has the appearance of being a plant of kindly growth and easy management. [illustration] [ ] 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 has taken great pains to elucidate them in his _miscel. austr._ where fifteen are specifically described, none of which accord exactly with the plant here figured, which has every appearance of being a distinct species: in the _hortus kewensis_ it is described as the _glutinosa_ of the _flora austriaca_, with which it agrees in many respects, but specimens sent from vienna shew it to be a different plant; in its farinaceous tendency it accords with the _primula auricula_, but is very unlike 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 shortness of its involucrum, from _villosa_ (already figured) in having leaves much narrower, perfectly smooth in respect to villi, and in the colour of its blossoms, which approach that of the lilac, but more especially in its disposition to become mealy, particularly on the edges of its leaves, between the serratures, where it is so strong as to make the leaf appear with a white or silvery edge; as this character is constant to it, and not to any other species of primula that we are acquainted with, we have given to it the name of _marginata_. mr. _lee_ received it from the alps in the year , and it has continued in our gardens ever since unaltered by culture.| it is a very delicate pretty plant, with a pleasing musky smell, and flowers in march and april. to succeed in its cultivation, it should be placed 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 it does not suffer for want of water in dry seasons; thus treated, it increases by its roots nearly as readily as the auricula, and may be propagated by parting its' roots early in april or september. | [illustration] [illustration] [ ] 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. . p. ._ helleborine _calceolus_ dicta, mariana, foliis binis e radice ex adverso prodeuntibus, flore purpureo _pluk. mant. ; t. . f. ._ cypripedium _humile_--corolla labio superiore rhomboideo acuminato lateribus deflexo subtus carina angustissima obtusa, inferiore petalis longiore antice fisso. _transact. linn. soc. v. . p. . t. . f. ._ we have not figured the present species of cypripedium so much on account of its beauty as of its rarity, for it is far less handsome than any of the other species that we are acquainted with. it is a native of different parts of north-america, and flowers with us in may. there is little difficulty in distinguishing it from the other foreign species, it has rarely more than two radical leaves, a very short flowering stem compared with the others, a large nectary in proportion to its size, which in the specimens we have seen has been divided on its upper part, through its whole length, so as in fact to destroy in a great degree that shoe or slipper-like form, from which this genus has taken its name. like the rest of the family, it requires a little extraordinary care in its culture; its roots should be placed in a pot filled with loam and bog-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 whole border be formed of the same soil or compost the pot will be less necessary. our drawing was made from a plant growing with messrs. grimwood and co. kensington. [illustration] [ ] narcissus angustifolius. narrow-leaved narcissus. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _petala_ æqualia. _nectario_ infundibuliformi, -phyllo. _stamina_ intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _poeticus_ spatha uniflora, nectario rotato brevissimo scarioso crenulato. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ narcissus uniflorus, foliis ensiformibus, scypho brevissimo. _hall. hist. n. ._ narcissus albus circulo purpureo. _bauh. pin. p. ._ _magnol. bot. monsp. p. ._ narcissus poeticus medio purpureus. _lob._ narcissus medio purpureus. _dod. pempt. p. . f. ._ narcissus medio purpureus præcox. timely purple ringed daffodil. _ger. herb. p. . f. ._ also _præcocior, fig. ._ and _præcocissimus, fig. ._ narcissus medio purpureus præcox. the early purple ringed daffodil. _park. parad. p. . t. . f. ._ narcissus latifol. classis altera, lin. . alterum vero, &c. _clus. hist. pl. rar. lib. . p. ._ under the name of _poeticus_ three different species of narcissus appearing perfectly distinct (though similar in many respects) and regarded as such by the old botanists, have been confounded by the moderns, 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 edition of his _spec. pl._ which are indeed few in number, and confined chiefly to _bauh. pin._ _dodonæus_; of the second, and third, he takes no notice. the two former ones of these have the greatest affinity, inasmuch as they both produce for the most part only one flower, of a white colour, having a very short nectary, edged with orange; to both of these linnÆus's specific description is equally applicable, as well as the trivial name of _poeticus_, given them indiscriminately by several of the old botanists, some regarding the first, some the second as the plant mentioned by theocritus[ ], virgil[ ], and ovid[ ]; unfortunately both of them are found to grow in the same meadows, and have the same obvious appearances, it is therefore utterly impossible to say which of the two was the narcissus of the poets; if we have the greatest difficulty in ascertaining what the plants were of the _botanists_ of those times, how are we to discover what the _poets_ meant, who with very few exceptions have been unpardonably inattentive to the appearances of nature. since then the term _poeticus_ is equally suitable to both, and as there cannot be two with the same name, we have thought it best to get rid of it altogether, and substitute others which tend in a certain degree to discriminate the several species, denominating the st. _angustifolius._ d. _majalis._ d. _biflorus._ the _angustifolius_ here figured is a native of the south of europe, and said by magnol and clusius to grow spontaneously in the meadows about narbonne and montpelier. it flowers in our gardens early in april, about a month before the _biflorus_, and full six weeks sooner than the _majalis_, increases readily by offsets, and succeeds best in a soil that is moderately moist. in what respects it differs from the two others, will be mentioned when they come to be figured. [footnote : florida sed postquam venêre in prata puellæ, his illa, hæc aliis se floribus oblectabant; narcisso illa quidem bene olente, atq; illa hyacintho.] [footnote : pro molli viola, pro purpureo narcisso, carduus et spinis surgit paliurus acutis.] [footnote : nusquam corpus erat, croceum pro corpore florem inveniunt, foliis medium cingentibus albis.] [illustration] [ ] fritillaria imperialis. crown imperial. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -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. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ lilium sive corona imperialis. _bauh. pin. p. ._ tusai sive lilium persicum. _clust. hist. . p. ._ corona imperialis. the crowne imperiall. _park. par. p. . tab. . f. ._ the crown imperial, a native of the east, most probably of persia, was introduced according to dodonÆus, into the gardens of the emperor and some of the nobility at vienna in ; it appears to have been cultivated here as early as : both gerard and parkinson describe it minutely, the latter on account of its "stately beautifulness, gives it the first place in his garden of delight." it flowers usually in the beginning of april; the whole plant sends forth a strong unpleasant smell, compared by most writers to that of a fox, perceptible when you approach it; to this effluvia parkinson endeavours to reconcile us by saying that it is not unwholesome; it is so disagreeable however, that few choose to have many of these plants, or those in the most frequented parts of their gardens, yet it ought not to be proscribed, for independent of its beauty, there is much in it to admire, and especially its singular nectaria, which in the form of a white glandular excavation decorate the base of each petal; in these usually stands a drop of clear nectareous juice; the peduncle or flower-stalk which bends downwards when the plant is in flower, becomes upright 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 gardens are the common orange-flowered single and double, yellow single and double, gold-striped leaved, and silver-striped leaved; the dutch in their catalogues enumerate thirteen varieties. luxuriant plants will sometimes produce a second and even a third whorl or crown of flowers, and the flat-stalked ones which are monsters, have been known to produce seventy-two blossoms, but none of these are found to 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 in such as is stiffish, enriched with manure, and placed in a sheltered situation. is propagated by offsets, which are produced in tolerable abundance. [illustration] [ ] 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. . p. ._ the present species of _cheiranthus_, unknown both to miller and linnÆus, was first described in the _hortus kewensis_ of mr. aiton, who informs us that it was introduced to the royal garden in , and found wild 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 in march and april; on their first expanding, they are white, in some plants (for they are subject to great variation) inclined to yellow, in a few days they become purple; to this change of colour observable also in the _cheiranthus maritimus_ already figured, it owes its name of _mutabilis_. in sheltered gardens at the foot of a wall, we have known this species survive a mild winter; it seems indeed to be almost as hardy as the common stock; it is most commonly however kept in the green-house. the usual way of propagating this species, which is of ready and quick growth, is by cuttings, which should be put into the ground as soon as the plant has done flowering; these if properly treated will become handsome plants to place in the green-house at the approach of winter, and to decorate it the ensuing spring; in like manner may the green-house be annually recruited with many similar plants to great advantage. [ ] saxifraga crassifolia. oval-leaved saxifrage. _class and order._ decandria digynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus. _cor._ -petala. _caps._ -rostris, -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ saxifraga _crassifolia_, foliis ovalibus retusis obsolete serratis petiolatis, caule nudo, panicula conglomerata. _linn. sp. pl ed. . p. ._ _syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ saxifraga foliis ovalibus crenulatis, caulibus nudis. _gmel. sib. . p. . t. ._ the term _grandifolia_ would have been more applicable to this species of saxifrage than _crassifolia_, for it is not so much distinguished for the thickness as the largeness of its leaves; these are almost equal in size to those of our broad-leaved dock, red on the under and of a fine shining green on their upper surface; they may be ranked indeed among the more handsome kinds of foliage; the flowering stems, according to the richness and moisture of the soil in which they are planted, rise from one to two or even three feet high; at top supporting a large bunch of purple pendulous flowers, which blossom in april and may, and, if the season prove favourable, make a fine appearance. should cold winds prevail 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 may be 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 by dr. solander. no plant is more readily increased by parting its roots, which may be done either in spring or autumn. there is another saxifrage in our gardens exceedingly like this in appearance, but differing, in producing larger bunches of flowers, and in having larger, rounder, and more heart-shaped leaves; mr. aiton regards this as a variety of the _crassifolia_, we are inclined to consider it as a species under the name of _cordifolia_. the parts of fructification in the _crassifolia_ are apt to be preternaturally increased. [illustration] [illustration] [ ] narcissus biflorus. two-flower'd narcissus. narcissus _biflorus_ spatha biflor, nectario brevissimo scarioso. narcissus pallidus circulo luteo. _bauh. pin. p. ._ narcissus medio luteus. _dod. pempt. p. . f. ._ narcissus medio luteus. primrose peerles, or the common white daffodil. _ger. herb. p. . f. ._ narcissus medio luteus vulgaris. the common white daffodill, called _primrose peerlesse_. _park. par. p. . t. . f. ._ narcissus latifol classis altera, lin. . nascuntur, &c. ad intellexisse. _clus. hist. pl. rar. lib. . p. ._ both gerard and parkinson describe and figure this plant, informing us that it was very common in the gardens in their time; the former indeed mentions it as growing wild in fields and sides of woods in the west of england; the latter says he could never hear of its natural place of growth. clusius reports that he had been credibly informed of its growing wild in england; it probably may, but of this it remains for us to be more clearly ascertained; it undoubtedly is the plant mentioned by ray in his synopsis. as it grows readily, increases in a greater degree than most others and is both ornamental and odoriferous, it is no wonder that we meet with it in almost every garden, and that in abundance, flowering towards the end of april, about three weeks later than the angustifolia. it usually produces two flowers, hence we have called it biflorus; it frequently occurs with one, more rarely with three, in a high state of culture it probably may be found with more; when it has only one flower it may easily be mistaken for the _majalis_, but may be thus distinguished from it; 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 the character, which by observation we have found most to be depended on, exists in the flowering stem, the top of which in the biflorus, very soon after it emerges from the ground, bends down and becomes elbowed, as our figure represents; in the _majalis_, it continues upright till within a short time of the flowers expanding. [illustration] [ ] 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. , p. ._ of the genus _indigofera_, twenty-three species are enumerated in prof. murray's edition of the _syst. vegetab._ of linnÆus; ten in the _hortus kewensis_ of mr. aiton; in which last work only, the present plant, distinguished by the whiteness of its stalks and of the underside of its leaves, is described, and in which we are informed, that it is a native of the cape, from whence it was introduced by mr. masson in . its principal period of flowering is from about the beginning of may to the middle of june, at which time it is highly ornamental in the green-house: strong healthy plants produce from five to eight blossoms in a spike: on a plant growing with mr. colvill, nurseryman, king's-road, chelsea, we once counted nine: a few of these usually produce seed-vessels containing perfect seeds, by which the plant is mostly propagated; it may also be raised by cuttings, but not very readily. [ ] aster alpinus. alpine aster. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _recept._ nudum. _pappus_ simplex. _cor._ radii plures . _cal._ imbricati squamæ inferiores patulæ. _specific character and synonyms._ aster _alpinus_ foliis subspathulatis hirtis integerrimis, caulibus simplicibus unifloris. _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ aster _alpinus_ foliis spatulatis hirtis: radicalibus obtusis, caule simplicissimo unifloro. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ _jacq. fl. austr. v. . t. ._ aster montanus cæruleus, magno flore, foliis oblongis. _bauh. pin. p. ._ clusius and jacquin, by both of whom this species of aster is figured and described, inform us, that it grows spontaneously on the austrian alps: of the many hardy herbaceous species cultivated in our garden, this is by far the most humble in is growth; in its wild state acquiring the height of about four inches, and when cultivated, rarely exceeding eight or nine: its blossoms for its size are large and shewy, making their appearance much earlier than any of the others, viz. about the end of may and beginning of june, and continuing in blossom three weeks or a month. it is readily propagated by parting its roots in the autumn, may be kept in pots, or planted in the open border, prefers a moist stiffish soil; if carefully watered in dry weather, will grow among rock-work, for which, from its size, it is well adapted. [illustration] [ ] antirrhinum sparteum. branching toad-flax. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ basis deorsum prominens nectarifera. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ antirrhinum _sparteum_ foliis subulatis canaliculatis carnosis: inferioribus ternis, caule paniculato corollisque glaberrimis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. . p. ._ the drawing here exhibited gives but a faint idea of the elegant and lively appearance which this plant assumes when it grows in a tuft, and a number of its branches are in blossom at the same time. it is a hardy annual, of small stature, a native of spain, and flowers during most of the summer. was introduced into this country, according to mr. aiton, in , by mons. richard, and deserves to be much more generally cultivated. some regard it as a biennial, but as seeds of it sown in the spring flower the ensuing summer, and as the plant dies when it has ripened its seeds, there appears more propriety in considering it as an annual. it is to be sown in the same manner as other hardy annuals; will flower earlier if the seeds have been raised in autumn. the upper part of the stalk, as well as the leaves of the calyx, are beset with viscous hairs, in which respect it does not perfectly accord with linnÆus's description. _vid. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ [illustration] [illustration] [ ] pelargonium bicolor. two-coloured crane's-bill. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus: lacinia suprema desinente in tubulum capillarem, nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _filam._ , inæqualia: quorum (raro ) castrata. _fructus_ -coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ spiralia, introrsum barbata. _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _bicolor_ umbellis multifloris, foliis ternatifidis lobatis dentatis undulatis villosis. _l'herit. n. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ geranium bicolor. _jacq. hort. . p. . t. ._ _cavan. diss. . p. . t. . f. ._ in every numerous tribe of plants, many of the species approach so near to each other, that there is much difficulty in distinguishing them; this objection cannot be urged against the present plant, which obviously differs from all the others of the same genus in the particular shape of its leaves and the colour of its blossoms, the latter are usually of a rich and very dark purple edged with white, from whence we apprehend it takes its name of _bicolor_; the colours however are scarcely distinct enough to justify such a name. mr. aiton informs us in his _hort. kew._ that this very ornamental species was introduced in the year , 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. grimwood and co. kensington, with whom it flowers from june to august. it is not disposed to ripen its seeds, nor is it very readily increased by cuttings. [ ] lupinus perennis. perennial lupine. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -labiatus. _antheræ_ , oblongæ , subrotundæ. _legumen_ coriaceum. _specific character and synonyms._ lupinus _perennis_ calycibus alternis inappendiculatis: labio superiore emarginato; inferiore integro. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ lupinus calycibus alternis, radice perenni repente. _fl. virg. ._ lupinus cæruleus minor perennis virginianus repens. _moris. hist. . p. . s. . t. . f. ._ lupinus floribus cæruleis inodoris, in spicas longas digestis, radice reptatrice. _clayt. n. ._ 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 of a year old, to the depth of three feet, they also spread out far and wide; hence the roots even of young plants are with difficulty taken up entire, and as they do not succeed well by transplanting, if the root be cut or broken, our excellent author prefers raising this elegant plant from seed, which, though not very plentifully produced, ripen in july and 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 the botanic garden at oxford, as long since as . flowers from may to july. is a hardy perennial, succeeding best in a dry situation, with a loam moderately stiff. [illustration] [illustration] [ ] geranium angulatum. angular-stalked crane's-bill. _class and order._ monadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -petala, regularis. _nect._ glandulæ , melliferæ, basi longiorum filamentorum adnatæ. _fructus_ -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, we are perfectly satisfied of its being a species altogether distinct from any of the hardy and more ornamental plants of that genus usually cultivated in our gardens. it is obviously distinguished by two characters, the angular appearance of its stalk (whence our name of _angulatum_) and its flesh-coloured blossoms, marked with veins of a deeper red. in size it stands between _pratense_ and _aconitifolium_, in its blossoms it has some affinity to _striatum_ and _lancastriense_, but veins are not so strongly marked as in the former, and it differs from the latter in having an upright stalk. it usually flowers in may, and frequently again in autumn; is a hardy perennial, and easily increased either by seeds or parting its roots. of what country it is a native, or when it was first introduced, we have yet to learn; we first observed it in a nursery near town, where it is regarded as a very different species. [illustration] [ ] ranunculus aconitifolius. mountain crowfoot, or fair maids of france. _class and order._ polyandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ -intra ungues poro mellifero. _sem._ nuda. _specific character and synonyms._ ranunculus _aconitifolius_ foliis omnibus quinatis lanceolatis inciso-serratis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ ranunculus folio aconiti, flore albo multiplici. _bauh. pin. ._ ranunculus montanus albus flore pleno. the double white mountain crowfoot. _park. parad. p. . f. ._ double white bachelors buttons. _ger. herb. p. . f. ._ this is one of those plants which derives its beauty from the multiplication of its petals; in its single state no one would think it deserving of culture as an ornamental plant: when double, few plants come 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 and parkinson. like most alpine plants, it requires a pure air, and succeeds best in a situation moderately moist and shady; is a hardy perennial, and may be increased by parting its roots in autumn. in all seasons, with us, its foliage, as well as that of most other crowfoots, is liable to be disfigured, and sometimes nearly destroyed, by a very small maggot which feeds betwixt, the coats of the leaf, and which ultimately produces a small fly, called by us _musca ranunculi_. [ ] antirrhinum alpinum. alpine toad-flax. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ antirrhinum _alpinum_ foliis quaternis lineari-lanceolatis glaucis, caule diffuso, floribus racemosis, calcari recto. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p ._ _jacq. fl. austr. v. . t. ._ antirrhinum caule procumbente breviter spicato, foliis verticillatis. _hall. hist. p. ._ linaria quadrifolia supina. _bauh. pin. p. ._ linaria tertia styriaca. _clus. hist. . p. ._ 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, be sufficient to recommend it to our readers. it is a native of various mountainous parts of europe, affecting moist, stony situations,[ ] and flowers during most of the summer: is a hardy perennial[ ], according to the celebrated author of the _fl. austriaca_; mr. aiton, in his _hort. kew._ marks it as a biennial. it is nevertheless apt to be lost, like other small alpine plants, for want of proper treatment and care. mr. aiton informs us on the authority of lobel, that it was cultivated here by mr. hugh morgan, in . may be propagated by cuttings, as well as by seeds, which however are not very plentifully produced with us. succeeds best when kept in a pot, or on rock-work, which it is well suited to decorate. [footnote : in saxosis udis alpium. _jacq._] [footnote : radix perennis. _jacq._] [illustration] [illustration] [ ] geranium anemonefolium. anemone-leav'd geranium. _class and order._ monadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -petala, regularis. _nect._ glandulæ melliferæ basi longiorum filamentorum adnatæ. _fructus_ -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. . t. ._ geranium palmatum. _cavan. diss. . p. . t. . f. ._ before the appearance of the _hortus kewensis_, _lævigatum_ was the term usually applied to this species of geranium, by botanists here, and that on account of the smooth and glossy appearance of its leaves; in that work mr. aiton adopts the word _anemonefolium_, by which mons. l. heritier had distinguished this species, from an idea that their shape afforded a more expressive character than their smoothness. we regret that the small size of our plate will not admit of our giving representation of those leaves, and of their mode of growth, which so strikingly characterizes the plant and adds so considerably to its beauty. mr. aiton informs us that this species is a native of madeira, from whence it was introduced here by mr. francis masson in . it flowers from may to september, is usually and readily raised from seeds, nor is it so tender as many other green-house plants. [illustration] [ ] dianthus barbatus. bearded pink or sweet william. _class and order._ decandria digynia. _generic character._ _cal._ cylindricus -phyllus: basi squamis . _petala_ unguiculata. _capsula_ cylindrica, -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ dianthus _barbatus_ floribus aggregatis fasciculatis: squamis calycinis ovato-subulatis tubum æquantibus, foliis lanceolatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ caryophyllus hortensis barbatus latifolius. _bauh. pin. ._ armerius latifolius simplex. single sweete williams. _park. parad. p. ._ linnÆus, in his _spec. pl._ appears not to have known of what country the sweet william was a native, and even in the _hortus kewensis_, this circumstance is left undecided; yet dodonÆus, in his _pemptades_[ ], mentions its being found wild in germany, and prof. hoffman confirms this in his _germanys flora_[ ]. at the time dodonÆus wrote ( ) this plant was cultivated in the netherlands, 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 they have bestowed on its more favoured relatives the pink and carnation, and hence it probably has not arrived at that degree of improvement of which it is capable; our figure is intended to represent one of the most esteemed of its kind, viz. the _painted lady_ variety, which has a deep rich purple eye, surrounded with a pure white, having the edge of the petals slightly indented; but our colours fall far short of the beauties of the original. besides single flowers producing an infinite variety of colours, there are several double varieties of the sweet william, some of which are observed to have more scent than others. to possess these plants in perfection, we must renew them yearly; for though the root be perennial, it is apt to decay, especially if the soil in which it grows be either very moist, or very dry; or if the air be not pure, the single sorts must be raised from seeds, which should be saved from the choicest flowers; the double sorts may be increased by cuttings, pipings, or layers, in the same manner, and at the same time as pinks and carnations; the seed should be sown early in april, the seedlings transplanted into a bed in june, taking advantage of a wet day and placed about six inches asunder each way; in september they will be fit to transplant into the flower border, where they will blossom the ensuing summer, during the months of june and july, and ripen their seed in august. [footnote : in petrosis collibus et asperis, fabulosis apricisque locis, apud germanos nascitur. _pempt. p. ._] [footnote : sponte in sylvaticis, montosis (carn. siles. tubing) germanys fl. . p. .] [ ] melissa grandiflora. great-flower'd balm. _class and order._ didynamia gymnospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ aridus, supra planiusculus; labio superiore subfastigiato. _corollæ_ lab. super. subfornicatum, -fidum; labium inf. lobo medio cordato. _specific character and synonyms._ melissa _grandiflora_ pedunculis axillaribus dichotomis longitudine florum. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ calamintha magno flore. _bauh. pin. ._ calamintha montana præstantior. the more excellent calamint. _ger. herb. p. ._ as to the name. _ger. emac. ._ as to the figure. the _melissa grandiflora_, a beautiful and hardy perennial, grows spontaneously on the hilly and mountainous parts of france, italy, and germany; gerard mentions it as found wild in this country, which stands in need of further confirmation; there is little doubt, however, but he had cultivated the plant; as he says, "brought into the garden, it prospereth 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, both much inferior in size to those of the plant here figured, and therefore not worth cultivating; we have a variety also with variegated leaves which we obtained from seeds. this plant is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and may also be raised from seeds, which are plentifully produced: as it rarely exceeds a foot in height, it becomes a suitable plant for the small flower border, or for the decoration of rock-work. the leaves when bruised have the smell of garden balm. [illustration] [illustration] [ ] hibiscus trionum. bladder hibiscus. _class and order._ monadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _cal._ duplex: exterior polyphyllus. _caps._ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ hibiscus _trionum_ foliis tripartitis incisis, calycibus inflatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ trionum _linn. hort. cliff. ._ alcea vesicaria. _bauh. pin. ._ alcea peregrina five vesicaria. venice mallow, or good night at noone. _park. parad. p. . . f. ._ seeds of the plant here figured are sold in the seed-shops under the name of venice mallow, a name by which it was known in the time of gerard and parkinson: mr. aiton has changed this for the more scientific one of bladder hibiscus. authors have also distinguished this plant by terms expressive of the short-lived expansion of its flowers, which gerard says open at eight o'clock in the morning and close about nine, from whence he observes, that it might with propriety be called malva horaria: miller lengthens the duration of its blowing to a few hours: we have frequently observed its blossoms continue sufficiently open to shew their beauty the greatest part of the day, more especially towards the close of summer. few annuals are more admired than this, the inside of the flower is of delicate cream colour, having the centre embellished with a rich purple velvet, on which its golden antheræ are proudly conspicuous. it is said to be a native of italy; a cape variety, differing in hairiness and a few other particulars is mentioned by miller, and considered 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 produce plants in abundance the ensuing spring; to have it flower as long as may be, it will be proper to sow it at two or three different periods. [illustration] [ ] celsia linearis. linear-leav'd celsia. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus. _cor._ rotata. _filamenta_ barbata, _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ celsia _linearis_. _jacq. collect. v. . n. ._ _icon. v. . t. ._ celsia _linearis_ foliis ternis linearibus denticulatis. we here present our readers with the figure of a plant newly introduced from france by mr. williams, nurseryman of paris, collected originally in peru by mr. dombey, whose flowers, if they do not equal those of the fuchsia already figured in elegance of form and growth, surpass them somewhat in brilliancy of colour, whence it becomes a most desirable plant for the purpose of ornament. professor jacquin, who first gave a figure and description of this plant, informs us in his collectanea, that he received seeds of it from professor ortega of madrid, under the name of _celsia linearis_, which name he has adopted; and we, from respect to such authority, have continued; at the same time we must observe, that it ill accords with that genus: the blossoms while in bud fold up somewhat in the same manner as those of the celsia, but on expansion they appear widely different; their shape indeed then becomes truly singular, resembling a half-formed imperfect corolla, its filaments are short and want the hairs which in part characterise the celsia; its seed-vessels also are far from being round: its antheræ are large and close together, somewhat like 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 class didynamia. being a native of a warm climate, it comes to the greatest perfection here when placed in a stove in which the heat is moderate; but it will succeed very well if treated as a tender green-house plant: it does not appear to be quite so hardy as the fuchsia, nor to flower like that plant at all seasons, but usually produces its blossoms in the latter summer months, those are succeeded by seed-vessels producing perfect seeds, by which, as well as by cuttings, the plant is propagated. its leaves, which are not deciduous, are linear, and more or less toothed, growing three together; this character however is somewhat obscured by others growing from their bosoms. [ ] sedum populifolium. poplar-leav'd stonecrop. _class and order._ decandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _cor._ -petala. _squamæ_ nectariferæ ad basin germinis. _caps._ . _specific character and synonyms._ sedum _populifolium_ foliis planis cordatis dentatis petiolatis, corymbis terminalibus. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ sedum _populifolium_ foliis petiolatis cordatis dentatis, floribus paniculatis. _linn. fil. suppl. p. ._ sedum _populifolium_. _pallas, it. . p. . t. o. fig. ._ professor pallas, the celebrated russian naturalist, discovered this species of sedum in siberia, and in the year , introduced it to the royal garden at kew; the younger linnÆus describes it minutely in his _suppl. plantarum_, and observes, that in its general form it much resembles the _saxifraga rotundifolia_. its leaves are flat as in many of the other species, and when the plant grows in an open situation, exposed to the sun, they become as well as the stalks of a bright red colour, which adds much to its beauty. it is the only hardy sedum cultivated; in our gardens with a shrubby stalk, its leaves however are deciduous, so that in the winter it loses its verdure, it flowers in july and august, and is readily increased by cuttings. as most of this tribe grow readily, and many of them naturally on rocks and walls, they may be in general regarded as proper rock plants, some of them however are apt by the quickness of their growth to extend over and 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 the green-house. [illustration] [ ] 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. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ there is a neatness in the appearance of this plant, which joined to the singular 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 . _ait. kew._ it flowers from may to august, grows freely, and is usually propagated by cuttings. [illustration] [illustration] [ ] polygonum orientale. tall persicaria. _class and order._ octandria trigynia. _generic character._ _cal._ . _cor._ -partita, calycina. _sem._ . angulatum. _specific character and synonyms._ polygonum _orientale_ floribus heptandris digynis, foliis ovatis, caule erecto, stipulis hirtis hypocrateriformibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ persicaria _orientalis_ nicotianæ folio calyce florum purpureo. _tournef. cor. ._ schovanna-modelamuccu. _rheed. mal. . p. . t. ._ of the genus polygonum, the present well-known native of the east, as well as of india, is the principal one cultivated in our gardens for ornament, and is distinguished not less for its superior stature than the brilliancy of its flowers; it will frequently grow to the height of eight or ten feet, and become a formidable rival to the gigantic sun-flower. there is a dwarf variety of it, and another with white flowers; it has been 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 the seedlings appear, they should be thinned so as to stand a foot apart. this plant requires very little care, and will bear the smoke of london better than many others. was cultivated by the dutchess of beaufort, in . _ait. kew._ the stipulæ on the stalk are deserving of notice, being unusual in their form, and making it look as if beruffled. [ ] 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. . p. ._ about the year , we received from philadelphia, seeds of a plant collected at a considerable distance from that city, announced to us as new and rare, and which produced the present species of _dracocephalum_: mr. watson, nurseryman at islington, obtained the same plant from carolina, about the same period. it is a hardy perennial, multiplying considerably by its roots, which creep 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_, to which, though a much rarer plant, it is inferior in point of beauty; it spreads more on the ground, its flowering stems are not altogether so upright, nor so tall, the leaves are broader, and the flowers in the spikes less numerous. [illustration] [illustration] [ ] ranunculus acris flore pleno. double upright crowfoot. _class and order._ polyandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ , 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. . murr. p. ._ ranunculus hortensis erectus flore pleno. _bauh. pin. p. . ?._ ranunculus pratensis flore multiplici. _park. parad. p. ._ the double yellow field crowfoot. in giving a representation of this species of ranunculus, we have made a slight deviation from the strict letter of our plan, as expressed in the title page, which confines us to the figuring of foreign plants only; we have thought, however, that it would not be inconsistent with the spirit of the _flower-garden displayed_, were we occasionally to introduce such english plants as have double flowers, and which, on that account, are thought worthy of a place in every garden; they are but few in number, and we flatter ourselves that this trifling alteration will be approved by our numerous readers. the _ranunculus acris_ is the first that we offer of these; a plant, in its wild and single state, common in all our rich meadows, and in its improved, or to speak more botanically, in its monstrous state (all double flowers being monsters, for the most part formed from the preternatural multiplication of their petals) it has long been cultivated in gardens abroad, as well as here. there are certain ornamental plants of the perennial kind, which, if once introduced, will succeed with the least possible trouble, and therefore suit such as have little time to bestow on their flower-gardens; the present plant is one of those: if the soil in which we plant it be moist, it will grow most readily, and flower during the months of june and july; and it is easily increased, by parting its roots in autumn. [illustration] [ ] 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. . p. ._ helleborine calceolus dicta mariana flore gemello candido, venis purpureis, striato. _pluk. mant. . t. . f. ._ cypripedium _hirsutum_ foliis oblongo ovatis venosis hirsutis flore maximo. _mill. dict. ed. . to._ cypripedium _spectabile_. corolla labio superiore ovali basi retuso concavo subtus carina obtusa, inferiore petalis longiore grosso. _salisb. trans. linn. soc. v. . p. ._ of the genus _cypripedium_, great-britain produces only one, america several species; of these the _album_ here figured, (whose name is derived from the whiteness of its petals, and with which the nectary must not be confounded) is by far the most magnificent; indeed there are few flowers which to such singularity of structure add such elegance and beauty: it grows spontaneously in various parts of north-america, and chiefly in the woods; was introduced to the royal garden at kew, by mr. william young about the year , but was known to mr. miller, and cultivated by him at chelsea long before that period; this intelligent and truly practical author informs us, that all the sorts of cypripedium are with difficulty preserved and propagated in gardens; he recommends them to be planted in a loamy soil, and in a situation where they may have the morning sun only; they must, he observes, for the above reasons, be procured from the places where they naturally grow; the roots should be seldom removed, for transplanting them prevents their flowering, which usually takes place in june. a greater proof of the difficulty of increasing these plants need not be adduced than their present scarcity, though vast numbers have been imported, how few can boast of possessing them, or of preserving them for any length of time; careful management in their cultivation will doubtless go far, but peculiarity of soil and situation would appear to be of greater importance: it is well known that certain plants thrive in certain districts only, the double yellow rose, for instance, barely exists 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 nearly twice their usual size,--enviable spot! index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _sixth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ antirrhinum sparteum. ---- alpinum. aster alpinus. celsia linearis. cheiranthus mutabilis. colutea frutescens. convolvulus nil. coronilla valentina. cypripedium acaule. ---- album. dianthus barbatus. dracocephalum denticulatum. erica grandiflora. fritillaria imperialis. geranium angulatum. ---- anemonefolium. hibiscus trionum. indigofera candicans. iris sambucina. ixia crocata. lupinus perennis. melissa grandiflora. narcissus angustifolius. ---- biflorus. ornithogalum aureum. pelargonium bicolor. polygonum orientale. primula marginata. ranunculus aconitifolius. ---- acris flore pleno. salvia aurea. saxifraga crassifolia. sedum populifolium. selago ovata. syringa vulgaris. tanacetum flabelliforme. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _sixth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ aster alpine. balm great-flower'd. bladder-senna scarlet. celsia linear-leav'd. convolvulus azure. coronilla rue-leav'd. crane's-bill two-colour'd. ---- angular-stalk'd. crowfoot mountain. ---- upright-double. dragon's-head toothed. geranium anemone-leav'd. heath great-flower'd. hibiscus bladder. imperial crown. indigo white-leav'd. iris elder-scented. ixia saffron-colour'd. ladies-slipper two-leav'd. ---- white-petal'd. lilac common. lupine perennial. narcissus narrow-leav'd. ---- two-flower'd. ornithogalum golden. persicaria tall. primula silver-edg'd. sage golden. saxifrage oval-leav'd. selago oval-headed. stonecrop poplar-leav'd. tansey fan-leav'd. toad-flax branching. ---- alpine. wall-flower changeable. william sweet. file made using scans of public domain works at the university of georgia.) 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. xiii. "---- all alone, amid her garden fair, "from morn to noon, from noon to dewy eve, "she spent her days, her pleasing task to tend "the flowers; to lave them from the water-spring; "to ope the buds with her enamoured breath, "rank the gay tribes, and rear them in the sun. ---- ---- "thus plied assiduous her delightful task, "day after day, till every herb she named "that paints the robe of spring." bruce. _london_: printed by stephen couchman, throgmorton-street, for w. curtis, nº , _st. george's-crescent_, black-friars-road; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xcix. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] azalea pontica. yellow azalea. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ campanulata. _stamina_ receptaculo inserta. _caps._ - locularis polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ azalea _pontica_ foliis nitidis lanceolatis, utrinque glabris, racemis terminalibus. _linn. sp. pl. app. p. ._ _pall. fl. ross. t. . p. ._ chamÆrhodendros pontica maxima mespili folio flore luteo. _tourn. cor. hist. rei. herb. ._ _act. paris . p. ._ _buxb. cent. . p. . t. ._ descr. shrub from two to three feet or more in height, the thickest part of the stem not exceeding the size of the little finger, covered with a smooth brown bark, irregularly branched; flowers appearing before the leaves are fully expanded, and produced in umbels at the extremities of the branches, from eight to twelve or more in an umbel, of a fine yellow colour and agreeable fragrance; each blossom is about the size of that of the horse-chestnut, and as some of them are produced much earlier than others, the plant of course continues a considerable time in bloom, standing on short peduncles; calyx very short, viscous, and irregularly divided, most commonly into five ovato-lanceolate segments; corolla, tube cylindrical, viscous, grooved, brim divided into five segments, undulated and somewhat wrinkled, ovate, pointed, three turning upwards, two downwards, of the three uppermost segments the middle one more intensely yellow than the others and inclining to orange, with which it is sometimes spotted; stamina usually five, yellow, projecting beyond the corolla, and turning upwards near their extremities; antheræ orange-coloured; pollen whitish and thready; germen somewhat conical, evidently hairy, and somewhat angular; style yellowish, filiform, projecting beyond the stamina, and turning upwards; stigma forming a round green head. the figure and description here given were taken from a plant which flowered by means of artificial heat, in the spring of , at mr. watson's, nurseryman, islington, and which had been introduced the same year, by mr. anthony hove, of warsaw. as an hardy ornamental shrub, it bids fair to prove an acquisition truly valuable, its flowers produced in the months of june and july, being highly ornamental as well as fragrant. we have the best authority for regarding this plant as the _chamærhodendros pontica_ of tournefort, it agrees with his own specimens in sir joseph banks's herbarium, it accords also with his description, and figures, more especially of those flowers which are of their natural size; nor have we any doubts of its being the _azalea pontica_ of prof. pallas, figured in the _flor. rossica_, since it corresponds generally with his description, though not in all points with his figure, which bears evident marks of inaccuracy, the stigma, for instance, is represented as trifid. tournefort found this plant on the eastern side of the black sea, mr. hove on the north side near oczakow, and elsewhere; professor pallas on mount caucasus. as yet there has been no opportunity of ascertaining the best means of propagating this new denizen, but there is every reason to suppose that it will succeed with the treatment bestowed on the other _azalea's_. prof. pallas relates that the honey of bees frequenting the flowers of this plant is supposed to be narcotic, and that goats, kine, and sheep on eating its leaves have been poisoned thereby. by permission and with the approbation of mr. anthony hove, the following extracts from his journal are here inserted. "june , , found a few of this species of _azalea_ on the river dnieper in swampy ground, four feet high, beginning to blow, called here the stupifying shrub, and considered by some as highly efficacious in curing the venereal disease. "june , found this species on the river dniester, on the estate of count stanislaus sczesny potocki, about sixteen english miles from the town of mohilow, in peat earth, from four to twenty feet high; regarded by the common people as intoxicating, and used in the cure of various diseases. "july , near oczakow, found thousands of these plants fully blown, in a marsh, every spring-tide overflown by the sea; found there also, a tartarian farmer, who lived entirely by the profits arising from the honey which the bees extracted from the flowers of this plant, sold to constantinople and other parts of turkey for medicinal uses. "july , arrived at trebizond, found a valley about ten english miles from the sea covered with these plants." on cultivation, mr. hove relates that he found the _azalea's_ from trebizond much more tender than those from the borders of the dnieper and the dniester, and was therefore inclined to regard them as strong varieties if not distinct species. the leaves, when fully expanded, are in size and figure like those on the plate, hairy on both sides, and terminating in a very remarkable blunt mucro or point, which has not been noticed either by those who have described or figured the plant as it deserves, for it appears to form a very strong character. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] oxybaphus viscosus. viscid umbrella-wort. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus campanulatus. _cor._ infundibuliformis. _nux_ -gona -sperma calyce explanato persistenti circumdata. _specific character and synonyms._ oxybaphus _viscosus_. _l'herit. monograph._ mirabilis _viscosa_ floribus racemosis; foliis cordatis orbiculato-acutis tomentosis. _cav. icon. i. n. . t. ._ the present is one of those plants which is entitled to our admiration, for its curious and singular structure, rather than for any extraordinary figure it makes in a collection; not that its flowers are without a certain share of beauty. it is an annual, growing to about the height of two feet; the whole plant is viscous, and, if bruised, smells somewhat disagreeably; the flowers do not open at any particular time as those of the _mirabilis_ do, and each contains only three stamina; when they fall off, which they do soon after expanding, the calyx closes on the germen, enlarges, droops, and becomes deeply plaited; on the ripening of the seed it turns brown, expands, and is suspended like a little umbrella over the seed, which when perfectly ripe drops out on the ground; the expanded calyx in this state appears somewhat like the flower of a physalis. this plant flowers from june to october, and ripens its seeds in the open air; it is not difficult of culture, requires the same treatment as other tender annuals from peru. our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered , in the collection of the marchioness of bute, and was raised from peruvian seeds, sent her by prof. ortega of madrid, under the name of _mirabilis triandra_; mons. cavanille has figured and described it as the _mirabilis viscosa_; mons. l'heritier, from a consideration of all its characters, has been induced to make a new genus of it, which he has called _oxybaphus_. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] gnaphalium ericoides. heath-leaved gnaphalium, or everlasting. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _recept._ nudum. _pappus_ plumosus. _cal._ imbricatus: squamis marginalibus rotundatis scariosis coloratis. _specific character and synonyms._ gnaphalium _ericoides_ fruticosum foliis sessilibus linearibus, calycibus exterioribus rudibus, interioribus incarnatis. _linn. am. acad. v. . p. ._ _syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ in the th vol. of the _amoenitates academicæ_, linnæus describes this species of _gnaphalium_, most probably from dried specimens collected at the cape, where it is a native; so insignificant did the plant appear to him, that in his description, he calls it _misera_; compared with the more magnificent species, such a term might not perhaps be inapplicable: but, though small, the plant possesses much beauty when cultivated, and hence is generally kept in our green-houses. it flowers from march to august. its branches, naturally weak and trailing, require to be carefully tied up; if this business be executed with taste and judgment, the natural beauty of the plant may be considerably heightened. it is readily increased by cuttings. was introduced to the royal garden at kew, by mr. masson, in . [ ] [illustration: nº. ] hibiscus præmorsus. bitten-leaved hibiscus. _class and order._ monadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _cal._ duplex: exterior polyphyllus. _caps._ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ hibiscus _præmorsus_ foliis subrotundis, dentato-serratis retusis pubescentibus. _ait. kew. v. . ._ hibiscus _præmorsus_ hirsutus, foliis ovatis basi angustato-cordatis apice præmorsis crenatis, calycibus tomentosis, seminibus tuberculatis. _linn. suppl. pl. p. ._ pavonia _cuneifolia_. _cavan. diff. . p. . t. . f. ._ urena _præmorsa_. _l'herit. stirp. nov. t. ._ though not so shewy a plant as many of the genus, we find this species of _hibiscus_ in most collections of green-house plants about london, flowering from june to september. its foliage is singular, its blossoms sulphur coloured with a tint of orange on the under side and without scent; if suffered to grow, this shrub will acquire a considerable height; it seeds freely, by which the plant is readily increased, and by these it requires to be renewed once in two or three years. is a native of the cape, from whence it was introduced, by mr. masson, in . _ait. kew._ it will be seen by the synonyms, that authors have been divided in their opinions as to the genus of this plant; linnæus the younger, in his _suppl._ makes it an _hibiscus_; cavanille, a _pavonia_; l'heritier, an _urena_; mr. aiton, an _hibiscus_; not partial to the multiplying of genera, unless there be an obvious necessity for it, we have in the present instance followed the first and last of these writers. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] hydrangea arborescens. shrubby hydrangea. _class and order._ decandria digynia. _generic character._ _caps._ -locularis, -rostris, infera, foramine inter stylos dehiscens. _specific character and synonyms._ hydrangea _arborescens_ caule arboreo. _linn. syst. nat. ed. ._ _gmel. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ anonymos floribus albis parvis, in umbella lata magna dispositis odoratis, foliis amplis acuminatis serratis pediculis insidentibus ex adverso binis, caule fruticoso præalto non ramoso, vasculo parvo, bicapsulari, seminibus minutissimis repleto, duobus parvis filamentis seu corniculis recurvis coronato. _clayt. n. ._ _mill. icon. t. ._ _duham. arb. . t. ._ as a shrub commonly cultivated for ornament in our gardens and plantations, the _hydrangea arborescens_ has a right to appear in this work, nevertheless it is more with a view to illustrate a peculiar character of the genus that it is here figured. this shrub is a native of virginia, and was introduced in , by p. collinson, esq. it is of low growth, rarely exceeding four feet in height; its flowers are produced on the summits of the branches, somewhat in the manner of the _laurustinus_; they are small, crowded, nearly white, with a tinge of red in them which is not very brilliant, and some fragrance; they are produced in july and august, and sometimes followed by ripe seeds here. is easily propagated by parting its roots the latter end of october, prefers a moist soil, but will grow in a dry one; if in severe frosts the stalks, which are rather soft, should be killed, new ones will be put up the following spring. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] hydrangea hortensis. garden hydrangea. hydrangea _hortensis_ foliis ellipticis serratis glaberrimis staminibus æqualibus. _smith icon. rar. t. ._ hortensia. _commmers. jussieu gen. ._ primula _mutabilis_ caule suffruticoso multiplici, foliis ovatis serratis, floribus nudis. _loureir coch. chin. v. . p. ._ viburnum _tomentosum_ foliis ovatis acuminatis serratis venosis subtus tomentosis, umbellis lateralibus. _thunb. jap. p. . ?_ sambucus aquatica surculis pinguibus punctatis, &c. sijo vulgo adsai et ansai et adsiki. _kæmpf. am. exot. p. ._ var. fl. albo, pila florida major. it appears to be a point not yet fully determined, whether the present plant exhibits the appearances belonging to it in a state of nature, or those which are in a certain degree the effect of accident, or of art; in its fructification it certainly is not so completely barren as the guilder rose, _viburnum opulus_, cultivated in our gardens, since it has most of its parts perfect; yet as none of the authors who have seen it in china or japan (where it is said not only to be much cultivated but indigenous[ ]) describe its fruit, we are inclined on that account to regard it, in a certain degree, as monstrous. it will appear by the synonyms, that authors have entertained very different opinions as to what this plant really is; jussieu following commerson makes it an _hortensia_, thunberg a _viburnum_, loureiro, ridiculously enough, a _primula_, and dr. smith an _hydrangea_. in the original description of the characters of the genus _hydrangea_ by linnæus, there is no mention made of two different kinds of florets, as in the _viburnum_, nor has any author that i am acquainted with described the _hydrangea arbor._ as producing such; yet, to my great surprise, in a plant of this sort which flowered in my garden at brompton in july , three of the cymæ, and three only, threw out each of them from their circumference a very different flower from those in the centre, smaller indeed, but very similar to the flowers of the _hydrang. hort._ see pl. . in , mr. walter published his _fl. carolin._ in which he describes a second species of _hydrangea_, which he calls _radiata_,[ ] having very distinctly, as in the _viburnum_, two different kinds of florets in the same cyma, this variation in the florets is added by him to the generic character: the similarity which exists between the flowers of mr. walter's _hydrangea radiata_, and those of the present plant sufficiently justify dr. smith in making it an _hydrangea_; the appearances observed by loureiro[ ] on dissecting the germen, and our discovery of the existence of two different kinds of flowers in the _hydrangea arborescens_, tend still more to confirm its propriety; we may add, that in the very habit of these several plants there exists a considerable similarity; still, however, it is only by ripe seed-vessels of the present plant, that this doubtful matter can be satisfactorily cleared up; but it will not follow, that if it be not an _hydrangea_ it must be a _viburnum_. this magnificent and highly ornamental plant, according to dr. smith, was introduced from china to the royal garden at kew, by sir joseph banks, bart. in ; it was imported by mr. slater about the same time, with whom it is said to have first flowered in this country. if room were allowed us, it would be superfluous to describe minutely a plant now so very common; suffice it to say, that from a strong perennial root, rise a number of half-shrubby, irregular, somewhat spongy stalks, strongly spotted when young with purple, from one to three feet high, terminated by large bunches of flowers, at first green, then rose-coloured, and finally green a second time; these are the most common changes to which they are liable: but it will sometimes happen that a plant which has produced red flowers one year, shall produce blue another, though growing in the same pot; this we saw happen in the year to a plant in the possession of the countess of upper ossory, whose refined taste and superior judgment have in several instances contributed to render our works more acceptable to the public: the coloured changeable part of the flower is regarded as the calyx, in the centre of which is the corolla, containing the stamina, &c. all varying greatly in point of number; besides these, there are other flowers without any calyx, but the parts which they contain do not seem to be more perfect than those of the others, nor more productive of ripe fruit. since the introduction of this plant, trials have been made in regard to its hardiness, and it is found to survive mild winters if planted in very warm sheltered situations; but in others, both stalks and leaves are liable to be killed by slight frosts, though the roots are not; if persons are anxious to have it in the open border, the best mode will be to cut down the stems at the approach of winter, and cover over the root with rotten tan, or some light substance; in the spring fresh stalks will shoot forth, but it is more common to keep this plant during winter in a green-house or well secured frame; by artificial heat it may be brought to flower in april or may, without such, it begins to blossom about june, and continues in bloom till october; when successfully treated, it will acquire the height of three feet, and produce bunches of flowers supremely magnificent: such plants in pots are admirably adapted for decorating court-yards, balconies, &c. unless carefully cut in, it is apt to grow too large for the green-house, therefore it is proper to have a succession of young plants from cuttings, which strike very freely; this plant loves water, is indeed almost an aquatic, a rich soil, and plenty of pot room. footnotes: [ ] _habitat_ et ob pulchritudinem colitur cantone sinarum, _loureir. coch. chin. v. . p. ._ crescit in sylvis variis, inter miaco et jedo, etiam cultum, _thunb. fl. jap. p. _, who refers to kæmpfer, whose plant is certainly ours; yet it must be acknowledged that thunberg's description does not well accord with it. [ ] this plant, or one extremely similar to it, was introduced by mr. williams, nurseryman at paris, a few years since; we saw it in full bloom, at mr. colvill's, king's-road, in the summer of . [ ] pericarpium abortit, quod ex dissecto germine et per microscopium viso apparet polyspermum. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] illicium floridanum. red-flowered illicium, or aniseed-tree. _class and order._ polyandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala ._ _caps._ plures, in orbem digestæ, bivalves, monospermæ. _specific character and synonyms._ illicium _floridanum_ floribus rubris. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ellis act. angl. . (v. .) p. . t. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ of the genus _illicium_ there are at present only two known species, viz. the _anisatum_ and _floridanum_, the former a native of china and japan, the latter of florida; both of them are cultivated in this country, but the latter more generally, on account of the superior beauty of its flowers, which are of a fine deep red colour, and have the appearance of being double, though the petals are not preternaturally multiplied; when the plant is in bloom the peduncles hang down, when the petals drop they become erect; the blossoms are not distinguished by their fragrance, though the seed-vessels, and seeds (which do not come to perfection with us) are said to be strongly odoriferous; the foliage of this plant is also much admired: taking it indeed altogether, there are few shrubs held in higher estimation. according to mr. aiton, this species was introduced by john ellis, esq. in ; but isaac walker, esq. of southgate, was the first who possessed it in this country, he informs me by letter, that he received plants of it from pensacola in , by the hands of mr. john bradley, and that he communicated some of them to dr. fothergill, dr. pitcairn, and mr. ellis. it flowers from april to july. cultivators differ widely as to their treatment of this plant, some keeping it in the stove, others in the green-house, while some have ventured to plant it in the open ground in warm situations; it probably is more hardy than we imagine; all agree in propagating it by layers, or by seeds if they can be procured. linnæus, contrary to his usual practice, distinguishes the two species by their colour only, and thunberg is disposed to regard them as mere varieties. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] erica albens. pallid heath. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -fida. _filamenta_ receptaculo inserta. _antheræ_ apice bifidæ, pertusæ. _caps._ -locularis, -valvis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ erica _albens_ antheris muticis inclusis, corollis ovatis oblongis acutis, foliis ternis, racemis secundis. _linn. syst. vegetab. murr. ed. . p. ._ _mant. ._ erica _albens_ mutica, foliis ternis trigonis pilosis, floribus lateralibus, calyce villoso. _thunb. prodr. p. ._ this species, a native of the cape, has been introduced since the publication of the _hort. kew._ and is now to be found in most green-house collections near town. * * * * * in its habit, its foliage, and its flowers, it is very distinct from all our other heaths; flowers from april to june, is readily increased by cuttings, and easily kept with the common treatment. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] antholyza merianella. dwarf antholyza. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ tubulosa, irregularis, recurvata. _caps._ infera. _specific character and synonyms._ antholyza _merianella_ corollis infundibuliformibus, foliis linearibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ watsonia _humilis_ foliis lineari-ensiformibus, tubo floris longissimo. _mill. ic. . t. . f. ._ this very rare species is perfectly distinct from the _meriana_, of more humble growth, the flowering stem seldom rising to more than a foot in height, and producing from four to six flowers, which are proportionably longer, more closed, and of a deeper red colour than those of _meriana_. was introduced from the cape by capt. hutchinson, in . _ait. kew._ is readily increased by offsets, and requires the same treatment as the _anthol. meriana_ already figured. flowers in may and june. our drawing was made from a plant which flowered with mr. fairbairn, at the apothecaries garden, chelsea, may , . [ ] [illustration: nº. ] genista linifolia. flax-leaved broom. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -labiatus / . _vexillum_ oblongum, a pistillo staminibusque deorsum reflexum. _specific character and synonyms._ genista _linifolia_ foliis ternatis sessilibus linearibus subtus sericeis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ cytisus _argenteus_ linifolius insularum stæchadum. _tourn. inst. ._ the _genista linifolia_ is a native of spain, and was introduced to the royal garden at kew, by sir francis drake, in the year . _ait. kew._ the bright yellow flowers, which are abundantly produced on this plant during may and june, joined to the silky appearance of its foliage, has rendered it worthy the notice of most lovers of plants, in whose collections it is now generally found. it is most successfully propagated by seeds, which usually ripen in this country; it may also be raised from cuttings, but not readily, agreeing in this respect with leguminous plants in general. we do not find in linnæus's works any figure of this plant referred to; but there is a minute description of it in his _sp. pl._ it is usually kept in the greenhouse; being a native of spain, it may probably be more hardy than we imagine. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] erica physodes. sticky-flowered heath. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -fida. _filamenta_ receptaculo inserta. _antheræ_ apice bifidæ pertusæ. _caps._ -locularis, -valvis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ erica _physodes_ antheris cristatis, corollis ovatis inflatis, stylo incluso, foliis quaternis, floribus subsolitariis. _linn. syst. vegetab. murr. p. ._ _berg. cup. ._ erica _physodes_ cristata, foliis quaternis linearibus, floribus umbellatis viscosis, calyce ovato brevi. _thunb. prodr. p. ._ the _erica physodes_ is a native of the cape, and another of those species which have been introduced since the publication of the _hort. kew._ of mr. aiton. * * * * * it is principally distinguished by the form, and delicate whiteness of its blossoms, which are so extremely viscid as to retain flies and other insects which settle on them. * * * * * is scarcely to be increased by cuttings, more readily by seeds, which sometimes ripen here. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] canarina campanula. canary bell-flower. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -fida, campanulata. _stigmata ._ _caps._ infera, -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ canarina _campanula_ caule erecto, foliis hastatis ternis oppositisve. _martyn mill. dict. linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ _linn. mant. p. ._ campanula _canariensis_ capsulis quinquelocularibus, foliis hastatis dentatis oppositis petiolatis. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ campanula _canariensis_ regia _s._ medium radice tuberosa, foliis sinuatis cæsiis atriplicis æmulis ternis circum caulem ambientibus, flore amplo pendulo colore flammeo rutilante. _pluk. alm. . t. . f. ._ the flowers of this plant so strongly resemble those of the campanula, that it is no wonder the older botanists regarded it as such, linnæus himself did so at first, and miller also; and even now it may perhaps be doubted whether it ought to be made a distinct genus of, since it is found to differ principally in the number of its parts of fructification. it is a native of the canary islands, whence its name, was cultivated in the royal garden, hampton-court, as long since as the year [ ], and is a tender herbaceous plant, to be found in most of our greenhouses; its stem rises to the height of six or more feet, its flowers produced singly from the fork of the stalk are large and shewy, they begin to open at the commencement of winter, and continue to blow till march. "is propagated by parting of its roots, which must be done with caution; for, as the root is fleshy, if they are broken or wounded, the milky juice will flow out plentifully; so that if these are planted before the wounds are skinned over, it occasions their rotting: the best time for transplanting and parting of their roots is in july, soon after the stalks are decayed; the soil should he a light sandy loam, mixed with a fourth part of screened lime rubbish." miller. footnote: [ ] ait. kew. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] coronilla emerus. scorpion senna. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -labiatus: / : dentibus superioribus connatis. _vexillum_ vix alis longius. _legumen_ isthmis interceptum. _specific character and synonyms._ coronilla _emerus_ fruticosa, pedunculis subtrifloris, corollarum unguibus calyce triplo longioribus, caule angulato. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ colutea siliquosa _s._ scorpioides major. _bauh. pin. p. ._ authors have given to this plant the name of scorpion senna, its seed-vessels, from their slender and jointed appearance, bearing some resemblance to the tail of a scorpion. it is a native of france and germany, and a very old inhabitant of our gardens, having been cultivated by gerard in ; it is of low and slow growth: there is a shrub of it in the apothecaries garden, chelsea, which grew there in the time of miller, and which now is not more than five feet high. in the nurseries we have observed two varieties of it, one in which the flowers have been tinged with bright red inclining to orange and which is by far the most common, the other with flowers wholly yellow, scarcely worth cultivating. its blossoms are produced in may and june, and sometimes again in autumn; neatly trained to a wall or paling, it makes a beautiful appearance when in flower, the shortness of its shoots renders it a very proper object for this purpose. is propagated by seeds, layers, and cuttings; the first are not produced in any great plenty with us. the leaves by a proper fermentation are said to produce a dye like that of indigo. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] psoralea bracteata. oval-spiked psoralea. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ punctis callosis adspersus longitudine leguminis monspermi. _specific character and synonyms._ psoralea _bracteata_ foliis ternatis obovatis recurvato-mucronatis, mucronatis, spicis ovatis. _linn. mant. ._ _berg. cap. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ trifolium fruticans. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ trifolium africanum fruticans flore purpurascente. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ the old authors, and indeed linnæus himself at first, regarded this plant as a trifolium; afterwards the latter changed it to _psoralea_, and minutely described it in his _mantissa_. as a green-house plant, this small and delicate species has long been cultivated[ ], and still continues to hold a place in all collections of note. its inflorence to us has more the appearance of a _capitulum_ than a _spike_, and which when the plant is in full bloom, is by no means ovate, but rather hemispherical; the purple colour of the vexillum, contrasted with the white of the alæ, gives to the flowers a very pleasing parti-coloured appearance. in its leaves we have a good example of the _folium mucronatum_. it is a native of the cape, flowers in june and july, and is usually propagated by cuttings. footnote: [ ] by miller, in . [ ] [illustration: nº. ] erica empetrifolia. crowberry-leaved heath. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -fida. _filamenta_ receptaculo inserta. _antheræ_ apice bifidæ pertusæ. _caps._ -locularis, -valvis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ erica _empetrifolia_ foliis oblongis ciliatis, floribus verticillatis: calyce ciliato. _thunb. prodr. p. ._ _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . gmel. p. ._ _linn. pflanzen syst. . t. . f. ._ erica _empetrifolia_ antheris cristatis, corollis ovatis, foliis quaternis, floribus sessilibus lateralibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ it is a most pleasing circumstance, when plants afford characters by which they may with certainty be distinguished; most of the heaths are of this kind, and the present one in particular: exclusive of its great peculiarity of growth, so obviously expressed in our representation of it, its flowers diffuse a strong honey-like fragrance, which, if other characters were wanting, would at once discriminate it. it is one of those heaths which are enumerated in the _hort. kew._ of mr. aiton, and was introduced to the royal garden by mr. masson, in ; is now to be met with in most of the collections of green-house plants about town, and flowers in may and june. is usually propagated by cuttings. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] mesembryanthemum micans. glittering fig-marygold. _class and order._ icosandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala_ numerosa, linearia. _caps._ carnosa, infera, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ mesembryanthemum _micans_ foliis subcylindricis papulosis distinctis, caule scabro. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ mesembryanthemum _micans_ flore phoeniceo: filamentis atris. _dill. elth. . t. . f. ._ ficoides capensis, tereti folio, flore croceo. _pet. gaz. t. . f. ._ ficoides capensis, folio tereti argenteo, petalis perplurimis aurantiacis. _bradl. succ. . p. . t. ._ the _mesembryanthemum micans_, so called from the glittering particles which are conspicuous on its stalks and leaves, is a species which has long been introduced to our gardens (having been cultivated by prof. bradley in ) for the beauty of its flowers, which in richness of colour are indeed surpassed by few; they are produced in the months of july and august, but do not expand fully, unless the sun shines powerfully on them; nor do they long retain that regular expansion observable in some species, but quickly assume a somewhat ragged appearance; nevertheless, upon the whole, it is one of those species which is highly deserving of culture, by those who are partial to this tribe of plants. it is a native of the cape, and readily propagated by cuttings. varies with flowers of a paler hue. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] dillenia speciosa. shewy dillenia. _class and order._ polyandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala ._ _caps._ polyspermæ, connatæ, pulpa repletæ. _specific character and synonyms._ dillenia _speciosa_ foliis oblongis rotundato-acutis denticulatis, pedunculis unifloris. _thunb. in linn. trans. . p. ._ dillenia _indica_. _linn. syst vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ syalita malabaris. _rheede hort. malab. tom. iii. p. . t. . ._ the name of _dillenia_ was given by linnæus to this genus of plants, in honour of john james dillenius, professor of botany at oxford, and the celebrated author of the _hist. muscorum_, _hort. elthamensis_, &c. until the publication of the first volume of the _linnean transactions_, only one species of _dillenia_ was generally known; in that work prof. thunberg minutely describes five others, three of which are there figured; all these, and one more described by dr. roxburgh in his work on the coromandel plants, are inserted by prof. martyn in his new and highly improved edition of miller's _dictionary_. the present species, which now loses its name of _indica_ in that of _speciosa_, and which though not enumerated in the _hort. kew._ has many years been cultivated at kew, and in the stoves of the curious near town, is a native of malabar and java; in its native soil it becomes a vast tree, here we rarely see it more than two or three feet high; its flowers are large and shewy, but quickly deciduous, and remarkable for the unpleasantness of their scent, which is like that of the _lycium japonicum_, but not being readily exhaled does not infect the air of the stove. this species is increased without difficulty by cuttings, which quickly produce flowering plants. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] gladiolus watsonius. watson's corn-flag. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -partita, tubulosa, ringens. _stamina_ adscendentia. _specific character and synonyms._ gladiolus _watsonius_ corollis infundibuliformibus, limbi laciniis subæqualibus, foliis linearibus ad oras revolutis. _jacq. icon. rar. . t. . collect. . p. ._ _linn. sp. pl. ed. wilden. p. ._ gladiolus _watsonius_ monostachyus corollis cernuis, tubo duplici, limbi laciniis oblongis, foliis linearibus glabris. _thunb. prod. p. ._ professors jacquin and thunberg have both described this rare bulbous plant, a native of the cape, and newly introduced to this country from holland among a great variety of others: it seems highly probable that the descriptions of both these authors were taken from dried specimens, since they accord so little with the living plant as it flowers with us. at first sight, one would be led to regard this plant as an _antholyza_ rather than a _gladiolus_, its flowers bearing a great affinity to those of the _antholyza meriana_, which differs widely from those of the _gladiolus communis_: prof. thunberg having thought fit to make a _gladiolus_ of that plant, he could do no less than regard this as a _gladiolus_ also; we regret that the infinite variety to which all the productions of nature are subject should give occasion to versatile minds perpetually to alter genera, often without due consideration. this species flowers in february and march, requires the same treatment as other cape bulbs, and is propagated in the same manner. descr. stalk from twelve to eighteen inches high, upright, smooth; leaves about three or four, the lowermost a sheath merely, the second leaf springs from a long sheath, is puckered at its base, three inches in length, upright, rigid, flat, linear-lanceolate, having three strong ribs, one in the middle, two at the margin, which, projecting on each side, give to the edge of the leaf a thick appearance, the leaves as they ascend, gradually differ from this, and finally become hollow bracteæ, which at first envelope the flowers, and afterwards contribute to support them; flowers from two to three, each standing on a peduncle-like tube, enclosed by a bifid spatha, contained within and about half the length of the bracteæ; corolla bright red, funnel-shaped, tube bent somewhat downwards, nearly cylindrical, a little flattened, and glossy, limb divided into six ovato-lanceolate segments, spreading outwards, the uppermost segment incumbent, the three lowermost smaller than the others; filaments three, whitish, nearly straight; antheræ oblong, straight, purple; style red; stigma trifid, each segment dividing into two villous lips. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] blakea trinervia. three-ribbed blakea. _class and order._ dodecandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ inferus, -phyllus, superus, integer. _petala ._ _capsula_ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ blakea _trinervia_ bicalyculata, foliis enerviis transversim subtilissime striatis. _linn. suppl. p. ._ _syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ blakea foliis ellipticis trinerviis nitidis, floribus lateralibus. _brown. jam. . t. ._ the wild rose. "this vegetable is certainly one of the most beautiful productions of _america_. it is but a weakly plant at first, and supports itself for a time by the help of some neighbouring shrub or tree; but it grows gradually more robust, and at length acquires a pretty moderate stem, which divides into a thousand weakly declining branches, well supplied with beautiful rosy blossoms on all sides that give it a most pleasing appearance in the season. "it is chiefly found in cool, moist, and shady places, and grows generally to the height of ten or fourteen feet; but rises always higher when it remains a climber, in which state it continues sometimes. it thrives best on the sides of ponds or rivulets, and those that would choose to have it flourish in their gardens, where it must naturally make a very elegant appearance, ought to supply it with some support while it continues young and weakly. "it is called _blakea_, after mr. martin blake, of antigua, a great promoter of every sort of useful knowledge, and a gentleman to whose friendship the natural history of jamaica chiefly owes its early appearance." _brown's jamaic._ our figure was drawn from a very fine healthy plant which flowered in the collection of lady downe, at her villa of bookham-grove, near leatherhead, in april ; though not enumerated in the _hortus kewensis_, it had produced blossoms in several other collections near town long before this period; those when they once expand are of short duration, but the foliage when healthy is always handsome. it is usually kept in the stove with other jamaica plants, and propagated by layers. we cannot see the propriety of applying _foliis enerviis_ to the description of this species, since linnæus himself, in his _sp. pl._ describes the leaves as _trinervia_; three strong ribs they always have, and usually two others near the margin which are finer. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] cardamine trifolia. three-leaved cuckow-flower. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliquosa. _generic character._ _siliqua_ elastice dissiliens valvulis revolutis. _stigma_ integrum. _cal._ subhians. _specific character and synonyms._ cardamine trifolia foliis ternatis obtusis, caule subnudo. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ nasturtium alpinum trifolium. _bauh. pin. ._ cardamine trifolia. trefoile ladies smockes. _parkins. parad. p. ._ such as are attached to the smaller alpine plants, will regard this species of _cardamine_ as worthy a place in their collections; one would scarcely have expected to find it in parkinson's _parad._ yet there it is described, and the following account given of its introduction: "it was sent me by my especial good friend john tradescante, who brought it among other dainty plants from beyond the seas, and imparted thereof a root to me." this species is perennial, hardy, and of very humble growth; the leaves grow thickly together, forming a kind of tuft; the flowering stems rarely rise above the height of six inches, and produce on their summits numerous flowers, waved on their edges; all those which we have had an opportunity of seeing have been perfectly white, parkinson and haller describe them as being sometimes tinged with red or purple; they begin to appear towards the end of march and continue through april, the shelter of a hand-glass open at top is often necessary to protect and improve the flowering of this and other such early-blowing plants. it grows readily either in a pot or in the open border, succeeds best when planted in bog earth in a situation moderately moist and shady, and is readily increased by parting its roots, which are somewhat of the creeping kind. grows spontaneously in most of the northern parts of europe, especially lapland, switzerland, and austria. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] amaryllis reginæ. mexican lily. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ hexapetaloidea irregularis. _filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta, declinata, inæqualia proportione vel directione. _linn. fil._ _specific character and synonyms._ amaryllis _reginæ_ spatha subbiflora, pedicellis divaricatis, corollis campanulatis breve tubulosis nutantibus, fauce tubi hirsuta, foliis lanceolatis patulis. _linn. fil. ait. kew. . mill. ic. p. . t. ._ lilium americanum puniceo flore belladonna dictum. _herm. par. . t. ._ descr. "bulb green, scape round, somewhat flattened: corolla scarlet, with a bottom of a whitish green, the three outer petals round at the tip, the three inner fringed at the base; the style red, the flower stems seldom rise more than one foot high; each stem supports two, three, or four flowers, rarely more; they are large, and of a bright copper colour, inclining to red; the spathe which cover the buds before they open, divides into two parts to the bottom, standing on each side the umbel of flowers joined to the peduncles. "it flowered in mr. fairchild's garden at hoxton, in , when the late dr. james douglass caused a figure of it to be drawn, and wrote a folio pamphlet on it. he gave it the title of _lilium reginæ_, because it was in full beauty on the first of march, which was the late queen's birth-day. mr. fairchild told me the roots were brought from mexico; so he gave it the name of mexican lily, which is still continued to it by the english gardeners. it flowers constantly in the spring, when it is placed in a very warm stove. it is in beauty in february, and those which are in a moderate temperature of air will flower in march or april. "not being so hardy as some others, it must be placed in a warm stove, and if the pots are plunged into a hot-bed of tanner's bark, the roots will thrive better, and the flowers will be strong. "it is increased by offsets." _mill. dict. ed. mart._ [ ] [illustration: nº. ] canna indica. common indian reed or shot. _class and order._ monandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ -partita erecta: labio bipartito, revoluto. _stylus_ lanceolatus, corollæ adnatus. _calyx_ -phyllus. _specific character and synonyms._ canna _indica_ foliis ovatis utrinque acuminatis nervosis. _sp. pl. ._ _ait. kew. vol. . p. ._ cannacorus. _rumph. amb. . p. . t. . f. ._ arundo indica latifolia. _bauh. pin. ._ canna indica flore rubro. red flowred indian reede. _park. parad. p. ._ the _canna indica_, a native of both the indies, is a plant greatly admired for the beauty of its foliage and flowers, and on that account generally cultivated; it has been called by some _indian shot_, from the roundness and hardness of its seeds. we find it to have existed in our gardens in the time of gerard, . parkinson was acquainted with that variety of it which has yellow spotted flowers: prof. martyn, in his edition of _miller's dict._ has quoted the chief of what these authors say of it, which as a matter of curiosity we shall here transcribe: "gerard informs us, that in his time it was in the garden at padua, that he had planted it in his garden divers times, but it never came to flowering; and that it must be set or sown in a pot, with fine earth, or in a bed made of horse-dung, in such manner as cucumbers and musk-melons are: parkinson says, in some kindly years this beautiful plant has borne its brave flowers, but never any ripe seed, and that it will not abide the extremities of our winters, unless it meet with a stove, or hot-house, such as are used in germany; for neither house nor cellar will preserve it: clusius saw it flowering by house-sides in spain and portugal, and says, that the inhabitants there use the seeds for making their rosaries." mr. aiton enumerates four varieties of it, viz. _rubra_, _lutea_, _coccinea_, and _patens_. "being a native of the warmest parts of america, it requires to be placed in a moderate stove in winter, where they always flower in that season, at which time they make a fine appearance, and in the summer place them abroad in a sheltered situation with other tender exotic plants, where they generally flower again, and produce ripe seeds annually." _mill. dict._ "these plants will continue many years with proper management, but as young plants always flower better than the old root, so it is scarce worth while to continue them after they have borne good seeds, which should be sown on a hot-bed in the spring." _mill. dict._ [ ] [illustration: nº. ] aloe retusa. cushion aloe. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ erecta, ore patulo fundo nectarifero. _filam._ receptaculo inserta. _specific character and synonyms._ aloe _retusa_ acaulis foliis quinquefariis deltoideis. _thunb. aloe, n. . ait. kew. ._ aloe _retusa_ floribus sessilibus triquetris bilabiatis labio inferiore revoluto. _linn. sp. pl. ._ aloe _africana_ brevissimo crassissimoque folio, flore viridi. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ _till. pis. . t. ._ though the flowers of this aloe have little to recommend them, there is much to admire in the form and structure of its leaves; and this pleasing circumstance attends it, it is perfectly distinct from all the other species: when first introduced, it was no doubt an object of great admiration; fairchild, the celebrated gardener of hoxton, who preceded miller, had it engraved, with several other succulents, on a plate which is prefixed to dr. blair's _botanic essays_, and which he described to the doctor, betwixt whom and mr. fairchild there appears to have subsisted a great degree of intimacy: the essays were printed in . this species is a native of the cape, and flowers in june, but not regularly so, increases very fast by offsets: mr. aiton makes it as he does all the aloes indiscriminately, dry stove plants, but it may be kept in a good green-house, taking care to place it in the driest and most airy part, and to guard it at all times from much wet, but more especially in the winter season. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] diosma serratifolia. serrated or saw-leaved diosma. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala. _nectaria_ supra germen. _caps. . s. ._ coalitæ. _sem._ calyptrata. _specific character._ diosma _serratifolia_ follis lanceolatis glanduloso-serrulatis, pedunculis axillaribus oppositis subunifloris. it was in the green-house of mr. whitley, nurseryman at old brampton, that we first saw this plant in flower, on the th of march ; previous to this period it had flowered in the royal garden at kew, and specimens of it had been deposited in the herbarium of sir joseph banks, under the name of _diosma serratifolia_. it forms a neat pretty shrub, which is rendered more desirable by its early flowering; its blossoms are pure white, set off by antheræ of a lively purple colour; the whole plant has a strong scent very like that of pennyroyal, but more powerful. this shrub is one of the many which have been raised within these few years from botany-bay seeds, is a greenhouse plant, of easy culture, blows freely, and is readily increased by cuttings. descr. twigs somewhat angular, reddish purple; leaves opposite, narrow, on very short footstalks, spreading, slightly truncated at the extremity, finely toothed, a transparent gland in the angle of each tooth, beset on both sides with numerous glands, which project and give to the upper surface a manifest roughness; flowers from the alæ of the leaves, opposite, on peduncles about one-third of an inch long, usually supporting one, sometimes two flowers; calyx composed of five leaves which are tinged with red and permanent; corolla five petals, white, ovato-lanceolate; stamina filaments five, white, hairy, at first upright, afterwards bending back betwixt the petals; antheræ before they open purple; pollen yellow; nectaries of two kinds, five white, springing up between each filament, and which may perhaps be considered as so many imperfect stamina, they are broader, much smoother, and about one-third of the length of the filaments, terminating in a transparent gland instead of an anthera; five green, forming a kind of calyx to the germen, from the top of which they spring, they consist of five roundish, fleshy, spreading, green leaves, edged with hairs; besides these, there is a glandular ring at the base of the germen; style white, tapering, very hairy; stigma simple; flowers usually dropping off without ripening the seeds. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] aloe plicatilis. fan aloe. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ erecta, ore patulo, fundo nectarifero. _filam._ receptaculo inserta. _specific character and synonyms._ aloe _plicatilis_ subacaulis, foliis linguæformibus lævibus distichis, floribus racemosis pendulis cylindricis. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ aloe _disticha_ var. [greek: e]. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ aloe _plicatilis_ foliis ensiformibus inermis ancipitibus, floribus laxe spicatis, caule fruticoso. _mill. dict. ed. . to._ aloe africana arborescens montana non spinosa, folio longissimo plicatili, flore rubro. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ "the fan aloe grows to the height of six or seven feet, with a strong stem, towards the upper part of which are produced two, three, or four heads, composed of long, compressed, pliable leaves, of a sea-green colour, and ending obtusely; these are placed in a double row, lying over each other, with their edges the same way; the flowers are produced in short loose spikes, are of a red colour, and appear at different times of the year." _mill. dict._ linnæus originally made this plant a variety of his _aloe disticha_, the leaves in their mode of growth are indeed truly distichous, few plants afford a better example of such, but they differ materially from those of the real _disticha_ both in form and colour: mr. miller, with great propriety, made a distinct species of it, by the name of _plicatilis_, or _fan aloe_, which mr. aiton has continued; and by the name of _fan aloe_ it is very generally known: we may remark, however, that though this term may be justified by the form into which the leaves expand, the _folium plicatile_ of linnæus is a very different kind of a leaf. both the foliage and flowers of this plant are very handsome, in the course of many years it grows to a great size; in the chelsea garden there are some fine plants of it, which grew there in the time of miller, by whom it was cultivated in . it is native of africa, requires the same treatment as the other aloes, and is propagated by dividing and planting its heads. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] aristea cyanea. grass-leaved aristea. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _petala ._ _stylus_ declinatus. _stigma_ infundibuliforme hians. _caps._ infera polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ aristea _cyanea_. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ ixia _africana_ floribus capitatis, spathis laceris. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ morÆa _africana_ floribus capitatis spathis laceris. _murr. syst. vegetab. ed. . p. ._ ixia foliis ad radicem nervosis gramineis, floribus ac fructu convolutis. _burm. afric. . t. . f. ._ bermudiana capensis, capitulis lanuginosis. _pet. sicc. ._ gramen eriophorum africanum flore lanato. _pluk. mant. ._ it will be seen, on consulting the synonyms, that this native of the cape, though introduced to the kew garden by mr. masson in , was long before known to a considerable number of botanists, and it is curious to see the different opinions which they entertained of it; we abide by that of mr. aiton, who has called it _aristea_, from the bearded appearance, we apprehend, of the spathæ. it is a small fibrous-rooted plant, rarely exceeding when in bloom the height of six or eight inches, and would be too insignificant for a green-house collection, were not its flowers of a very brilliant blue colour; indeed miller, who appears evidently to have cultivated it, says, the flowers make little appearance, and so the plant is only kept for the sake of variety. _dict. to. ed. . ixia africana._ mr. aiton tells us, that it flowers from april to june, yet mr. andrews, intent on giving to messrs. lee and kennedy the credit of flowering it first, disregards this information, and is pleased to conjecture that the plant never flowered at kew, because mr. aiton, as he alleges, has not given to it any specific character; not aware that, as a new genus, its parts of fructification are described at the end of the _hort. kew._ and that no specific character is ever given to a plant, where there is only one of a genus, and that for the most obvious reason. the _aristea_ is a plant easily propagated by parting its roots, as well as by seeds, will succeed in a small pot, and though a green-house plant, will not be hurt by the moderate heat of the stove, but flower the better for it. the blossoms do not expand fully unless the sun shines hot on them. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] convolvulus cneorum. silvery-leaved bind-weed. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ campanulata, plicata. _stigmata ._ _caps._ -locularis loculis dispermis. _specific character and synonyms._ convolvulus _cneorum_ foliis lanceolatis tomentosis, floribus umbellatis, calycibus hirsutis, caule erecto. _linn. syst. veg. ._ _ait. kew. vol. . p. ._ convolvulus argenteus umbellatus erectus. _tournef. inst. ._ convolvulus major erectus creticus argenteus. _moris. hist. . p. s. . t. . f. ._ convolvulus saxatilis erectus villosus perennis. _barr. rar. . t. ._ _bocc. mus. . p. . t. ._ cneorum album folio argenteo molli. _bauh. pin. ._ the _convolvulus cneorum_ is a native of spain and the levant, was cultivated in the botanic garden at chelsea in , and flowers from may to september. _ait. kew._ in size, habit, &c. this species has some affinity to the _convolvulis linearis_, figured pl. , but differs from it, and other species usually cultivated with us, in the silky appearance of its foliage, which it is not in the artist's power to imitate, and for the beauty of which, more than that of its flowers, it is very generally kept in collections of green-house plants; its blossoms are nearly white and rarely or never productive of seeds in this country, hence it is increased by cuttings. it is a hardy green-house plant, requiring a dry rather than a moist regimen. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] maurandya semperflorens. climbing maurandya, or bastard foxglove. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _caps._ bilocularis, truncata, bisulca, apice inæqualiter dehiscens. _cor._ ringens, tubulosa campanulata, ventricosa, bisulcato-plicata. _specific character and synonyms._ maurandya _semperflorens_ caule fruticoso scandente, foliis hastatis nervosis. _c. g. orteg. nov. pol. dec. . p. ._ usteria. _cavanill. icon. vol. . p. . num. . t. ._ the plant whose elegant form is here so happily delineated by the masterly pencil of mr. edwards, according to dr. ortega, is an inhabitant of mexico, where its seeds originally were collected by dr. martin sesse, and sent to the royal garden at madrid, in which the plant produced flowers and seeds in abundance; from thence seeds were obtained by the marchioness of bute, about the year , who most kindly communicated them to different persons in the neighbourhood of london, and among others to my most generous benefactor, james vere, esq. in whose collection at his villa, kensington-gore, by the careful management of his gardener, william anderson, it was first brought to flower in this country, anno . mons. cavanille, who resides at madrid, where he seizes every opportunity of publishing whatever new plants appear there, has figured and described the present one, under the name of _usteria_, not aware that wildenou had previously bestowed that name on a different plant; for this and other reasons[ ], dr. ortega, in a new work of his above referred to, has changed the term _usteria_ to that of _maurandya_; and, though we cannot cordially coincide with the doctor in the propriety either of his generic or trivial name, we have adopted them. this climber rises with a shrubby stalk to the height of many feet, is very prolific in branches, and produces flowers abundantly from july to september, which are succeeded by ripe seed-vessels and seeds.--as the plant is easily propagated by cuttings, as well as by seeds, it will soon become common to our greenhouses, though it is rather better suited to the conservatory; if its blossoms, which have a great affinity to those of the foxglove, had more colour in them, the plant would be more desirable: at some future period such may probably be obtained from seeds. footnote: [ ] observ. quandoquidem usteriæ nomen huic generi à clar. cavanilles, qui primus id descripsit, impositum permanere non potest ut pote antea ab illust. wildenou alii generi inditum; propterea illud d. catharinæ pancratiæ maurandy, lectissimæ feminæ, d. augustini juan, reg. botanic. horti carthaginensis professoris uxori, et botanicorum laborum sociæ, nuncupandum duxi; oblataque opportunitate usus plantam denuo recognovi, et tum characterem genericum, tum etiam descriptionem specificam ad incudem revocans reformavi. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] jasminum fruticans. yellow jasmine. _class and order._ diandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -fida. _bacca_ dicocca. _sem._ arillata. _antheræ_ intra tubum. _specific character and synonyms._ jasminum _fruticans_ foliis alternis ternatis simplicibusque ramis angulatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ jasminum _fruticans_ foliis alternis ternatis foliolis obovatis cuneiformibusque obtusis ramis angulatis laciniis calycinis subulatis. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ jasminum _luteum_, vulgo dictum bacciferum. _bauh. pin. ._ polemonium sieu trifolium fruticans. shrubby trefoil. _ger. herb. p. . f._ the yellow jasmine is often planted against walls, pales, &c. as the branches are weak and slender and it will grow to be ten or twelve feet high if thus supported; it may however be planted in shrubbery quarters, to which it is better suited than the white jasmine. the young shoots are of a fine strong green colour, angular, and a little hairy. the leaves are trifoliate, though sometimes they grow singly. they are placed alternately on the branches, are of a thick consistence, smooth, and of a fine deep green colour. these leaves in well-sheltered places remain until the spring before they fall off, so that this plant may not improperly be planted among the evergreens, especially as the young shoots are always of a strong green. the flowers are yellow, and do not possess the fragrance of the common jasmine. they are produced chiefly in june, and the blow is soon over. they are succeeded by berries, which when ripe are black, whence its name of berry-bearing jasmine. although this shrub possesses a certain stiffness, which gives it somewhat the appearance of an artificial flower, yet the fine yellow colour of its blossoms contrasts so well with the rich green of the foliage, that in the flower-pot or bouquet it never fails to have a conspicuous and pleasing effect. is a native of the south of europe and the levant, was cultivated by mr. john gerard, in , and flowers from may to october. _ait. kew._ is easily propagated by suckers or layers; as the flowers have no scent, is not so much cultivated as formerly. _miller's dict._ [ ] [illustration: nº. ] anthemis pyrethrum. pellitory of spain. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _recept._ paleaceum. _pappus_ nullus. _cal._ hemisphæricus, subæqualis. _flosculi_ radii plures quam . _specific character and synonyms._ anthemis _pyrethrum_ caulibus simplicibus unifloris decumbentibus foliis pinnato multifidis. _linn. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _woodville's medical botany, p. ._ chamÆmelum specioso flore, radice longa fervida. _shaw. afr. ._ pyrethrum flore bellidis. _bauh. pin. ._ the pellitory of spain is more celebrated as an useful than an ornamental plant, the root which is of a very hot and biting nature being a common application for the cure of the tooth-ach; but, divested of its utility as a medicinal plant, it merits a place in collections on account of the beauty both of its foliage and flowers, the latter are more handsome when in bud than when fully expanded, the underside of the florets being of a fine purple colour, the upper pure white; it is moreover a very rare plant in this country, notwithstanding it was cultivated here so long since as : parkinson evidently grew it, as he observes that the roots of the cultivated plant, were much larger than those of the wild one; he tells us also, that it was too tender to endure our winters: to the latter cause, as well as to the difficulty of propagating it, for it does not ripen its seeds in this country, we may attribute its present scarcity: mr. miller raised this plant in , in a very curious way, from seeds picked out from among raisins. in its place of growth it is not confined to spain, but is found in the levant, syria, arabia, and elsewhere; flowers with us from may to july, and may be increased by cuttings of the roots, a mode of propagating by which we sometimes happily succeed with rare and valuable plants when all others fail. it is a plant not very nice as to the quality of the soil in which it grows, but must have a warm dry situation, will succeed very well in a pot, or it may be planted in the open border; but especial care must be taken to secure it against frost in the winter. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] epidendrum ciliare. fringed epidendrum. _class and order._ gynandria diandria. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala. _nectarium_ turbinatum, obliquum reflexum. _caps._ infera -locularis, -valvis, fenestrata. _specific character and synonyms._ epidendrum _ciliare_ foliis oblongis aveniis, nectarii labio tripartito ciliato: intermedia lineari, cauli bifolio. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _jacq. amer. pict. p. . t. ._ of this parasitical tribe the number of species described in the third edition of the _sp. pl. linn. _, amounts to thirty; in gmelin's thirteenth edition of the _syst. nat. linn. _, no less than seventy-five are enumerated, which is a vast accession in so short a period; most of these are natives of hot climates, and on that account require a stove heat in this country; from their nature also they require a situation not to be exactly imitated, they are therefore to be regarded as plants very difficult of culture, and we are not to be surprised that three species only are enumerated in the _hort. kew._--but, since the publication of that work, many others have been added to the royal collection, and this among the rest. the rare and singular species here represented, a native of the warmer parts of america, and the west-indies, flowered with mr. whitley, nurseryman, old-brompton, in feb. , and at irregular periods before that time; he informs me that it is not constant as to the time of its blowing, and that though the plant flowers with him, it never assumes a fine healthy green appearance, he propagates it by dividing its limbs or branches, which often put forth small roots; the plant grows in a pot, in a mixture of loam and peat or bog-earth, and is kept constantly plunged in the tan-pit of the stove. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] sisyrinchium gramineum. grass-leaved sisyrinchium. _class and order._ gynandria triandria. _generic character._ _spatha_ -phylla. _petala_ -plana. _caps._ -locularis infera -valvis. _specific character and synonyms._ sisyrinchium _gramineum_ caule ancipiti lato, germinibus glabris. sisyrinchium _angustifolium_ foliis lineari-gladiolatis, pedunculis longioribus. _mill. dict._ sisyrinchium _cæruleum_ parvum, gladiato caule, virginianum. _pluk. alm. . t. . f. ._ bermudiana graminea, flore minore cæruleo. _dill. elth. . t. . f. ._ gladiolus cæruleus hexapetalus caule etiam gladiato. _banist. virg. ._ in a former number of this work, we gave a figure of the large variety of _sisyrinch. bermud._ of _linn._ regarding it as a distinct species, and naming it _iridioides_, conformably to dillenius's specific description; we regret now that we did not continue to it the name of _bermudiana_ (it being the true bermudas plant) and which cannot with propriety be applied to the present species, a native of virginia, far more diminutive, with flowers much smaller, of a paler blue colour, a much hardier plant also, and of more ready growth; it is indeed a truly hardy perennial, adapted to the open border, in which it will grow readily, and produce abundance of flowering stems in june and july; the flowers expand to the sun, and are followed by numerous seed-vessels which ripen their seeds, by which the plant may be increased, or by parting its roots in the autumn. its stalk affords an excellent example of the _caulis anceps_. we readily embrace the opportunity here afforded us of correcting an error in regard to the hardiness of the _sisyrinch. iridioides_, which we were led into partly by miller's account, and partly from observing the plant to survive a mild winter in the open ground; we have since found that it is a tender plant, and to be ranked with those of the greenhouse; an additional proof of its being a distinct species from the one here figured, which has long[ ] been cultivated in our gardens. footnote: [ ] by mr. jacob bobart, in . _ait. kew._ [ ] [illustration: nº. ] indigofera angustifolia. narrow-leaved indigo. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ patens. _cor._ carina, utrinque calcari subulato patulo. _legumen_ lineare. _specific character and synonyms._ indigofera _angustifolia_ foliis pinnatis linearibus, racemis elongatis, caule fruticoso. _linn. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _mant. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ this small, delicate, and rather elegant species of indigo, to be found in most collections of greenhouse plants near town, rises with an upright, shrubby stem, to the height of several feet; its leaves, of a lively green colour, are furnished with pinnæ, which are numerous and unusually narrow, whence its name; its flowers, produced on long racemi springing from the sides of the stem or branches, are of a singular dull red colour, and rarely followed by seeds with us. it is a native of the cape[ ], from whence it was introduced by mr. masson, in ; flowers from june to october, and is usually increased by cuttings. there is a description of this species in the _mantiss. pl. linn._ but we know of no figure of it that has yet been published. footnote: [ ] _ait. kew._ [ ] [illustration: nº. ] calycanthus præcox. japan all-spice. _class and order._ icosandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, urceolatus, squarrosus: foliolis coloratis. _cor._ calycina. _styli_ plurimi, stigmati glanduloso. _sem._ plurima, caudata, intra calycem succulentum. _specific character and synonyms._ calycanthus _præcox_ petalis interioribus minutis. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. . tab. x._ obai _s. robai_. jasminum flore pleno suavi foetido, fructu turbinato, semine phascoli. _kæmpf. amæn. exot. p. ._ the learned and instructive kæmpfer in his _amæn. exot._ that vast fund of most useful information, gives a figure of this plant, in which it is represented both with flowers and seed-vessels, accompanied with a description and short account of it; from which we learn that it is cultivated in japan as an ornamental plant, that the flowers are produced in february, before the leaves, that they have the scent of the violet, but become unpleasant on being long smelt to. hearing that lord coventry was the first who possessed this plant in england, i took the liberty of writing to his lordship in january , to request some information on this point, as well as some others relative to its culture, &c. on the th of the same month, his lordship had the goodness to send me a beautiful specimen of the plant in bloom, a seedling plant one year old, together with a seed-vessel of the year , and some seeds; in the earl's letter is the following passage:--"the beauty of the _calycanthus præcox_ at this moment surpasses all description, it is covered with blossoms from top to bottom, and the fragrance of it may be perceived at the distance of fifty yards from the conservatory." by his lordship's direction, i received at the same time from his gardener, mr. william dean, the following information, in answer to my queries:--"my lord received the plant from china in :--it was planted in a conservatory, is now sixteen feet high, and expands ten feet wide:--bears a succession of flowers from september to march:--the time of its first blowing i cannot precisely ascertain, but believe it to be nearly twenty years back:--it is propagated by layers, cuttings, and seeds, the latter it produces most years at croome, but i believe at no other place in england:--there are plants of it at croome six feet high, in a warm situation in the open border, which have stood out several years by being covered with a single mat in severe weather." not expecting to receive a plant from lord coventry in bloom, our drawing was made from one which flowered with mr. whitley, nurseryman, old-brompton, december , , and which came originally from croome, his lordship having presented most of the nurserymen about town with plants of it; the blossoms of that from croome were somewhat larger than those here represented, and the petals were less striped, indeed almost wholly tinged with purple, the leaves also proceeded more from the summit of the stalks and were of a much greener hue, owing no doubt to its being kept in the conservatory, while mr. whitley's plant was tacked to the outside of the bottom of the greenhouse. in the number of its stamina, which is rarely more than five, it does not accord with the character of the class icosandria, nor do the seeds agree with the generic character as described by linnæus. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] dracocephalum virginianum. virginian dragon's-head. _class and order._ didynamia gymnospermia. _generic character._ _cor._ faux inflata: labium superius fornicatum. _specific character and synonyms._ dracocephalum _virginianum_ foliis lineari-lanceolatis serratis, floribus confertis. _linn. syst. nat. ed. . gmel. p. ._ dracocephalum _virginianum_ floribus spicatis, foliis lanceolatis serratis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ dracocephalum _virginianum_ floribus spicatis confertis, foliis lineari-lanceolatis serratis. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ this elegant species of _dracocephalum_, a native of virginia, and other parts of north-america, is a hardy herbaceous plant, rising to the height of about two feet, and producing numerous flowers in long spikes, usually arranged on each side of the stalk. it comes near to the _denticulatum_ already figured, but differs in its superior height, the form of its leaves, the number of its flowers, and many other particulars. it flowers from july to september, and with me has generally ripened much of its seed, from which it may be easily raised, as also by parting of its roots in spring or autumn; it succeeds best in a moist situation, and its stalks require to be carefully and timely sticked. was cultivated as long since as , by mr. james sutherland. [ ] [illustration: nº. ] oenothera tetraptera. white-flowered oenothera. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala ._ _caps._ cylindrica infera. _sem._ nuda. _specific character and synonyms._ oenothera _tetraptera_ foliis lanceolatis, basi pinnatifido-dentatis, capsulis pedicellatis obovatis quadrialatis. _linn. sp. pl. edit. wildenou._ oenothera foliis alternis subpinnatis crispis, flore mutabili fructû tetraptero. _cavanill. icon. t. . p. . tab. ._ of this genus we have already figured six different species; this is another newly discovered one, which, like most of its kind, displays its beauties chiefly in the night. it is the only one, as far as we yet know, that has white blossoms; these, when first expanded, are beautifully so, but in the morning they change to a purple colour, fade, and their place is supplied by a fresh succession. in this remarkable change of colour, it bears some affinity to the _oenothera anomala_, which may be considered as strengthening our opinion that the latter plant belongs to this genus rather than to that of _gaura_. the _oenothera tetraptera_ is a native of mexico, its duration as yet not certainly ascertained, but may be treated as a tender annual; and such plants as do not flower the first year, may be preserved under glasses through the winter. it was raised from seeds sent by mr. donn, from cambridge; but was probably first introduced into this country from seeds sent to the marchioness of bute, by prof. ortega, of madrid. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _thirteenth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ alöe plicatilis. alöe retusa. amaryllis reginæ. anthemis pyrethrum. antholyza merianella. aristea cyanea. azalea pontica. blakea trinervia. calycanthus præcox. canarina campanula. canna indica. cardamine trifolia. convolvulus cneorum. coronilla emerus. dillenia speciosa. diosma serratifolia. dracocephalum virginianum. epidendrum ciliare. erica albens. erica empetrifolia. erica physodes. genista linifolia. gladiolus watsonius. gnaphalium ericoides. hibiscus præmorsus. hydrangea arborescens. hydrangea hortensis. jasminum fruticans. illicium floridanum. indigofera angustifolia. maurandya semperflorens. mesembryanthemum micans. oenothera tetraptera. oxybaphus viscosus. psoralea bracteata. sisyrinchium gramineum. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _thirteenth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ allspice, japan. aloe, cushion. aloe, fan. antholyza, dwarf. aristea, grass-leaved. azalea, yellow. bell-flower, canary. bindweed, silvery-leaved. blakea, three-ribbed. broom, flax-leaved. corn-flag, watson's. cuckow-flower, three-leav'd. dillenia, shewy. diosma, serrated or saw-leaved. dragon's head, virginian. epidendrum, fringed. fig-marygold, glittering. gnaphalium or everlasting, heath-leaved. heath, crowberry-leaved. heath, sticky-flowered. heath, pallid. hibiscus, bitten-leaved. hydrangea, garden. hydrangea, shrubby. jasmine, yellow. illicium, red-flowered or aniseed tree. indian reed or shot, common. indigo, narrow-leaved. lily, mexican. maurandya or bastard foxglove, climbing. oenothera, white-flowered. pellitory of spain. psoralea, oval-spiked. senna, scorpion. sisyrinchium, grass-leaved. umbrella wort, viscid. _london_: printed by stephen couchman, throgmorton-street. none the botanical magazine; or, flower-garden displayed: in which the most ornamental foreign plants, cultivated in the open ground, the greenhouse, 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. ix. "but softer tasks divide florella's hours; "to watch the buds just op'ning on the day; "with welcome shade to screen the languid flowers, "that sicken in the summer's parching ray. "oft will she stoop amidst her evening walk, "with tender hand each bruised plant to rear; "to bind the drooping lily's broken stalk, "and nurse the blossoms of the infant year." mrs. barbauld. _london_: printed by stephen couchman, for w. curtis, n^o , _st. george's crescent_, black-friars-road; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xcv. [ ] convolvulus linearis. narrow-leaved convolvulus. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata, plicata. _stigmata_ . _caps._ -locularis: loculis dispermis. _specific character._ convolvulus _linearis_ caulibus erectis fruticosis, foliis linearibus acutis piloso-sericeis, floribus terminalibus umbellato-paniculatis, calycibus pilosis. [illustration: n^o. ] the plant here represented has long been cultivated as a greenhouse plant in this country under the name of _convolvulus cantabrica_, but it differs so essentially from that plant, as figured and described by prof. jacquin in his _flora austr._ and accords so little with the other species described by linnæus, that we have been induced to regard it as a perfectly distinct species; in most points it agrees with _convolvulus cneorum_, but differs in having leaves much narrower, more pointed, and less silky. it strikes most readily from cuttings, is a hardy greenhouse plant, and flowers during most of the summer, qualities which many of the modern and more shewy greenhouse plants cannot boast. the precise time of its introduction here, together with its particular place of growth, we have not as yet been able satisfactorily to ascertain. [ ] amaryllis lutea. yellow amaryllis. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ hexapetaloidea, irregularis. _filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta, declinata, inæqualia proportione vel directione. _linn. fil._ _specific character and synonyms._ amaryllis _lutea_ spatha indivisa obtusa, flore sessili, corolla campanulata erecta basi breve tubulosa, staminibus erectis, alternis brevioribus. _linn. fil. ait. kew. v. . p. ._ colchicum luteum majus. _bauh. pin. p. ._ narcissus autumnalis major. the greater autumne or winter daffodill. _park. parad. p. . . f. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the amaryllis lutea is a hardy perennial bulbous plant, a native of spain, and other of the more southern parts of europe, and was cultivated in our gardens in the time of gerard, and parkinson. flora, who commences her revolutionary reign, by enlivening the flower border with the spring crocus, and its numerous varieties, terminates it with flowers equally pleasing, and of similar hues; thus we have the present plant, the saffron crocus, and the colchicum, flowering nearly at the same time, from the end of september, through october, and sometimes part of november. similar as the amaryllis is to the yellow spring crocus, in the colour, and form of its flowers, it differs obviously in the number of its stamina, the breadth of its leaves, and the size and colour of its root. authors describe it as varying in size, in the breadth of its leaves, the height of its flowers, and multiplication of the corolla. the dutch florists export it under the title of yellow colchicum, following the name of some of the old writers. it succeeds best in a soil moderately moist, in which it increases considerably by offsets, and flowers to the most advantage when the roots have remained for some few years undisturbed in the same spot. [ ] capparis spinosa. the caper shrub. _class and order._ polyandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, coriaceus. _petala_ . _stamina_ longa. _bacca_ corticosa, unilocularis, pedunculata. _specific character and synonyms._ capparis _spinosa_ pedunculis unifloris solitariis, stipulis spinosis, foliis annuis, capsulis ovalibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ capparis _spinosa_ fructu minore, folio rotundo. _bauh. pin. p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] we are happy in having it in our power to lay before our readers a representation of the caper shrub, whose blossoms are rarely seen in this country, though its flower-buds are in very general use as a pickle; indeed, so great is their consumption, that they form a very considerable article of commerce. the plant grows spontaneously in the more southern parts of europe, especially in italy and the levant; in its wild state it forms a shrub of low growth, having numerous, spreading, spinous branches, somewhat thickly beset with smooth roundish leaves; the blossoms grow alternately on the branches, and when the plant begins to flower, one opens generally every other morning, but so delicate are its parts, that on a hot summer's day it fades before noon: the petals are white; the filaments, which are extremely numerous, are white below, and of a rich purple above; in these the beauty of the flower chiefly consists, as in the pistillum or pointal does its great singularity; at first view, one would be led to conclude, that the part so conspicuous in the centre of the flower was the style terminated by the stigma in the usual way; but if we trace this part of the flower to a more advanced state, we shall perceive, that what we took for the style, was merely an elongation of the flower-stalk, and what we took for the stigma, was in reality the germen placed on it, crowned with a minute stigma, without any intervening style; this germen swells, turns downward, and ultimately becomes the seed-vessel, rarely ripening in this country. miller observes, that these plants are with difficulty preserved in england, for they delight to grow in crevices of rocks, and the joints of old walls and ruins, and always thrive best in an horizontal position; so that when they are planted either in pots or the full ground, they rarely thrive, though they may be kept alive for many years. it flowers in may and june, and is usually raised from seeds. mr. aiton regards it as a greenhouse plant, and informs us that it was cultivated by gerard in . [ ] passerina grandiflora. great-flowered passerina. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ . _cor._ -fida. _stamina_ tubo imposita. _sem._ . corticatum. _specific character and synonyms._ passerina _grandiflora_ glaberrima, foliis oblongis acutis concavis extrinsecus rugosis, floribus terminalibus sessilibus solitariis. _linn. suppl. pl. p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _passerina_ here figured, distinguished from all the other known species by the largeness of its flowers, is described in the _suppl. pl._ of the younger linnæus, but not enumerated in the _hortus kewensis_ of mr. aiton: it is indeed a plant recently introduced to this country from the cape; we saw it last summer in great perfection, at messrs. lee and kennedy's, hammersmith; it forms a small neat shrub, somewhat like the _phylica ericoides_, is a hardy greenhouse plant, flowering in may and june, and increased without difficulty from cuttings. [ ] catananche cærulea. blue catananche. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia Æqualis. _generic character._ _recept._ paleaceum. _cal._ imbricatus. _pappus_ aristatus, caliculo seto. _specific character and synonyms._ catananche cærulea squamis calicis inferioribus ovatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ chondrilla cærulea cyani capitulo. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _catananche cærulea_ is a native of the south of france, where it grows in hilly situations that are stony: it is a perennial herbaceous plant, moderately hardy, and has long been cultivated in our gardens, mr. aiton says, by parkinson in : miller, who treats of it in his dictionary, describes it as a pretty ornament to a garden, and one that is easily kept within bounds; there is certainly much about it to excite our admiration, more especially in the structure of the calyx, and the florets: the flowers, which are of a pale blue colour with a dark eye, make their appearance from july to october. it is propagated by seeds, which miller recommends to be sown in the spring; the seedlings should be transplanted in the autumn, into the borders where they are to remain; it may also be increased by slips: the plant requires a situation moderately dry, and is most productive of flowers and seeds when it stands long in one spot. in the th _edit._ of the _systema vegetab._ of prof. murray, mention is made of a variety with double flowers, which we believe has not been seen in this country. [ ] amaryllis sarniensis. guernsey amaryllis. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ hexapetaloidea irregularis. _filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta declinata inæqualia proportione vel directione. _linn. fil. ait. kew. p. ._ _specific character and synonyms._ amaryllis _sarniensis_, petalis linearibus planis, staminibus pistilloque rectiusculis corolla longioribus, stigmatibus partitis revolutis. _linn. fil. ait. kew. v. . p. . thunb. jap. p. ._ lilium sarniense. _dougl. monogr. t. , ._ narcissus japonicus rutilo flore. _corn. canad. kæmpf. amæn. p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the guernsey lily, as it is most commonly called, is originally a native of japan; where it is described to grow by kæmpfer and thunberg, who visited that island, the latter says on the hills about nagasaki, from thence roots are said to have been introduced to the garden of johannes morinus at paris, in which it flowered, october : its introduction to this country, which was subsequent to that date, as dr. douglass relates in his _monographia_ on this plant, "happened by a very singular melancholy accident, of which dr. morison, who no doubt had it from some persons then residing in guernsey, gives us the following account: a dutch or english ship, it is uncertain which, coming from japan, with some of the roots of this flower on board, was cast away on the island of guernsey; the roots were thrown upon a sandy shore, and so by the force of the winds and waves, were soon buried in sand; there they remained for some years, and afterwards, to the great surprise and admiration of the inhabitants, the flowers appeared in all their pomp and beauty." some of these soon made their appearance in this country: mr. aiton relates, that the plant was cultivated here in , by general lambert, at wimbledon. fatal as guernsey proved to the unfortunate mariners, it afforded the roots of our plant a soil and situation apparently congenial to their own; in that island they have flourished ever since, there they are propagated in the open borders of the flower-garden with the least possible trouble, flowering most readily, but we believe never producing any ripe seeds; from thence most of the roots which flower with the curious here, are yearly imported in the autumn. in guernsey, the cold of the winter is far less intense than with us; many of those plants which we keep in our greenhouses, stand with them in the open ground; the superior mildness of the climate enables them to cultivate this plant with more success than we can do, even perhaps with all the expence and trouble to which we might subject ourselves; to such, however, whose situations may be favourable, and who may be fond of making experiments, we recommend the perusal of fairchild's directions, a practical gardener of great ingenuity, and who appears to have had much experience in the culture of this plant[a]. it is usual to plant the imported bulbs in pots of sand, or light loam, as soon as they arrive, and place them in the parlour window, or greenhouse; they blossom in september and october; the flowers, which continue about a month in perfection, are inodorous, but make up for that deficiency by the superior splendour of their colours: dr. douglass thus describes them, each flower when in its prime looks like a fine gold tissue wrought on a rose-coloured ground, but when it begins to fade and decay, it looks more like a silver tissue, or what they call a pink colour: when we look upon the flower in full sun-shine, each leaf appears to be studded with thousands of little diamonds, sparkling and glittering with a most surprising and agreeable lustre; but if we view the same by candle-light, these numerous specks or spangles look more like fine gold dust. both kæmpfer and thunberg agree, that the japanese regard the root as poisonous. [footnote a: "they love a light earth, made with dung and sand, and a little lime rubbish with it does very well, it keeps the roots sound; for if the earth be too stiff or wet, you may keep them for many years before they blow. if they are in pots, they should be put in the house in winter, to keep them from the severe frosts, which are apt to rot the roots. the time of moving them is when they have no leaves on the root, that is from june to august: those that come with six leaves this year, seldom fail blowing the next year: they need not be put in fresh earth above once in two or three years: by this method of management i have had the same roots blow again in four years time. the many miscarriages that happen to the guernsey lily, are by letting the leaves be killed by the fierceness of the frost in winter, or by cutting them off, as some people do, when they are green, which will so much weaken the plants, that they may keep them twenty years and not have them blow; by the above management, where there is a stock, there will be continually some blowing. "miller recommends for these roots the following compost: take a third-part of fresh virgin earth from a pasture-ground which is light, then put near an equal part of sea-sand, to which you should add rotten dung and sifted lime rubbish, of each an equal quantity." the great business in the culture of this flower, next to a proper soil and situation, seems to consist in giving the plant as much air as possible, and in preserving the foliage in the winter from the injury of frost.] [ ] agrostemma c[oe]li rosa. smooth-leav'd cockle, or rose campion. _class and order._ decandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, coriaceus. _petala_ unguiculata: limbo obtuso indiviso. _caps._ locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ agrostemma _coeli rosa_ glabra, foliis lineari-lanceolatis, petalis emarginatis coronatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ lychnis segetum, nigellastrum minus glabrum dicta, flore eleganter rubello. _moris. hist. . p. . s. . t. . f. ._ lychnis pseudomelanthiis similis africana glabra angustifolia. _herm. leyd. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] mr. aiton informs us in his _hortus kewensis_, that the charming annual here figured, the liveliness of whose colours no paint can express, was cultivated by miller in ; seeing it is a plant of such beauty, and honoured with so distinguished an appellation, it is singular that it should not by this time have made its way more generally into our gardens. the cockle of our corn-fields is an ornamental plant, the present species resembles it; but while the plant itself is much smaller, its flowers are proportionably larger, and their colours more vivid. it is an annual of ready growth, a native of sicily and the levant, flowering in july and august, and ripening its seeds in september and october. it appears to most advantage when several plants of it grow together; the best mode, therefore, is to sow about a dozen seeds early in april on the several spots of the flower-border where you intend they shall remain; no other care is necessary than to keep the plants free from weeds and vermin. the _agr. coeli rosa_ of _miller's gard. dict. ed. to._ is the _coronaria_. [ ] sempervivum tortuosum. gouty houseleek. _class and order._ dodecandria dodecagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus. _petala_ . _capsulæ_ polyspermæ. _specific character._ sempervivum _tortuosum_ foliis obovatis subtus gibbis villosis, nectariis bilobis. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] we know of no figure of this plant, the first and only account of which is to be found in the _hort. kew._ of mr. aiton; there it is specifically described, and from thence we discover that it was introduced from the canary islands, where it is a native, by mr. masson, in . it is a shrubby plant of low growth, producing numerous fleshy leaves growing thickly together, which being evergreen, and making a pretty appearance the year through, render the plant worthy a place in all general collections at least, of greenhouse plants; and though it cannot vie with many of the more shewy high-priced novelties, it is an abiding plant, not subject to casualties, while many of those are here to day and gone to morrow. it throws up its flowering stems, supporting numerous, starry, stonecrop-like flowers, in july and august, and is most readily propagated by cuttings. it is one of those species of houseleek which connect the genera _sedum_ & _sempervivum_. [ ] dianthus superbus. superb pink. _class and order._ decandria digynia. _generic character._ _cal._ cylindricus, -phyllus: basi squamis . _petala_ unguiculata. _caps._ cylindrica, -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ dianthus _superbus_ floribus paniculatis: squamis calycinis brevibus acuminatis, corollis multifido-capillaribus, caule erecto. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ caryophyllus simplex alter, flore laciniato odoratissimo. _bauh. pin. ._ caryophyllus plumarius austriacus sive superba austriaca. the feathered pinke of austria. _park. parad. p. . ._ [illustration: n^o. ] many of the plants of this genus diffuse an agreeable odour, which renders them most desirable objects for the flower-garden: this quality the present species possesses in a superior degree to most others; a few of its flowers communicate to a nosegay a delicate and most delicious smell, or placed in a vial of water they will even scent a small apartment[b]: it is to be regretted, however, that the blossoms, unless placed in water, from their extreme delicacy, flag soon after they are gathered. it may be doubted whether the _dianthus superbus_ of _miller's dict. ed. . to._ be our plant; if it be, the description is not drawn up with that accuracy which distinguishes his descriptions in general; the mode of culture, however, which he recommends is strictly applicable to it, as the plant rarely continues in vigour more than two years, and as it is in its greatest beauty the first year of its flowering, he recommends that young plants should be annually raised for succession from seeds, which are plentifully produced; the seeds of this plant ought therefore to be kept in the shops with annuals and biennials. the _dianthus superbus_ is a native of germany, switzerland, france, and denmark: clusius found it growing in the moist meadows about vienna, and on the borders of woods adjoining to such, with some of its flowers white, others purplish; parkinson describes them of these two colours, but says the most ordinary with us are pure white, which is contrary to what we now find them: they are rarely produced before august, from which period they will continue frequently to blossom till october. the spring is the best time for sowing its seeds; the plants require no very nice or particular treatment. [footnote b: this fragrance has been noticed by all the old authors who have treated of the plant: clusius describes the flowers as _suavissimi odoris et è longinquo nares ferientis_, of which words parkinson's are almost a literal translation "of a most fragrant sent, comforting the spirits and senses afarre off."] [ ] origanum dictamnus. dittany of crete. _class and order._ didynamia gymnospermia. _generic character._ _strobilus_ tetragonus, spicatus, calyces colligens. _specific character and synonyms._ origanum _dictamnus_ foliis inferioribus tomentosis, spicis nutantibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. p. ._ dittany of candia. dictamnus creticus. _bauh. pin. p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] by the name of dittany of crete, the species of origanum here figured, has long been known in this country as a medicinal plant; to the purposes of physic it still indeed continues to be applied, as imported in a dried state from the levant: when bruised, the whole plant gives forth an aromatic fragrance, highly grateful; as an ornamental plant, it has also been long, and is now, very generally cultivated in this country. turner, whose herbal was printed in , writes thus concerning it, "i have sene it growynge in england in maister riches gardin naturally, but it groweth no where ellis that i know of, saving only in candy." as at this period no idea was entertained of a greenhouse, the plant must have been cultivated in the open ground, where it would doubtless grow readily, if secured from the severity of the weather, it being more hardy than many plants usually kept in greenhouses. this plant is at all times ornamental, but more particularly so when in flower, in which state it appears during most of the summer and autumnal months. it is usually increased by cuttings, which strike readily. [ ] hermannia alnifolia. alder-leaved hermannia. _class and order._ monadelphia pentandria. _generic character._ pentagyna. _caps._ -locularis. _petala_ basi semitubulata, obliqua. _specific character and synonyms._ hermannia _alnifolia_ foliis cuneiformibus lineatis plicatis crenato-emarginatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ arbuscula africana tricapsularis ononidis vernæ singulari folio. _pluk. mant. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] _hermannia_ is a genus of plants named in honour of dr. paul herman, a dutch botanist of great celebrity, author of the _paradisus batavus_, and other valuable works: twenty-six species are enumerated in the th edition of the _syst. naturæ_ of linnæus by prof. gmelin, and eight in the _hortus kewensis_ of mr. aiton; most of those in the latter work are cultivated in the nurseries near town: they form a set of the more hardy greenhouse plants, grow readily, and flower freely; their blossoms are for the most part yellow, and have a considerable affinity with those of the _mahernia_. the present species flowers very early in the spring, from february to may, producing a great profusion of bloom during that period; is a native of the cape, and was cultivated by mr. miller, in . it rarely ripens its seeds with us, but is readily increased by cuttings. the nurserymen near town regard this plant as the _grossularifolia_ of linnæus, calling another, equally common species, with longer and narrower leaves, _alnifolia_, and which does not appear to be described by linnæus or mentioned by mr. aiton; our plant accords exactly with the linnæan description of _alnifolia_, and there is we think no doubt of its being the _alnifolia_ of the _hortus kewensis_, and mr. miller's _dictionary_. [ ] gnaphalium eximium. giant cudweed. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _recept._ nudum. _pappus_ plumosus vel capillaris. _cal._ imbricatus, squamis marginalibus rotundatis, scariosis, coloratis. _specific character and synonyms._ gnaphalium _eximium_ foliis sessilibus ovatis confertis erectis tomentosis, corymbo sessili. _linn. mant. pl. p. ._ _syst. nat. ed. . gmel._ elychrysum africanum foliis lanceolatis integris tomentosis decurrentibus, capitulus congestis ex rubello aureis. _edw. av. t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] in the summer of , towards the end of july, the gnaphalium here figured, the most magnificent and shewy of all the species hitherto introduced to this country, flowered in great perfection at messrs. lee and kennedy's, hammersmith: mr. lee informs me, that he raised it from seeds given him by capt. william paterson, author of a narrative of four journeys into the country of the hottentots, and caffraria, and who has most laudably exerted himself in introducing many new and interesting plants to this country; this gentleman assured mr. lee, that the plant was found in a wild state, five hundred miles from the cape, on the borders of the caffre country, from whence the natives bring bundles of the dried plant to the cape as presents; in the state the plant has long since been imported from that fertile coast: if we mistake not, a specimen of this sort is figured in petiver's works, and a coloured representation is given of it in edwards's history of birds, taken from a dried plant, brought from the cape, by capt. isaac worth, in . the plants we saw were about a foot and a half high, the stalks shrubby, and but little branched; the foliage and flowers as represented on the plate. several of the gnaphaliums it is well known are liable to be killed by moisture, especially in the winter season; during that time, this plant in particular, should be kept as dry as possible, and, if convenient, on a shelf, separate from the other plants of the greenhouse; when it is necessary to give it water, it should never come in contact with the foliage or flowers: with these precautions it may be kept very well in a good greenhouse, in which it should remain, even during summer. it may be raised from seeds, and also from cuttings. [ ] melianthus minor. small melianthus, or honey-flower. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus: folio inferiore gibbo. _petala_ : nectario infra infima. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ melianthus _minor_ stipulis geminis distinctis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ melianthus africanus minor foetidus. _comm. rar. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] there are few flowers that do not secrete from some kind of a glandular substance, honey, or nectar, to a greater or smaller amount; in those of the present genus, this liquid is particularly abundant, even dropping from the flowers of the _major_, in considerable quantity; in the present species it flows not so copiously, but is retained in the lower part of the blossom, and is of a dark brown colour, an unusual phenomenon. there are only two species of this genus described, the _major_ and the _minor_, both of which are cultivated in our nurseries; the _major_ is by far the most common, the most hardy, and the most ornamental plant; its foliage indeed is peculiarly elegant: this species will succeed in the open border, especially if placed at the foot of a wall with a south or south-west aspect, taking care to cover the root to a considerable depth with rotten tan in severe frosts: the _minor_ is always kept in the greenhouse, in which, when it has acquired a certain age, it flowers regularly in the spring, and constantly so, as far as we have observed of the plants in chelsea garden; mr. aiton says in august, and commelin the summer through. the _melianthus minor_ grows to the height of three, four, or five feet; its stem, which is shrubby, during the flowering season is apt to exhibit a naked appearance, having fewer leaves on it at that period, and those not of their full size; but this, perhaps, may in some degree be owing to the plant's being placed at the back of others. the foliage when bruised has an unpleasant smell. it is a native of the cape, and, according to mr. aiton, was cultivated by the duchess of beaufort, in ; is propagated readily by cuttings. [ ] mimosa myrtifolia. myrtle-leaved mimosa. _class and order._ polyandria monogynia. _generic character._ _flores_ mere masculi reliquis intersiti. _cal._ -dentatus. _cor._ -fida aut . _stamina_ -locularis. _legumen. linn. syst. nat. ed. . gmel._ _specific character._ mimosa _myrtifolia_ foliis ovato-lanceolatis obliquis undulatis acuminatis margine cartilagineis: primordialibus pinnatis. _smith trans. linn. soc. v. . p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the seeds of this species of mimosa having been sent over in plenty, with some of the first vegetable productions of new south-wales, and growing readily, the plant has been raised by many cultivators in this country; mr. hoy, gardener to the duke of northumberland, produced a specimen of it in flower at a meeting of the linnean society in ; it is a shrub of quick growth, and a ready blower: a plant of it in the stove of chelsea-garden has this year (may , ) produced ripe pods, and perfect seeds. in the greenhouse, where it flowers from february to april, the blossoms go off without shewing any tendency to produce fruit. it is first described by dr. smith, in the transactions of the linnean society; the leaves in the plants that have fallen under our notice have not accorded exactly with those he has described, having neither been of a glaucous green colour, according to the usual acceptation of that term, nor very much undulated; and though those of an individual plant may have presented such an appearance, we are persuaded they do not do so generally when growing and in good health. the foliage is usually edged with red, and the flowers are fragrant. [ ] erica ampullacea. flask heath. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -fida. _filamenta_ receptaculo inserta. _antheræ_ apice bifidæ, pertusæ. _caps._ -locularis, -valvis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ erica _ampullacea_ foliis ciliatis mucronatis, bractæis coloratis, floribus umbellatis subquaternis erecto-patentibus, stylo exserto. [illustration: n^o. ] the erica here figured has some affinity in the form of its flowers to the _e. ventricosa_, as these in their shape resemble a flask or bottle, especially of that kind in which water is usually kept, we have named it _ampullacea_; it is of very modern introduction. on the th of june , we had the pleasure to see a small plant of this species in flower, with mr. williams, nurseryman, turnham-green, an unwearied and ingenious cultivator of this beautiful tribe of plants in particular, the richness of whose collection will appear in the subsequent list; by him it was raised from cape seeds, though not more than the height of ten inches, it produced eighteen branches, most of which put forth flowers at their summits; we counted sixty-six blossoms on this small plant. the leaves are short, linear, somewhat triangular, rigid, edged with fine crooked hairs, very visible when magnified, and terminating in a mucro or point, on the older branches recurved and mostly eight-rowed; each branch is usually terminated by four or five flowers, at first growing closely together, and covered so strongly with a glutinous substance, as to look as if varnished, and which is so adhesive as to catch ants and small flies; as the flowering advances, they separate more widely from each other, and finally a young branch grows out of the centre from betwixt them; the true calyx is composed of four lanceolate leaves, sitting close to and glued as it were to the corolla; besides these, there are several other leaves, which might be mistaken for those of the calyx, but which may with more propriety be called bracteæ or floral-leaves; some of these, like the calyx, are wholly red, others red and green mixed together, and broader than the leaves of the plant; the flowers are about an inch and a quarter in length, inflated below, and contracted above into a long narrow neck, dilating again so as to form a kind of knob, in which the antheræ are contained, just below the limb, which divides into four somewhat ovate obtuse segments, the upper side of these segments is of a very pale flesh colour, the under side of them as well as the dilated part just below them bright red, the body of the flower flesh colour, marked with eight longitudinal stripes, of a deeper hue; filaments eight, antheræ within the tube; style projecting about the eighth of an inch beyond the corolla; stigma, a round glutinous head. the flowers as they decay become of a deeper red colour, and finally pale brown, still retaining their form and appearing to advantage;--hitherto the plant has produced no seeds here, is increased with difficulty either by cuttings or layers, but with most certainty in the latter way. * * * * * a catalogue of heaths, cultivated and sold by richard williams, at his nursery, _turnham-green, middlesex_. erica. * abietina. albens. * ampullacea. arborea. ---- var. squarrosa. articularis. australis. baccans. * banksii. canescens. capitata. caffra. cernua. * cerinthoides. cinerea. ---- var. fl. albo. ciliaris. * coccinea. comosa. ---- var. fl. rubro. * conspicua. corifolia. * cruenta. cubica. * curviflora. denticulata. * discolor. * elata. empetrifolia. * fascicularis. * formosa. fucata. * grandiflora. * halicacaba. herbacea. incarnata. incana. lateralis. lutea. * mammosa. ---- var. fl. purp. margaritacea. ---- var. fl. rubro. marifolia. mediterranea. * massoni. minima. * monadelphia. * monsoniana. mucosa. multiflora. ---- var. fl. albo. * muscari. * nudiflora. parviflora. * pattersoni. persoluta. ---- var. fl. rubro. * petiveri. physodes. * pinifolia. planifolia. * plukenetii. pubescens. pyramidalis. quadriflora. ramentacea. regerminans. scoparia. * sessiliflora. * simpliciflora. * sparrmanni. * spicata. stricta. taxifolia. tetralix. ---- var. fl. albo. thymifolia. triflora. ---- var. fl. albo. * tubiflora. umbellata. urceolaris. vagans. * ventricosa. * versicolor. * verticillata. * vestita. virgata. vulgaris. ---- var. fl. albo. n.b. _those marked with an asterisk have tubular flowers._ [ ] hermannia lavendulifolia. lavender-leaved hermannia. _class and order._ monadelphia pentandria. _generic character._ pentagyna. _caps._ -locularis. _petala_ basi semitubulata, obliqua. _specific character and synonyms._ hermannia _lavendulifolia_ foliis lanceolatis obtusis integerrimis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ hermannia frutescens folio lavendulæ latiore et obtuso flore parvo aureo boerh. _dill. hort. elth. t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _hermannia_ here figured is a plant of humble growth, forming a small bushy shrub, a foot or a foot and a half in height, and producing numerous flowers thinly scattered over the branches, the greatest part of the summer; it is this disposition which it has of flowering so freely, that renders it a desirable plant for the greenhouse, in which it is commonly kept, and of which it is an old inhabitant. dillenius has figured it in his admirable work the _hortus elthamensis_, published in ; hence we learn that it was cultivated in mr. sherard's celebrated garden at eltham prior to that date. it is a native of the cape, and is readily increased by cuttings. [ ] amaryllis equestris. barbadoes amaryllis, or lily. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ hexapetaloidea, irregularis. _filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta, declinata, inæqualia proportione vel directione. _linn. fil._ _specific character and synonyms._ amaryllis _equestris_ spatha subbiflora, pedicellis erectis spatha brevioribus, tubo siliformi horizontali, limbo oblique patulo sursum curvo, fauce, pilosa. _linn. fil. ait. kew. v. . p. ._ amaryllis dubia _linn. am. ac. . p. _. lilium americanum puniceo flore belladonna dictum. _herm. par. bat. p. . cum fig._ [illustration: n^o. ] mr. aiton, in his _hortus kewensis_, has inserted this species of amaryllis, as named and described by the younger linnæus; he informs us, that it is a native of the west-indies, and was introduced by dr. william pitcairn, in : as its time of flowering is not mentioned, we may presume, that it had not blossomed in the royal garden when the publication before mentioned first made its appearance; it no doubt has since, as we have seen it in that state in the collections of several nurserymen, particularly those of mr. grimwood and mr. colvill. it flowers towards the end of april. the flowering stem rises above the foliage, to the height of about a foot or more, produces from one to three flowers, similar to, but not quite so large as those of the mexican amaryllis, to which it is nearly related; it differs however from that plant essentially in this, that the lower part of the flower projects further than the upper, which gives to its mouth that obliquity which linnæus describes. the spatha is composed of two leaves, which standing up at a certain period of the plant's flowering like ears, give to the whole flower a fancied resemblance of a horse's head; whether linnæus derived his name of _equestris_ from this circumstance or not, he does not condescend to inform us. mr. aiton regards it as a greenhouse plant; like those of many of the ixias, however, the bulbs are of the more tender kind. it is propagated by offsets, but not very readily. [ ] othonna pectinata. wormwood-leaved othonna. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia necessaria. _generic character._ _recept._ nudum. _pappus_ subnullus, _cal._ -phyllus multifidus subcylindricus. _specific character and synonyms._ othonna _pectinata_ foliis pinnatifidis: laciniis linearibus parallelis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ jacobÆa africana frutescens, foliis absinthii umbelliferi incanis. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _othonna pectinata_ is a native of africa, a long-established and common plant in greenhouses, having been cultivated by mr. miller, in ; it recommends itself chiefly on account of its foliage, which forms a pleasing contrast to the darker greens of other plants. it flowers in may and june, is moderately hardy, and readily increased by cuttings. in many collections we meet with old plants of it three or four feet high; formerly, when greenhouse plants were few in numbers and the houses large, it might be proper to keep such; but now there is not that necessity, especially since the vast accession of plants from the cape and new-holland, made within these few years. [ ] hermannia althæifolia. marsh-mallow-leaved hermannia. _class and order._ monadelphia pentandria. _generic character._ pentagyna. _caps._ -locularis. _petala_ basi semitubulata, obliqua. _specific character and synonyms._ hermannia _althæifolia_ foliis ovatis crenatis plicatis tomentosis, calycibus florentibus campanulatis angulatis, stipulis oblongis foliaceis. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ hermannia _althæifolia_ foliis ovatis plicatis crenatis tomentosis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ hermannia capensis althææ folio. _pet. gaz. . t. . f. ._ ketmia africana frutescens foliis mollibus et incanis. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _hermannia althæifolia_, a native of the cape, is a plant of much larger growth than the _lavendulifolia_, rising to the height, if suffered to do so, of three, four, or more feet; its blossoms are proportionably large, and of a deep yellow colour, inclined to orange. it is a plant of free growth, much disposed to produce flowers during most of the summer months; hence it is kept very generally in collections of greenhouse plants: is propagated readily by cuttings. was cultivated by mr. miller, in . _ait. kew._ our readers will see, that the specific description of linnæus has been altered in the _hortus kewensis_, and that it now comprizes all the striking features of the plant. [ ] verbena aubletia. rose vervain. _class and order._ diandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ infundibuliformis subæqualis curva. _calycis_ unico dente truncato. _semina_ s. nuda (_stam._ s. .) _specific character and synonyms._ verbena _aubletia_ tetrandra, spicis laxis solitariis, foliis trifidis incisis. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ verbena _aubletia_ tetrandra, spicis solitariis, coroliis fasciculatis, foliis cordatis inciso-serratis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _suppl. pl. p. ._ buchnera canadensis _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . p. ._ verbena _aubletia_. _jacq. hort. v. . p. . t. ._ obletia _journ. de rozier introd. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] it has fallen to the lot of this plant to have an unusual degree of attention bestowed on it by various botanists, and after being regarded as a distinct genus by several, to be finally classed with the _verbena_; in the _supplementum plantarum_ of the younger linnæus it is minutely described. we learn from the _hortus kewensis_ of mr. aiton that it is a native of north-america, introduced by mons. richard in , and that it flowers in june and july. the extreme brilliancy of its colours renders it a very ornamental greenhouse plant, it seldom grows above the height of two feet; in favourable seasons ripens its seeds readily, by which it is usually propagated, being a biennial. [ ] pelargonium echinatum. prickly-stalked geranium. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem nectariferum secus pendunculum decurrentem. _cor._ petala irregularis. _filamenta_ , inæqualia, quorum raro castrata. _fructus_ coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ spiralia, introrsum barbata. _specific character._ perlargonium _echinatum_ caule carnoso, stipulis spinescentibus, foliis cordato-subrotundis - lobis, floribus umbellatis, umbellis subseptemfloris. [illustration: n^o. ] this singular and most beautiful species of pelargonium, recently introduced to this country, this summer flowered with mr. colvill, nurseryman, in the king's-road, chelsea, from one of whose plants our figure and description have been taken. stalk green, surface smooth and somewhat glossy, fleshy, beset with spines which bend back and terminate in brownish somewhat weak points; these appear to have been primarily the stipulæ, which become thus fleshy and rigid, and from this circumstance not altogether peculiar to this species, it takes the name of _echinatum_; the leaves stand on long footstalks, are somewhat heart-shaped, mostly roundish, divided into three or five lobes, veiny, soft, and downy, especially on the under side, which is of a much lighter colour than the upper, the flowering stem proceeds from the summit of the stalk, and is a foot or more in height; as it advances it throws out its branches, or peduncles, ultimately about five in number, each of which has a leaf at its base, similar to the other leaves of the plant, but smaller, and terminates in an umbel of seven or eight flowers; as the umbels blossom in succession, a period of several months usually intervenes betwixt the blowing of the first and the last; when the flower is expanded, the hindmost leaf of the calyx continues upright, the others are reflexed as in other species of this genus, they are all beset with fine long hairs; the three lowermost petals are pure white, with a little gibbosity at the base of each, the two uppermost are marked each with three irregular spots, of a rich purple colour, inclining to carmine, the two lowermost spots narrowest and of the deepest colour; of the stamina there are six filaments which have antheræ, and four of which have none; stigma red, divided into five parts, and a little longer than the fertile filaments. in its habit this plant resembles somewhat the _pelargonium cordifolium_, is a native of the cape, flowers from may to september, in favourable seasons has produced seeds here, but is more usually increased by cuttings. varies with petals of a rich purple colour, in which the spots are similar, though not so conspicuous. [ ] erinus alpinus. alpine erinus. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ limbus -fidus æqualis. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ erinus _alpinus_ floribus racemosis, foliis spathulatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ ageratum serratum alpinum. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _erinus alpinus_ is a native of switzerland, germany, and france; inhabiting the more mountainous parts of those countries. it is a very desirable little plant for the decoration of rock work, growing in close tufts, and producing numerous flowers of a lively purple colour during most of the summer months. is increased without difficulty by parting its roots in autumn, or from seed; in the winter some plants of it should be kept in pots under a frame or hand-glass, as it is liable to be injured by wet and frost. was cultivated here by mr. miller in . [ ] robinia hispida. rough-stalk'd robinia, or rose acacia. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. legumen gibbum elongatum. _specific character and synonyms._ robinia _hispida_ racemis axillaribus, foliis impari pinnatis, caule inermi hispido. _linn. mant. p. . ait. kew. v. . p. ._ robinia racemis axillaribus, pedicellis unifloris, foliis impari pinnatis, caule inermi. _jacq. amer. . t. . f. ._ pseudo acacia hispida floribus roseis. _catesb. carol. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] there are few trees or shrubs which have contributed more to adorn our plantations, and shrubberies, than those of this genus, nine species of which are enumerated in the _hort. kew._ of mr. aiton, most of these are natives either of north-america, or siberia: the present species, an inhabitant of carolina, is perhaps the most ornamental of the whole: its large pendant bunches of rose-coloured flowers load the branches in may and june, and sometimes a second crop will be produced late in the season, these with us usually fall off without producing any seed-vessels. this shrub is not disposed to grow very tall in america, it is most prudent indeed to keep it humble, to the height of four or five feet, and to plant it in a sheltered part of the garden, as its branches are liable to be broken by high winds: marshall (_arb. amer._) describes it as spreading much from its running roots; we have not observed it to do so in any great degree here; it is propagated by layers, by cuttings of the roots, and by grafting; it is of ready growth, disposed to blow even when young, and not nice as to soil, or situation; the flowers afford a good example of the class diadelphia, they are large and beautiful, but without scent. was cultivated by mr. miller in . _ait. kew._ [ ] linum flavum. yellow flax. _class and order._ pentandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ . _caps._ -valvis locularis. _sem._ solitaria. _specific character and synonyms._ linum _flavum_ calycibus subserrato-scabris lanceolatis subsessilibus, panicula ramis dichotomis. _linn. sp. pl. v. . ed. . p. ._ _mant. p. ._ _syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _jacq. fl. austr. v. . t. ._ linum sylvestre latifolium luteum. _bauh. pin. ._ linum sylvestre iii. latifolium. _clus. hist. . p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] there is a considerable similarity betwixt the representation of the present plant and that of the _linum arboreum_ figured on the th plate of this work, they are nevertheless two species widely differing, the _flavum_ being a hardy herbaceous perennial, a native of germany, the _arboreum_ a greenhouse shrub from the levant, both possessing considerable beauty, and highly worthy a place in all collections of ornamental plants. the _linum flavum_ is not mentioned either in the dictionary of mr. miller, or the hortus kewensis of mr. aiton, and as far as our knowledge extends was a stranger in this country, till we raised it the year before last from seeds sent us by mr. daval, of orbe in switzerland; clusius gives us a representation of it in flower, and prof. jacquin another much superior; according to the latter, it grows by the sides of hedges and among shrubs in mountainous situations, and rarely exceeds a foot in height. from the little experience we have had of this plant, it appears to be easy of culture, and to succeed best in a soil moderately stiff and moist; the flowers expand most in a morning when the sun shines, and continue in succession during june, july, and part of august; it appears as if it would ripen its seeds in my garden; these vegetate freely: the plant may also be increased by parting its roots in autumn, or by cuttings of the young shoots. [ ] daphne cneorum. trailing daphne. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ . _cor._ -fida corallacea marcescens stamina includens, _bacca_ -sperma. _specific character and synonyms._ daphne _cneorum_ floribus congestis terminalibus sessilibus, foliis lanceolatis nudis mucronatis. _linn. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ thymeleÆ affinis facie externa. _bauh. pin. ._ cneorum. _matth. hist. ._ _clus. hist. , . f. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] this charming little shrub is a native of switzerland and austria: clusius informs us that it grows in great abundance on many of the mountains near vienna, so much so that women gather it when in flower and sell it in the markets; its beautiful and fragrant blossoms come forth in april and may, the principal season for its flowering, but it frequently blows during most of the summer, and even in the autumn; it varies with white blossoms. it is extremely hardy, thrives remarkably well in road sand in almost any situation; is propagated by seeds, which very rarely ripen with us, by layers, and by grafting it on the stock of the mezereon, whereby it acquires an elevation superior to what it has naturally. [ ] genista triquetra. triangular-stalk'd genista. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -labiatus: / . _vexillum_ oblongum a pistillo staminibusque deorsum reflexum. _specific character._ genista _triquetra_ foliis ternatis, summis simplicibus, ramis triquetris procumbentibus. _l'herit. stirp. nov. t. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] mons. l'heritier, author of many modern publications in botany, distinguished for their accuracy and elegance, was the first who described and figured this species of genista, a native of corsica, and cultivated here by john ord, esq. as long since as the year . it is a hardy, evergreen, trailing shrub, producing a vast profusion of bloom; which renders it eminently conspicuous in may and june; its flowers are rarely succeeded by seed-vessels, so that it is usually propagated by layers. when tied up properly, and carefully trained to stake, it may vie with most of our ornamental shrubs: for covering a wall, or paling, where the situation is not too shady, it probably would succeed very well, at least it is deserving of trial. [ ] pelargonium ceratophyllum. horn-leaved crane's bill. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem, nectariferum, secus pendunculum decurrentem. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _filam._ inæqualia, quorum raro castrata. _fructus_ -coccus, rostratus, rostra spiralia introrsum barbata. _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _ceratophyllum_ umbellis multifloris, foliis remote pinnatis carnosis teretibus, laciniis canaliculatis obsolete trifidis. _l'herit. geran. n. . t. ._ _ait. kew. v. p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] mr. aiton informs us that this species of pelargonium, which is one of the more fleshy kinds, is a native of the south-west coast of africa, and was introduced to the royal garden at kew by mr. anthony hove in . it flowers during most of the summer months, and ripens its seeds, by which it may be increased, as also by cuttings; it is found to be more tender than many others, and more liable to be injured by damps, and hence it will require a treatment more applicable to a dry stove plant. [ ] polygala chamæbuxus. box-leaved milk-wort. _class and order._ diadelphia octandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus: foliolis majoribus alæformibus, ante maturitatem seminis coloratis. _caps._ obcordata, -locularis. _sem._ solitaria. _specific character and synonyms._ polygala _chamæbuxus_ floribus sparsis: carinæ apice subrotundo, foliis lanceolatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ _jacq. fl. austr. v. . p. . t. ._ chamÆbuxus flore coluteæ. _bauh. pin. ._ anonymos flore coluteæ. _clus. hist. p. . f._ polygaloides procumbens foliis duris ovatis nervo aristato. _hall. hist. n. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] clusius, in his _hist. pl. rar._ gives an accurate description and good figure of the present plant, before unnoticed (as he observes) by any author; it has since been particularly described by haller and jacquin; the former makes a distinct genus of it, by the name of _polygaloides_. it is an elegant little evergreen shrub of low growth, rarely exceeding a foot in height, with leaves like those of box, producing flowers from may to october, but most plentifully in may and june; each flower stands on a peduncle proceeding from a kind of triphyllous cup, formed of floral leaves, the true calyx is composed of three leaves, which are nearly white; the two outermost petals, similar to the wings of a papilionaceous flower, are also white, or nearly so; the third petal which forms a kind of tube and contains the eight stamina with the pistillum, is white at the base, but yellow towards the extremity, where it changes by degrees to a bright bay colour: both clusius and jacquin observed a variety of this plant, in which the calyx and wings were of a beautiful purple; this variety, we believe, has not yet been introduced to this country: the common sort was cultivated in the garden at oxford, in . miller describes it as a plant difficult of cultivation; it is not now regarded as such; both clusius and jacquin describe it as having creeping roots; such plants are generally increased without difficulty, and so is this; planted in bog earth on a shady border, it thrives extremely well, and spawns much, so that there is no necessity for having recourse to its seeds. it grows spontaneously on the alps of austria and switzerland. [ ] ononis fruticosa. shrubby rest-harrow. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus: laciniis linearibus. _vexillum_ striatum. _legumen_ turgidum sessile. _filamenta_ connata absque fissura. _specific character and synonyms._ ononis _fruticosa_ foliis sessilibus ternatis lanceolatis serratis, stipulis vaginalibus, pedunculis subtrifloris. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. ._ ononis purpurea verna præcox frutescens, flore rubro amplo. _moris. hist. . p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] this charming little shrub, highly deserving of being more generally known, is a native of the south of france; and was cultivated here by miller in . in favourable situations, it produces blossoms in great profusion during most of the summer, and ripens seed in abundance: the situation it affects is dry and sandy, but it is a shrub by no means nice, as to soil or place of growth, and so hardy as to have borne the severity of last winter, , without injury. in the collections about town we frequently find it in pots, kept with greenhouse plants. it is said to vary with white flowers. the best mode of raising it is from seed. [ ] anthericum liliastrum. savoy anthericum, or st. bruno's lily. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, patens. _caps._ ovata. _specific character and synonyms._ anthericum _liliastrum_ foliis planis, scapo simplicissimo, corollis campanulatis, staminibus declinatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ hemerocallis floribus patulis secundis. _hall. hist. n. ._ phalangium magno flore. _bauh. pin. ._ phalangium allobrogicum majus. _clus. cur. app. alt._ phalangium allobrogicum. the savoye spider-wort. _park. parad. p. . tab. . f. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] botanists are divided in their opinions respecting the genus of this plant; linnæus considers it as an _anthericum_, haller and miller make it an _hemerocallis_. it is a native of switzerland, where, haller informs us, it grows abundantly in the alpine meadows, and even on the summits of the mountains; with us it flowers in may and june. it is a plant of great elegance, producing on an unbranched stem about a foot and a half high, numerous flowers of a delicate white colour, much smaller but resembling in form those of the common white lily, possessing a considerable degree of fragrance, their beauty is heightened by the rich orange colour of their antheræ; unfortunately they are but of short duration. miller describes two varieties of it differing merely in size. a loamy soil, a situation moderately moist, with an eastern or western exposure, suits this plant best; so situated, it will increase by its roots, though not very fast, and by parting of these in the autumn, it is usually propagated. parkinson describes and figures it in his _parad. terrest._ observing that "divers allured by the beauty of its flowers, had brought it into these parts." [ ] anagallis monelli. italian pimpernel. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ rotata. _caps._ circumscissa -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ anagallis _monelli_, foliis lanceolatis caule erecto. _linn. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ anagallis coerulea foliis binis ternisve ex adverso nascentibus. _bauh. pin. ._ anagallis tenuifolia monnelli. _clus. app. alt._ [illustration: n^o. ] in italy and spain, where this plant grows spontaneously, it is an annual, producing seed in abundance; with us (as far at least as we have observed) it produces no seed, but like the _senecio elegans_, and some other annuals, is renewed, and rendered perennial by cuttings, which strike freely, and by which the plant requires to be renovated once or twice in a season; though described as growing with an upright stem, it requires to be tied up to a stick; and if this be neatly and dexterously done, its brilliant azure flowers springing from every side of the stem, render it a charming ornament for the greenhouse or window: it flowers during most of the year. clusius called it _anagallis monnelli_, the first knowledge he had of the plant being from his friend johannes monnellus. on the same plant we find the leaves grow two, three, or four together, with flowers corresponding. [ ] lobelia cardinalis. scarlet lobelia, or cardinal's flower. _class and order._ syngenesia monogamia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _caps._ infera , s. -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ lobelia _cardinalis_ caule erecto, foliis lato-lanceolatis serratis, racemo terminali secundo. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ rapuntium galeatum virginianum, coccineo flore majore. _moris. hist. . p. . s. . t. . f. ._ trachelium americarum flore ruberrimo, sive planta cardinalis. the rich crimson cardinal's flower. _park. parad. p. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] this species of _lobelia_, so eminently distinguished for the richness of its scarlet blossoms, is a native of the colder as well as warmer parts of north-america. parkinson, who cultivated it in , informs us that he received plants of it from france for his garden, and that "it groweth neere the river of canada, where the french plantation in america is seated." it is a hardy herbaceous plant, growing in favourable situations to the height of three or four feet; the main spike of flowers which terminates the stalk, is often a foot in length; by the time that most of its flowers are blown, side branches shoot out, and flower; so that the plant continues in bloom six weeks or two months: if the autumn prove favourable, the plant with us produces plenty of seed in the open ground; to insure its ripening, some place pots of it, when blowing, in the greenhouse or stove. beautiful and hardy as this plant is, and long as it has been introduced to this country, we do not find it generally in gardens; we attribute this to its having, in a greater degree than many other plants, a partiality for a particular soil; in certain districts, where the soil is stiff and moist, it grows as freely as any weed, in other soils it is perpetually going off: it is also one of those plants whose roots require to be often parted; if this be done every autumn, and they be planted in a stiff loam, the situation somewhat moist and shady, this very desirable plant may be had to grow and blossom in perfection. it flowers from the latter end of july to october. is increased by parting its roots, by cuttings of the stalk and from seed. [ ] cotyledon orbiculata. round-leaved navel-wort. _class and order._ decandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _cor._ -petala. _squamæ_ nectariferæ ad basin germinis. _caps._ . _specific character and synonyms._ cotyledon _orbiculata_ foliis orbiculatis carnosis planis integerrimis, caule fruticoso. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. var. [delta] v. . p. ._ cotyledon africanum frutescens incanum orbiculatis foliis. _herm. lugd. . t. ._ _moris. hist. . p. . s. . t. f. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _cotyledon orbiculata_ is one of our oldest succulents, being introduced as long since as , by mr. bentick[c]: it still retains a place in most collections, deservedly indeed, for it has every claim to our notice; its appearance is magnificent, the glaucous colour of its foliage highly pleasing, its flowers large and of long duration; it blows freely, grows rapidly, is easily increased by cuttings, and will succeed in a house or window, with the common treatment of an african geranium. when suffered to grow, it will become a shrub of considerable size; but this is not necessary for its flowering, as young and small plants are disposed to throw out blossoms, which is not the case with a plant extremely similar to, and often confounded with it, viz. the _crassula cotyledon_, whose foliage indeed scarcely differs from our plant but in being finely dotted. it is a native of the cape, and flowers from june or july to september. in the _hort. kew._ of mr. aiton, four varieties are enumerated, differing chiefly in the form of their foliage. [footnote c: ait. kew.] [ ] manulea tomentosa. woolly manulea. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus. _cor._ limbo -partito, subulato: laciniis superioribus magis connexis. _caps._ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ manulea _tomentosa_ foliis tomentosis, caulibus foliosis, pedunculis multifloris. _linn. mant. . syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ selago _tomentosa_ foliis obovatis crenatis, caule prostrato, racemis ramosis. _linn. amoen. acad. v. . p. ._ _sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ planta _pluk. phyt. . f. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] linnæus describes this plant in the _amoenitates academicæ_ under the name of _selago tomentosa_, by which name he continues to call it in the third edition of the _spec. pl._ in his _mantissa_ he describes it more minutely, and changes it to the genus _manulea_, first established by him in the said work; he observes, that in this species the corolla is more regular than in the others. mr. aiton regards it as a biennial, its stalk is a foot or a foot and a half high, and woolly, its branches are opposite, not alternate as linnæus describes them; in this perhaps they may vary; leaves opposite, sessile, obovate, narrowing to the base, toothed on the edge, edge rolled back a little in the young leaves, flowers grow in a long thyrsus, from two to five proceed from one common short peduncle; they are at first lemon-coloured, or greenish yellow, finally deep orange; linnæus says the whole of the plant except the corolla is woolly, the tube of that even is hairy, the segments are smooth, with their edges rolled back, the upper part of the tube in which the stamina are included is dilated somewhat, as is also the lower part, so that it is narrowest in the middle. the flowers which make their appearance from may to november are usually succeeded by seeds, by which the plant is propagated. it is a native of the cape, and, according to mr. aiton, was introduced by mr. masson, in . the blossoms have a singular but unpleasant smell, not perceivable at a distance. the variety of pleasant colours so conspicuous in the flowers, renders this rare plant desirable to such as aim at a general collection. [ ] rubus odoratus. flowering raspberry. _class and order._ icosandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala_ . _bacca_ composita acinis monospermis. _specific character and synonyms._ rubus _odoratus_ foliis simplicibus palmatis, caule inermi multifolio multifloro. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ rubus odoratus. _corn. canad. . t. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] botanists and gardeners have given to this species of rubus the name of _flowering_, not because it is the only one which produces flowers, but from its being regarded for its flowers merely; they indeed are so shewy, and so plentifully produced, that the plant has long been thought to merit a place in most shrubberies; to the various inhabitants of which, both in the largeness and elegant form of its leaves, and the colour of its blossoms, it forms a pleasing contrast. it is extremely hardy, and easily propagated by suckers; the only care which it requires, is to keep it within proper bounds: young plants of it produce the largest and finest flowers. it blossoms from june to september, is a native of different and distant parts of north-america, and was cultivated here by mr. miller, in . cornutus, who first figured and described this plant, gave it the name of _odoratus_, on account of the fragrance of its foliage; his words are "elegantissimi hujus folia fragrantissima sunt, paremque agrimonio odorato spirant odorem;" the fruit, rarely produced with us, he observes, is like the common raspberry, but not so pleasant. [ ] antirrhinum triphyllum. three-leaved toad-flax. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ basis deorsum prominens nectarifera. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ antirrhinum _triphyllum_ foliis ternis ovatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew._ linaria triphylla minor lutea. _bauh. pin. ._ linaria triphylla coerulea. _bauh. pin. ._ linaria hispanica. _clus. hist. . p. ._ linaria valentina. tode flaxe of valentia. _park. par. p. ._ [illustration: n^o. ] the _antirrhinum triphyllum_, so called from the leaves growing by threes on the stalk (a character, by the bye, not very constant) was cultivated by parkinson, and described by him in his _parad. terr._ he appears to have been a stranger to the particoloured variety now so generally cultivated as an ornamental annual in our gardens; in its wild state the flowers of this _antirrhinum_ are of a yellow hue, with little or no purple in them, such indeed are frequently produced from seeds sown in our gardens. it is a hardy annual, a native of spain and sicily, a plant of ready growth, requiring the common treatment of annuals sown in the spring, and much disposed indeed to come up spontaneously where it has once grown; in sowing its seeds, care should be taken to preserve the produce of such flowers as have the most purple in them. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _ninth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ agrostemma coeli rosa. amaryllis lutea. ---- sarniensis. ---- equestris. anagallis monelli. antirrhinum triphyllum. anthericum liliastrum. catananche coerulea. capparis spinosa. cotyledon orbiculata. convolvulus linearis. daphne cneorum. dianthus superbus. erica ampullacea. erinus alpinus. genista triquetra. gnaphalium eximium. hermannia alnifolia. ---- lavendulifolia. ---- althæifolia. linum flavum. lobelia cardinalis. manulea tomentosa. melianthus minor. mimosa myrtifolia. ononis fruticosa. origanum dictamnus. othonna pectinata. passerina grandiflora. pelargonium echinatum. ---- ceratophyllum. polygala chamæbuxus. robinia hispida. rubus odoratus. sempervivum tortuosum. verbena aubletia. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _ninth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ amaryllis yellow. ---- guernsey. ---- barbadoes. anthericum savoy. caper shrub. catananche blue. cockle smooth-leaved. convolvulus narrow-leaved. crane's-bill horn-leaved. cudweed giant. daphne trailing. dittany of crete. erinus alpine. flax yellow. heath flask. hermannia alder-leaved. ---- lavender-leaved. ---- marshmallow-leaved. houseleek gouty. genista triangular-stalked. geranium prickly-stalked. lobelia scarlet. manulea woolly. melianthus small. milk-wort box-leaved. mimosa myrtle-leaved. navel-wort round-leaved. othonna wormwood-leaved. passerina great-flowered. pimpernel italian. pink superb. raspberry flowering. rest-harrow shrubby. robinia rough-stalked. toad-flax three-leaved. vervain rose. janet blenkinship and the online distributed proofreaders europe at http://dp.rastko.net +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ |transcriber's note: older spellings of place names have been left as in| |the original. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ 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. v.~ ----"the garden yields a soft amusement, an humane delight. to raise th' insipid nature of the ground, or tame its savage genius to the grace of careless sweet rusticity, that seems the amiable result of happy chance, is to create, and give a god-like joy, which ev'ry year improves." armstrong. london: printed by couchman and fry, throgmorton-street. for w. curtis, no , _st. george's-crescent_, black-friars-road; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xci. * * * * * [ ] monarda fistulosa, _var._ crimson monarda. _class and order._ diandra monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ inæqualis: labio superiore lineari filamenta involvente. _semina_ . _specific character and synonyms._ monarda _fistulosa_ capitulis terminalibus, caule obtusangulo. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. . ed. . murr._ _hort. kew. v. . p. ._ origanum fistulosum canadense. _corn. canad. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] the _monarda fistulosa_, a hardy herbaceous plant, growing spontaneously in canada, and other parts of north-america, has long been cultivated in the english gardens, to which it recommends itself as much by the fragrance of its foliage, as the beauty of its flowers; of this species the plant here figured is an uncommonly beautiful variety, its blossoms far surpassing those of the original in size, as well as brilliancy of colour, the floral leaves also are highly coloured; we have represented a single blossom of the common _monarda fistulosa_, that the difference of the two may be rendered obvious. this variety has been very lately introduced from holland, by messrs. grimwood and co. kensington; it flowers from june to september, and is propagated by parting its roots in spring or autumn. [ ] hypericum calycinum. large-flower'd st. john's-wort. _class and order._ polyadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus. _petala_ . _filamenta_ multa, in phalanges basi connata. _capsula._ _specific character and synonyms._ hypericum _calycinum_ floribus pentagynis solitariis terminalibus, caule tetragono fruticoso, foliis oblongo-ovatis coriaceis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. . mant. ._ _hort. kew. v. . ._ ascyrum magno flore. _bauh. pin. . prodr. ._ androsÆmum constantinopolitanum flore maximo. _wheler's journey into greece, p. . cum fig._ [illustration: no ] this species of st. john's-wort, particularly distinguished by the largeness of its flowers, has very generally been considered as the _ascyron_ of linnÆus, owing to his giving to that plant the synonyms which properly belong to the present one: in his _mantissa_, this species is called _calycinum_, which name is adopted in the th edition of the _systema vegetabilium_, and also in the _hortus kewensis_, where the proper synonyms are applied to it, and from which we learn, that it is a native of the country near constantinople, and was introduced into this country by sir george wheler, bart. in . it is a hardy perennial, increasing much by its roots, which are of the creeping kind, and by parting of which in the autumn it is most readily propagated; like the periwinkle, it is a plant well adapted to cover a bank, or bare, spots under trees, where other plants will not thrive. it flowers from july to september. [ ] dais cotinifolia. cotinus-leav'd dais. _class and order._ decandria monogynia. _generic character._ involucrum -phyllum. _cor._ s. -fida. bacca -sperma. _specific character and synonyms._ dais _cotinifolia_ floribus quinquefidis decandris. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _spec. pl. p. ._ dais _laurifolia_. _jacq. ic. collect. . p. ._ [illustration: no ] the _dais cotinifolia_ is an ornamental green-house shrub, of the deciduous kind, and though it appears from the _hortus kewensis_ to have been introduced by mr. james gordon, of mile-end, in , is yet a great rarity with us, and only to be found in some of the first collections. its scarcity, and consequent very high price, is attributed to the nursery-men's not having yet discovered the means of propagating it freely. messrs. grimwood and co. of kensington, have some very fine plants of it, which flower every year in the months of june and july, but as yet have produced no perfect seeds, which they may be expected to do when grown older; such having been known to ripen them in holland. it is a native of the cape, and appears to have been long possessed by the dutch, as its generic character taken from d. v. royen, is printed in the genera plantarum of linnÆus in . there are only two known species, and they vary in the number of their stamina, and divisions of the corolla. [ ] pelargonium betulinum. birch-leav'd crane's-bill. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _filamenta_ , inæqualia: quorum (raro ) castrata. _fructus_ -coccus, rostratus: rostra spiralia, introrsum barbata. _l'herit. geran._ _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _betulinum_ umbellis paucifloris, foliis ovatis inæqualiter serratis lævigatis. _l'herit. n. ._ geranium _betulinum_ calycibus monophyllis, foliis ovatis inæqualiter serratis planis, caule fruticoso. _linn. sp. pl. p. ._ _burm. ger. ._ geranium fruticosum, betulæ folio, africanum. _raii suppl. ._ [illustration: no ] though long since described, we have been in possession of this species of crane's-bill but a few years; it is one of the many new ones introduced by mr. masson from the cape, and at the same time one of the most desirable, as its blossoms which are ornamental, are freely produced during most of the summer, and the plant itself is readily propagated by cuttings. the flowers vary considerably, both in size, and colour; its foliage is different from that of most others, and, as its name imports, like that of the birch-tree. it requires the same treatment as most other green-house plants. [ ] zinnia multiflora. many-flowered zinnia. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _recept._ paleaceum. _pappus_ aristis erectis. _cal._ ovato-cylindricus, imbricatus. _flosculi_ radii - , persistentes, integri. _specific character and synonyms._ zinnia _multiflora_ floribus pedunculatis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ [illustration: no ] the _zinnia, multiflora_, a native of louisania, is a plant of more modern introduction, but requires the same treatment, and flowers at the same time, as the _tagetes patula_, with which, though far inferior in brilliancy of colour, it contributes to decorate the borders of the flower-garden from june to september. there is a variety of it with yellow flowers, nearly as common in our gardens as the present plant. linnÆus gave to this genus the name of zinnia, in honour of joh. gottfr. zinn, the pupil of haller, and his successor at the university of gottingen. the plant we have figured, answers to the name and to the specific description of linnÆus's _multiflora_; having never seen his _pauciflora_, we cannot say whether there be any just cause for suspecting them to be varieties of each other. [ ] tagetes patula. spreading tagetes, or french marigold. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _receptaculum_ nudum. _pappus_ aristis erectis. _cal._ -phyllus, -dentatus, tubulosus. flosculi radii - , persistentes. _specific character and synonyms._ tagetes _patula_ caule subdiviso patulo. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. ._ tanacetum africanum flos africanus minor. _bauh. pin. ._ flos africanus. _dod. pempt. ._ the small single french marigold. _park. par. p. ._ [illustration: no ] for richness and variety of tints few flowers can vie with this species of tagetes, which forms one of the chief ornaments of our gardens at the close of summer. some authors make it a native of africa, others of america. two principal varieties are usually kept in the gardens, the common small sort with a strong disagreeable smell, and a larger one here figured, usually called sweet-scented, the former is of more humble growth, its branches more spreading, its blossoms smaller than those of the latter, the flowers of which have usually a greater portion of the yellow tint, and the smell of the other so modified as to be far less disagreeable; sweet-scented we fear it can scarcely be called: from the seed of both sorts some flowers will be produced extremely double, and others single. miller recommends the seed to be frequently changed, to prevent them from degenerating. it is one of our tender annuals which require to be raised on a gentle hot-bed, if we are desirous of having them early; if that be not an object, they may be sown under a common hand-glass on a warm border the beginning of may, and, when large enough, planted out in the flower-beds, where they are to remain. dodonÆus observes, that the leaves, if held up to the light, appear as if perforated; and he adduces some instances, which prove the plant to be of a poisonous nature. [ ] lotus tetragonolobus. winged lotus. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _legumen_ cylindricum strictum. _alæ_ sursum longitudinaliter conniventes. _cal._ tubulosus. _specific character and synonyms._ lotus _tetragonolobus_ leguminibus solitariis membranaceo-quadrangulis, bractæis ovatis. _linn. syst. vegetab, p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ lotus ruber siliqua angulosa. _bauh. pin. ._ lotus pulcherrima tetragonolobus. _comm. hort. . t. ._ pisum quadratum, the crimson-blossom'd or square-codded pease. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] a common annual in our gardens, where it has been long cultivated; is a native of sicily, and flowers in the open borders in july and august; requires the same management as other hardy annuals. miller observes, that it was formerly cultivated as an esculent plant, the green pods being dressed and eaten as peas. [ ] epidendrum cochleatum. two-leav'd epidendrum. _class and order._ gynandria diandria. _generic character._ nectarium turbinatum, obliquum, reflexum. _specific character and synonyms._ epidendrum _cochleatum_ foliis oblongis geminis glabris striatis bulbo innatis, scapo multifloro, nectario cordato. _linn. syst. vegetab, ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ helleborine cochleato flore. _plum. sp. . u. . fig. ._ [illustration: no ] plants which draw their support from other living ones, of which there are numerous instances, are by botanists termed parasitical, and of this kind are most of the present family; deriving their generic name, which is of greek extraction, from growing on trees, into the bark of which they fix their roots; some of them are also found to grow on dead wood, as the present plant, which is described by sir hans sloane, in his history of jamaica, _v. . p. . t. . f. ._ as not only growing plentifully on trees, but also on the palisadoes of st. jago de la vega. instances of these plants flowering in england are very rare; commodore gardner, in the year , presented to the apothecaries company some roots of this plant, taken up in the woods of jamaica with great care, and which being successfully treated by mr. fairbairn in their garden at chelsea, one of them threw up a flowering stem last february, from whence our drawing was made. mr. fairbairn planted the roots in pots of earth, composed of rotten wood and decayed leaves, plunging them into the tan-bed of a pit of considerable size. in its fructification, the epidendrum obviously agrees with the orchis tribe, but differs essentially in the oeconomy of its roots; in the orchis the roots spring from the crown of the bulb, which is formed in the earth; in the epidendrum the bulb, or the part which appears to be analogous to a bulb, though of a green colour, is produced above ground, while the roots or fibres proceed from below it. [ ] bulbocodium vernum. vernal bulbocodium. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ infundibuliformis, hexapetala: unguibus angustis staminiferis. _capsula_ supera. _specific character and synonyms._ bulbocodium _vernum_ foliis lanceolatis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ _retz. obs. bot. fasc. . t. ._ colchicum vernum hispanicum. _bauh. pin. ._ medowe saffron of the spring. _park. parad. p. - . f. ._ [illustration: no ] the excellent and learned clusius, in the second appendix to his history of rare plants, gives a very good figure of this plant, both in flower and seed, accompanied with its history; our parkinson also represents it in his _parad. terr._ and gives such a minute description of it, as convinces us he must have cultivated it at the time he wrote: mr. miller appears not to have been well acquainted with it, or he would not have described its root to be like that of the snowdrop; had he said colchicum, he would not have misled: retzius also in his bot. obs. gives a figure of it with the flower dissected. the _bulbocodium_, of which there is only one species, is a mountainous plant, a native of spain, and flowers in the open ground at the same time as the crocus, for a purple variety of which it might easily be mistaken at first sight; but it differs from the crocus in having six stamina, and from the colchicum, to which it is very nearly allied, in having one style instead of three. it is at present a rare plant in our gardens, which we attribute to its bulbs not admitting of much increase, as well as to its being liable to be killed by frost, and hence requiring more care than it may be thought entitled to from its appearance. it varies in the colour of its flowers. [ ] saponaria ocymoides, basil soap-wort. _class and order._ decandria digynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, nudus. _petala_ unguiculata. _caps._ oblonga -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ saponaria _ocymoides_ calycibus cylindricis villosis, caulibus dichotomis procumbentibus. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr._ _jacq. fl. austr. v. . app. t. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ lychnis vel ocymoides repens montanum. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: no ] the _saponaria ocymoides_ has been figured in the appendix to the fifth volume of the _flora austriaca_ in its wild state, as in similar works every plant is expected to be; our figure represents a branch of it only, taken (as all ours in this work professedly are) from a garden specimen which grew on a wall of a particular construction in our garden at brompton, and of which it was the principal ornament through the months of may, june, and july, during most of which time it was covered with a profusion of bloom[ ]. though it produces blossoms in abundance, it affords but little seed, but may be increased by slips or cuttings. it is a hardy perennial, a native of france, italy, switzerland, and carinthia, loves a pure air and a dry situation[ ], grows best among rocks, stones, or out of a wall, and certainly is one of the best plants imaginable for ornamenting of rock-work. i received seeds of it, and many other rare plants, from my very kind friend mr. daval, of orbe, in switzerland. [ ] oxalis versicolor. striped-flower'd wood-sorrel. _class and order._ decandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ unguibus connexa. _caps._ angulis dehiscens, -gona. _specific character and synonyms._ oxalis _versicolor_ caule erecto hirto, pedunculis unifloris, foliis ternatis: foliolis linearibus callosis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. . p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ oxys africana foliis tenuissimis, flore amplo versicolore. _pluk. amalth. . t. . f. ._ oxys africana foliis tenuissimis in summitate caulis. _raii suppl. ._ [illustration: no ] the _oxalis-versicolor_ is considered as one of the most beautiful of the many species cultivated in gardens; and, though well known to, and described by several of the older botanists, has graced our collections but a few years, being introduced to the royal garden at kew, from the cape (where, as well as in ethiopia, it grows spontaneously) by mr. masson, in the year . many of this genus flower early in the spring, the season in which this species also puts forth its blossoms, but by dexterous management it may be made to flower during most of the year; and this is effected by placing the pea-like tubera or knobs which the root sends forth, and by which the plant is propagated, in pots filled with loam and bog-earth at stated distant periods. like most of the cape plants, it is well adapted to the greenhouse, and succeeds best when placed on a front shelf of the house, where it can have plenty of light and air; some keep it in the stove, but there the plant is drawn up, and the flowers lose a part of their brilliancy: in no situation do they ever expand but when the sun shines on them; this is the less to be regretted, as they are most beautiful when closed. [ ] coreopsis verticillata. whorled coreopsis. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia frustranea. _generic character._ _receptaculum_ paleaceum. _pappus_ bicornis. _calyx_ erectus, polyphyllus, basi radiis patentibus cinctus. _specific character and synonyms._ coreopsis _verticillata_ foliis decomposito-linearibus. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ coreopsis foliis verticillatis linearibus multifidis. _gronov. fl. virgin. p. ._ delphinii vel mei foliis planta ad nodos positis caule singulari. _clayt. n. ._ [illustration: no ] the _coreopsis verticillata_ is a hardy, perennial, herbaceous plant, a native of north-america; producing its blossoms, which are uncommonly shewy, from july to october, and is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn. it grows to a great height, and is therefore rather adapted to the shrubbery than the flower-garden. clayton remarks, that the petals, though of a yellow colour, are used by the inhabitants to dye cloth red. [ ] hyacinthus botryoides. grape hyacinth. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ campanulata: _pori_ melliferi germinis. _specific character and synonyms._ hyacinthus _botryoides_ corollis globosis uniformibus, foliis canaliculato-cylindricis strictis. _linn. syst. veget. ed. . murr. p. ._ _aiton hort. kew. v. . p. ._ hyacinthus _racemosus_ cæruleus major. _bauh. pin. ._ hyacinthus botroides cæruleus amoenus. the skie-coloured grape-flower. _park. par. p. . p. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] the _hyacinthus botryoides_, a native of italy, and cultivated in the time of gerard and parkinson, is now become scarce with us, being only to be accidentally met with in long-established gardens; we first saw it in the garden of our very worthy and much valued friend, mr. john chorley, of tottenham, to whose lady my collection stands indebted for several rare and valuable plants. this species increases sufficiently fast by offsets, but in the open border does not very readily produce flowering stems: as both it and the _racemosus_ are apt to become troublesome in a garden from their great increase, we would recommend their bulbs to be placed in moderately sized pots filled with light earth, and plunged in the borders where they are designed to flower; in the autumn they should be regularly taken out, the offsets thrown away, and about half a dozen of the largest bulbs left, all of which will most probably flower at the usual time, the end of march or beginning of april. parkinson, who most admirably describes this and the _racemosus_, enumerates three varieties, viz. the _white_, the _blush-coloured_, and the _branched_; the first is frequently imported with other bulbs from holland, the second and third we have not seen; the latter, if we may judge from parkinson's _fig._ in his _parad._ is a most curious plant, and was obtained, as clusius reports, from seeds of the white variety; whether it now exists is deserving of inquiry. the _botryoides_ differs from the _racemosus_, in having its leaves upright, its bunch of flowers smaller, the flowers themselves larger, rounder, of a paler and brighter blue. [ ] hibiscus rosa sinensis. china-rose hibiscus. _class and order._ monadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ duplex, exterior polyphyllus. _capsula_ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ hibiscus _rosa sinensis_ foliis ovatis acuminatis serratis, caule arboreo. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ alcea javanica arborescens, flore pleno rubicundo. _breyn. cent. . t. ._ hibiscus _javanica_. _mill. dict. ed. . to._ by whom cultivated in . [illustration: no ] rumphius in his _herbarium amboinense_ gives an excellent account of this beautiful native of the east-indies, accompanied by a representation of it with double flowers, in which state it is more particularly cultivated in all the gardens in india, as well as china; he informs us that it grows to the full size of our hazel, and that it varies with white flowers. the inhabitants of india, he observes, are extremely partial to whatever is red, they consider it as a colour which tends to exhilarate; and hence they not only cultivate this plant universally in their gardens, but use its flowers on all occasions of festivity, and even in their sepulchral rites: he mentions also an oeconomical purpose to which the flowers are applied, little consistent with their elegance and beauty, that of blacking shoes, whence their name of _rosæ calceolariæ_; the shoes, after the colour is imparted to them, are rubbed with the hand, to give them a gloss, and which thereby receives a blueish tinge, to discharge which they have recourse to lemon juice. with us it is kept in the stove, where it thrives and flowers readily during most of the summer; the single blossoms last but a short time, yet their superiority arising from the curious and beautiful structure of the interior parts of the flower, compensates for the shortness of their duration. it is usually increased by cuttings. [ ] alyssum saxatile. yellow alyssum. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliculosa. _generic character._ _filamenta_ quædam introrsum denticulo notata. _silicula_ emarginata. _specific character and synonyms._ alyssum _saxatile_ caulibus frutescentibus paniculatis, foliis lanceolatis mollissimis repandis. _linn. syst. veg, ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ alyssum creticum saxatile, foliis undulatis incanis. _tourn. cor. ._ thlaspi luteum leucoji folio. _bocc. muf. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] as this plant has very generally obtained in gardens and nurseries the name of yellow alyssum, we have retained it; for though it is not the only one of the genus which produces yellow flowers, it may still be called yellow by way of eminence, such is the extreme brilliancy and profusion of its blossoms. it is a native of crete, and was first cultivated in this country by mr. miller, in [ ], at chelsea garden. it begins to flower about the latter end of april, and continues to blossom through great part of may; and it is not uncommon for it to flower again in autumn. if it has a pure air and a dry situation, it will grow in almost any soil. the usual mode of propagating it is by slips, or cuttings. as it is a small, shewy, hardy plant, and not disposed to over-run others, it is very suitable to embellish rock-work. [ ] pulmonaria virginica. virginia lungwort. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ infundibuliformis fauce pervia. _calyx_ prismatico-pentagonus. _specific character and synonyms._ pulmonaria _virginica_ calycibus abbreviatis, foliis lanceolatis obtusiusculis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ pulmonaria non maculosa, floribus tubulosis longis pulcherrimis cæruleis, in panicula pendula congestis, foliis teneribus glabris latis obtusis, ad margines æqualibus, pediculis dilute purpureis infidentibus, radice crassa instar symphyti. mountain cowslip. _clayt. gron. fl. virg. p. ._ [illustration: no ] miller informs us in his dictionary, that the _pulmonaria virginica_ grows naturally upon mountains in most parts of north-america, that the seeds were sent many years since by mr. banister, from virginia; and some of the plants were raised in the garden of the bishop of london, at fulham, where for several years it was growing. though a native of virginia, it ranks with the hardy herbaceous plants of our gardens, and flowers in the open border about the middle of april; the blossoms before their expansion are of a reddish purple colour, when fully blown they become of a light bright blue, the foliage is glaucous, or blueish green; it is said to vary with white and flesh-coloured flowers. in favourable seasons, the flower-garden owes much of its gaiety to this elegant plant, and at a time when ornament is most desirable. it requires a pure air, and a situation moderately sheltered, as the cold easterly winds which too readily prevail in april, when it is in flower, are apt to deface it. it is usually propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and is a free grower. [ ] amygdalus nana. dwarf almond. _class and order._ icosandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus, inferus. _petala_ . drupa nuce poris perforata. _specific character and synonyms._ amygdalus _nana_ foliis basi attenuatis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ _pallas. ross. . p. . t. ._ amygdalus indica nana. _pluk. alm. . t. . f. ._ armeniaca persicæ foliis, fructu exsucco. _amm. ruth. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] the dwarf almond, a native of russia and tartary, is justly considered as one of our most ornamental shrubs; it rarely rises above the height of three feet, and hence becomes very suitable for the shrubbery of small extent. it flowers about the middle of april, somewhat later than the common almond. miller observes, that the roots are apt to put out suckers, by which the plant may be increased in plenty; and if those are not annually taken away, they will starve the old plant. cultivated in , by mr. james sutherland. _ait. hort. kew._ [ ] sanguinaria canadensis. canada puccoon, or bloodwort. _class and order._ polyandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala. _cal._ -phyllus. siliqua ovata, -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ sanguinaria _canadensis_. _linn. syst. veg. ed. . murr. p. ._ chelidonium majus canadense acaulon. _corn. canad. ._ ranunculus virginiensis albus. _park. theat. ._ sanguinaria flore simplici. _dill. elth. t. ._ [illustration: no ] though the sanguinaria cannot be considered as a handsome shewy plant, yet we scarcely know its equal in point of delicacy and singularity; there is something in it to admire, from the time that its leaves emerge from the ground, and embosom the infant blossom, to their full expansion, and the ripening of its seed vessels. the woods of canada, as well as of other parts of north-america, produce this plant in abundance with us it flowers in the beginning of april: its blossoms are fugacious, and fully expand only in fine warm weather. it is a hardy perennial, and is usually propagated by parting its roots in autumn; a situation moderately shady, and a soil having a mixture of bog-earth or rotten leaves in it suits it best. its knobby roots, when broken asunder, pour forth a juice of a bright red or orange colour, whence its name of sanguinaria: with this liquid the indians are said to paint themselves. dillenius, has figured it in his admirable work, the hortus elthamensis, where three varieties of it are represented, viz. a large one, a small one, and one in which the petals are multiplied, but which can scarcely be called double. it appears from morison[ ], that the sanguinaria was cultivated in this country in , the date of his work. [ ] phlox divaricata. early-flowering lychnidea. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ hypocrateriformis. _filamenta_ inæqualia. _stigma_ -fidum. _cal._ prismaticus. _caps._ -locularis, i-sperma. _specific character and synonyms._ phlox _divaricata_ foliis lato-lanceolatis: superioribus alternis, caule bifido, pedunculis geminis. _linn. syst. vegetab, p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ lychnidea virginiana, alsines aquaticæ foliis, floribus in ramulis divaricatis. _pluk. mant. ?_ [illustration: no ] most of the plants of this genus are natives of north-america, and remarkable for their beauty; they were first introduced under the name of _lychnidea_, which, though a latin term, is now familiarized to the english ear. mr. aiton has given to this species the name of early-flowering, it coming much sooner into blossom than any of the others, beginning to flower in may with the yellow alyssum; its blossoms, however, are not of so long duration, nor so ornamental as some others of the same family. it seldom exceeds a foot in height, and, on this account, may be regarded as a suitable rock-plant. it rarely ripens its seeds with us, but is readily increased either by cuttings or layers; succeeds best in a pure air and a situation moderately dry. like most other american plants, it is of modern introduction, was cultivated by mr. miller, in , and figured in his icones. [ ] ranunculus gramineus. grass-leaved crowfoot. _class and order._ polyandria polygnia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus. _petala_ intra ungues poro mellifero. _semina_ nuda. _specific character and synonyms._ ranunculus _gramineus_ foliis lanceolato linearibus indivisis, caule erecto lævissimo paucifloro. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ ranunculus gramineo folio bulbosus. _bauh. pin. ?_ ranunculus montanus folio gramineo. _bauh. pin. ._ ranunculus gramineus. grasse leafed crowfoot. _park. parad. p. . . f. i._ [illustration: no ] this species of ranunculus, an inhabitant of the dry pastures south of france and italy, and a hardy herbaceous plant of ready growth, recommends itself by the earliness of its flowering and the delicate glaucous colour of its foliage. parkinson figures it with double flowers, though he describes it with semi-double ones only; we have not observed either of these varieties in the gardens about london, they have most probably fallen victims to the rage for novelty, at the shrine of which many a fair and goodly flower is yearly sacrificed. it flowers towards the end of april, and is propagated by parting its roots in autumn. the synonyms of this and other species of ranunculus described in gerard's _fl. gallopr._ are very inaccurately quoted in professor murray's edition of the _syst. vegetab._ [ ] pelargonium cordifolium. heart-leaved geranium. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus: lacinia suprema, definente in tubulum capilarem, nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _filam_. inæqualia: quorum . (raro ) castrata. _fructus_ -coccus, rostratus: rostra spiralia introrsum barbata. _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _cordatum_ umbellis multifloris, foliis cordatis acutis dentatis, petalis inferis linearibus acutis. _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ geranium _cordifolium_. _cavan. diss. p. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] our readers are here presented with the figure of another geranium of modern introduction, not enumerated by linnÆus or miller, and which in point of beauty, duration of flowering, and facility of culture, is equal to most. it was introduced to the royal garden, at kew, from the cape, by mr. masson, in . there are several varieties of it, but the one here figured is the most beautiful. it strikes readily from cuttings, by which it is usually propagated. requires the same treatment as the more common geraniums, and flowers, from march to july. [ ] cheiranthus maritimus. mediterranean stock. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliquosa. _generic character._ _germen_ utrinque denticulo glandulato. _cal._ clausus: foliolis duobus basi gibbis. _semina_ plana. _specific character and synonyms._ cheiranthus _maritimus_ foliis ellipticis obtusis nudis scabriusculis, caule diffuso scabro. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ _mantiss. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ leucojum minus flore violaceo. _barr. ic. ._ [illustration: no ] linnÆus has described this plant minutely in his _mantissa plant_, so that no doubt remains of its being his _maritimus_. with us, it has been customary for gardeners and nurserymen to distinguish this species by the name of virginia stock, a name highly improper, as it is found to be a native of the mediterranean coast. the blossoms which this plant first puts forth are of a lively red, in a few days they become of a blueish purple colour; to this variety of hues the plant owes its chief beauty. being of humble growth, and producing a profusion of bloom, which is of long duration, it is frequently used as an edging to borders, and sometimes sown in little patches with other annuals; in whatever way used, it contributes greatly to enliven the borders of the flower-garden. it is one of those annuals whose seeds should be sown in the autumn, as it thereby comes much forwarder into bloom, and its blossoms are more lively than those arising from seeds sown in the spring; by varying the time of sowing, it may be had to flower in spring, summer, and autumn. small pots of it in bloom have a pretty appearance, and may be used to decorate the windows of those who reside in cities or great towns, where the pleasures of the garden are not to be enjoyed. [ ] sophora tetraptera. winged-podded sophora. _class and order._ decandria monogynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -dentatus, superne gibbus. _cor._ papilionacea: alis-longitudine vexilli. _legumen._ _specific character and synonyms._ sophora _tetraptera_ foliis pinnatis foliolis numerosis ( -- ) lanceolato-oblongis villosiusculis: leguminibus membranaceo-quadrangulis, caule arboreo. _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ sophora _tetraptera_. _job. miller ic. tab. ._ [illustration: no ] the magnificent and highly curious species of sophora here represented, is one of the many plants discovered by sir joseph banks at new-zealand, where it forms a tree of a considerable size. a finer sight can scarcely be imagined than a tree of this sort, extending to a great breadth on a wall with a western aspect, in the apothecaries garden at chelsea, where it was planted by mr. forsyth about the year , and which at this moment (april , ) is thickly covered with large pendulous branches of yellow, i had almost said golden flowers; for they have a peculiar richness, which it is impossible to represent in colouring; in the winter care is taken to cover it carefully with mats, least it should suffer from any extraordinarily severe weather. it usually produces a few seed vessels of an uncommon form, having four wings, whence its name of _tetraptera_; from some of the seeds which have ripened in this country plants have been raised, and by these the plant is found to be propagated with the most success; it may also be increased by cuttings and layers. [ ] iris pavonia. peacock iris. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala inæqualis, _petalis_ alternis geniculato-patentibus, _stigmata_ petaliformia; cucullato-bilabiata. _specific character and synonyms._ iris _pavonia_ imberbis folio lineari glabro, scapo subunifloro. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ [illustration: no ] we have our doubts whether the plant here figured be the _pavonia_ of the _systema vegetabilium_, as it does not accord so well with the description there given, as we could wish; as such however it has been regarded by some here, and it must be allowed to answer extremely well to the name. it is a small delicate iris, about a foot and a half high, with very narrow leaves, bearing on the top of the stalk one or at most two flowers, three of the petals are large and white, with a brilliant blue spot at the base of each, edged on the outer side with deep purple; the delicacy of the flower, and the eye-like spot at the base of three of the petals, render at one of the most striking plants of the genus. the figure here given was drawn from a plant which flowered with messrs. grimwood and co. last june, who received it from holland, and treat it in the same way as their cape bulbs, of which country it is said to be a native. it is not mentioned either in mr. miller's _gardener's dictionary_, or the _hortus kewensis_. [ ] ixora coccinea. scarlet ixora. _class and order._ tetrandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, infundibuliformis, longa, supera, _stamina_ supra faucem. _bacca_ -sperma. _specific character and synonyms._ ixora _coccinea_ foliis ovalibus semiamplexicaulibus, floribus fasciculatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ jasminum indicum, lauri folio, inodorum umbellatum, floribus coccineis. _pluk. alm. . t. . s. ._ cerasus zeylanica humilis sylvestris, floribus holosericeis intense rubris umbellatim congestis, fructibus nigris. _mus. zeyl. p. ._ flamma sylvarum _rumph. amb. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] it will appear strange, we presume, to most of our readers, when they are informed, that the _ixora coccinea_, a plant at present in few hands, and which a short time since was sold in some of our nurseries for five guineas, should have been known in this country a hundred years ago; and yet mr. aiton, who has so laudably exerted himself, in ascertaining the precise period, when most of the exotics cultivated in the royal garden at kew first made their appearance in great-britain, informs us on very respectable authority, that this plant was introduced by mr. bentick in . there is every reason to suppose, that this splendid exotic did not long survive its introduction; on inquiry, we learn that it was reintroduced about fifteen years ago, by the late dr. john fothergill, a name, to medicine and botany ever dear, in whose rich and magnificent collection at upton was first known to flower; about the same time, the late mr. thoburn, nurseryman at brompton, raised a few ixoras from foreign seeds, and from these (an accident having happened to the plant which was dr. fothergill's) are said to have arisen the plants at present in this country. both rheede and rumphius describe and figure this plant in their respective works, the _hortus malabaricus_ and _herbarium amboinense_; it is mentioned also by several other authors: from their various accounts we discover, that in different parts of india, where it grows wild, it forms a slender shrub, or tree, about six feet high, rising generally with a single stem; that its clusters of flowers, seen from afar are so brilliant as to resemble a burning coal, especially in a dark wood, whence its name of _flamma sylvarum_; that it grows in the woods, and flowers in september and october, producing a black fruit, the size of small cherries, on which the peacocks are supposed to feed, and from whence they have obtained the name of _cerasa pavonina_. the chinese call it _santanhoa_; with them it produces flowers and fruit the year through, and they hold the blossoms in such veneration, as to use them in the sacrifices they make to their idol ixora, whence linnÆus has taken the name applied by him to this genus. the root is said to possess some acrimony, and to be made use of by the natives in curing the toothach. it is customary in this country, to treat the _ixora_ as a stove plant; perhaps it may be less tender than we are aware of; it flowers in july and august, but has not been known to produce fruit; is increased from cuttings, without much difficulty. our drawing was taken from a small but very healthy plant in the stove of mr. whitley (late thoburn and whitley, brompton). linnÆus describes, and some authors figure this plant with stipulæ, which our plant had not, not being arrived at an age, perhaps, to produce them. [ ] draba aizoides. sengreen draba, or whitlow-grass. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliculosa. _generic character._ _silicula_ integra, ovali-oblonga: valvis planiusculis, dissepimento parallelis. _stylus_ nullus. _specific character and synonyms._ draba _aizoides_ scapo nudo simplici, foliis ensiformibus carinatis ciliatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ sedum alpinum hirsutum luteum. _bauh. pin. ._ leucojum luteum aizoides montanum. _col. ecphr. . p. ._ [illustration: no ] the plant here figured, a native of the german alps, is one of those whose beauty cannot be shewn in a small detached piece of it; to be admired, it must be seen in a tuft of some considerable size, which it is much disposed to form when growing among rock-work, for which, like many other small alpine plants, it is well suited; thus elevated above the surface of the ground, the various beauties of this humble race are more distinctly seen, and their curious structure more readily inspected. this species is the more to be esteemed, as it flowers very early in the spring, in march, and the beginning of april, and continues in blossom about six weeks. linnÆus originally confounded it with a similar plant, the _draba alpina_, a mistake since rectified in his _mantissa plant. p. ._ [ ] ixia chinensis. chinese ixia. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -partita, campanulata, regularis. _stigmata_ . _specific character and synonyms._ ixia _chinensis_ foliis ensiformibus; floribus remotis, panicula dichotoma, floribus pedunculatis. _linn. sp. pl. v. i. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. i. p. ._ morÆa _chinensis_ caule compresso, foliis ensiformibus, panicula dichotoma, floribus pedunculatis. _murr. syst. vegetab. p. ._ [illustration: no ] in that elaborate and inestimable work, the _hortus malabaricus_, we have a good figure of the plant here exhibited, accompanied by a minute description; the author informs us that it grows spontaneously in india, attaining the height even of five or six feet, and affecting a sandy soil; the natives consider it as an antidote to poisons in general, and regard the bruised root as peculiarly efficacious in curing the bite of the serpent, called cobra de copella. we raised plants of it last year from seeds imparted to us by j. ibbettson, esq. of the admiralty; this year, during the months of august and september, many of them have flowered, and capsules are forming which have every appearance of producing perfect seeds; the root of this plant is yellow, and tuberous like that of the iris, the leaves also greatly resemble those of that tribe, it grows to the height of about three feet, and produces a considerable number of flowers in succession each of which is of short duration. the root and radical leaves as represented on the plate are much smaller than in plants which have been long established. our plants stood in pots in the open ground through the winter of - without injury, but it must be remembered, that the weather during that period was uncommonly mild; it will be safest therefore to consider it as a tender herbaceous plant. it differs so much in its fructification from many others of the genus, that prof. murray has considered it as a _moræa_, with which, in our humble opinion, it has scarcely any affinity. [ ] lamium orvala. balm-leaved archangel, or dead-nettle. _class and order._ didynamia gymnospermia. _generic character._ _corollæ_ labium superius integrum, fornicatum; lab. infer. -lobum; faux utrinque margine dentata. _specific character and synonyms._ lamium _orvala_ foliis cordatis inæqualiter arguteque serratis, corollis fauce inflata, caulibus coloratis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ lamium maximum sylvaticum alterum. _bauh. pin. ._ galeopsis maxima pannonica. _clus. hist. . p. ._ hungary dead-nettle, or the dragon flower. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] few of the plants of this genus have been thought to possess sufficient beauty for the flower-garden, the present one excepted, the magnificence of whose blossoms justly entitles it to rank with the more curious, if not the most beautiful of the vegetable tribes. though not common in our gardens, it has long been introduced, having been cultivated and accurately described, though badly figured, by parkinson in his _parad. terr._ it grows spontaneously in the woods of italy and hungary, and flowers with us about the latter end of april, at which time, if cold winds prevail, it is apt to be injured, unless placed in a sheltered part of the garden. it may be propagated either by seeds, or by parting its roots in autumn, is a hardy plant and grows readily. [ ] aitonia capensis. cape aitonia. _class and order._ monadelphia octandria. _generic character._ monogyna. _cal._ -partitus. _cor._ -petala. _bacca_ sicca, -angularis, -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ aitonia _capensis_. _linn. suppl. pl. p. ._ _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ cotyledon foliis linearibus, flore quadrifido, fructu subrotundo. _burm. afric. . t. . s. ._ [illustration: no ] this genus, of which there is only one known species, has been named by the younger linnÆus, in honour of mr. william aiton, author of the _hortus kewensis_, and botanic gardener to his majesty. the great length of time[ ], mr. aiton has been engaged in the cultivation of plants, the immense numbers which have been the constant objects of his care through every period of their growth, joined to his superior discernment, give him a decided superiority in the _prima facie_ knowledge of living plants over most botanists the present day; his abilities in the other line of his profession, are displayed in the eulogies of all who have seen the royal collection at kew, which he has the honour to superintend. the aitonia is a native of the cape, and was introduced by mr. masson, in the year . it is a greenhouse shrub of slow growth, seldom exceeding three feet in height; producing, when of sufficient age, flowers and fruit through most of the year; the fruit is a large dry angular berry, of a fine red colour. our drawing was made from a very fine plant, formerly dr. fothergill's, now in the collection of messrs. grimwood and co. kensington. it is only to be raised from seeds, which are sparingly produced in this country. [ ] buddlea globosa. round-headed buddlea. _class and order._ tetrandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _cor._ -fida. _stamina_ ex incifuris. _caps._ -fulca, -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ buddlea _globosa_ foliis lanceolatis, capitulis solitariis. _ait. hort. kew. p. . v. ._ budleja _globosa_. _hope in act. harlem, v. . part. . p. . t. ._ palquin _feuil. it. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] mr. adam buddle, in honour of whom the present genus has been originally named by dr. houston, was an ingenious english botanist, cotemporary with, and the friend of petiver; his name is often mentioned in the _synopsis_ of mr. ray and his _hortus siccus_, or dried collection of british plants, preserved in the british museum, still resorted to in doubtful cases. the present species not enumerated either by linnÆus or miller, is a native of chili, and according to the _hort. kew._ was introduced by messrs. kennedy and lee, in . it has been customary, in consideration of its native place of growth, to treat it here as a greenhouse plant, for which situation it soon becomes unfit from its magnitude; some have ventured to plant it in the open borders in warm sheltered situations, where it has been found to succeed very well, producing its beautiful yellow blossoms in abundance; care must be taken, however, to guard it carefully from severe frosts, which are apt to destroy it. it flowers in may and june, and is usually propagated by cuttings or layers. [ ] kalmia latifolia. broad-leav'd kalmia. _class and order._ decandria monogynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus. _cor._ hypocrateriformis: limbo subtus quinquecorni. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ kalmia _latifolia_ foliis ovato-ellipticis ternis sparsisque, corymbis terminalibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. . ed. . murr._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ andromeda foliis ovatis obtusis, corollis corymbosis infundibuliformis, genitalibus declinatis. _fl. virg. ._ chamÆdaphne foliis tini, floribus bullatis. _catesb. car. . t. ._ cistus chamærhododendros mariana laurifolia, floribus expansis, summo ramulo in umbellam plurimis. _pluk. mant. . t. . s. ._ the common laurel, vulgarly called ivy. [illustration: no ] professor kalm (in honour of whom linnÆus, as before has been observed, named this genus of plants) in his travels into north-america, published in english by mr. forster, relates that he found this species in various provinces of that extensive continent, as pensylvania, new-jersey, and new-york, growing most commonly on the sides of hills, sometimes in woods; that it flourished most on the northern sides of the hills, especially where they were intersected by rivulets; he observes, that when all the other trees had lost their ornaments, this enlivened the woods by the verdure of its foliage, and that about the month of may, it was covered with a profusion of blossoms of unrivalled beauty. [ ] cytisus laburnum. common laburnum. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -labiatus: / . _legumen_ basi attenuatum. _specific character and synonyms._ cytisus _laburnum_ racemis simplicibus pendulis, foliolis ovato-oblongis. _linn. syst. veg. p. . ed. . murr._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ laburnum arbor trifolia anagyridi similis. _bauh. hist. . p. ._ laburnum. beane trefoile. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] of the laburnum, our nurseries afford two principal varieties, the broad and narrow-leav'd; the latter (which is the one here figured) mr. miller was induced to make a species of under the name of _alpinum_; it certainly differs very materially from the broad-leav'd one, yet is most probably only a seminal variety; the laburnum figured in its wild state by professor jacquin, in his _flora austriaca_, has much broader leaves than ours, no mention is made by him of its being subject to vary. both miller and hanbury recommend the laburnum to be cultivated not only as an ornamental but as a timber tree, the wood having a very close grain, a good colour, and bearing a high polish;[ ] they urge in its favour, that it is very hardy, a quick grower, and one that will thrive in almost any soil; the latter says, it will become a timber tree of more than a yard in girt: whatever success may attend its cultivation for the more useful purposes, as a hardy, deciduous, ornamental tree, it has long been the pride of our shrubberies and plantations. it blossoms in may, and is usually very productive of seeds, by which it may be propagated most readily. hares and rabbits being fond of its bark, do great damage to plantations of laburnum, especially in severe weather; i remember somewhere to have read, that these animals will not touch a tree if soot has been placed about it; perhaps, a circle drawn round the base of the tree with the new coal tar, which has a powerful smell of long duration, might keep off these noxious animals. the professor does not mention the precise height which he had observed these trees to attain in north-america, but it is evident that they acquire a considerable thickness, as the wood of the root as well as the body of the tree is manufactured into various utensils by the natives, and by the indians into spoons in particular, whence it has obtained the name of the _spoon tree_. the leaves have been found to prove poisonous to kine, horses, and sheep, but the deer are observed to brouse on them with impunity. peter collinson, esq. who was highly instrumental in enriching this country with the native plants of north-america, is said to have introduced this elegant species about the year . with us it succeeds best when planted with a northern aspect, well sheltered, in a soil composed of loam and bog earth, in a situation moderately moist, where the air is perfectly pure. being with difficulty propagated by suckers or layers, it is most commonly raised from american seeds. [ ] kalmia glauca. glaucous kalmia. _specific character and synonyms._ kalmia _glauca_ foliis oppositis oblongis lævigatis, subtus glaucis, margine revolutis, corymbis terminalibus, ramulis ancipitibus. _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. . tab. ._ [illustration: no ] this species (much inferior in size to the _latifolia_, as it rarely exceeds two feet in height) is a native of newfoundland, where it was discovered by sir joseph banks, bart. and by him introduced to this country in the year . it is of course not described by mr. miller, nor is it mentioned the in the th edition of linnÆus's _syst. vegetab._ by professor murray; in the _hort. kew._ of mr. aiton, it is both described and figured. it flowers in april and may, is propagated in the same manner and requires the same treatment as the _latifolia_. [ ] hypericum coris. heath-leav'd. st. john's-wort. _class and order._ polyadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ . _nect._ . _capsula._ _specific character and synonyms._ hypericum _coris_ floribus trigynis, calycibus serrato-glandulosis, foliis subverticillatis. _linn. syst. veget. ed. . murr. p. ._ coris lutea. _bauh. pin. ._ coris legitima, ericæ similis. _hon. belli, ep. . ad cluj. clus. op. v. . p. ._ coris. _matthioli ._ [illustration: no ] there is an elegance and neatness in most of this tribe, and none possess those qualities in a greater degree than the present species, which is a charming little evergreen, admirably adapted for the greenhouse, as it forms a pretty bulb, and flowers during most of the summer. it grows spontaneously in the south of europe, and many parts of the levant; honorius bellus, in his epistle clusius (_vid. clus. op_.) describes it as growing on the hilly parts of the island of crete. mr. lee, of hammersmith, received it about four years since from the crimea. it is propagated by cuttings. [ ] fumaria glauca. glaucous fumitory. _class and order._ diadelphia hexandria. _generic character._ _cal._ diphyllus. _cor._ ringens. _filamenta_ , membranacea, singula _antheris_ . _specific character and synonyms._ fumaria _sempervirens_ siliquis linearibus paniculatis, caule erecto. _linn. sp. pl. v. . p. . syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ bastard fumitory. _mill. dict. ed. . to._ fumaria siliquosa sempervirens. _corn. canad. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] the term _sempervirens_ applied to this plant by linnÆus, originated in the description given of it by cornutus; (_vid. syn_.) the impropriety of calling an annual plant (for such it undoubtedly is with us, and must be in canada, its native place of growth) an _evergreen_, has appeared to us too glaring to be continued; we have thought the promotion of the science required a change in the name, and have therefore altered it to that of _glauca_, as coinciding with the english name of _glaucous_, given it by mr. aiton in his _hortus kewensis_; for to the delicate, pleasing, glaucous hue of its foliage, it owes its beauty, as much as to the lively colours of its blossoms. it is a hardy annual, coming up spontaneously in the open border where it has once flowered and seeded, and sometimes reaching the height of two feet. it flowers from june to september. mr. aiton informs us of its having been cultivated by mr. james sutherland in the year . strange! that it should yet be a rarity in our gardens. [ ] azalea nudiflora _var._ coccinea. scarlet azalea. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ campanulata. _stamina_ receptaculo inferta. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ azalea _nudiflora_ foliis ovatis, corollis pilosis, staminibus longissimis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ cistus virginiana, periclymeni flore ampliori minus odorato. _pluck. mant. ._ [illustration: no ] whether the variety of the azalea nudiflora here figured, was originally introduced to this country by mrs. norman of bromley in kent, or mr. bewick of clapham in surrey (both celebrated for their collections of american plants) we cannot with certainty assert; true it is, the azalea coccinea was little known here till the sale of mr. bewick's plant in ; a considerable number of these shrubs formed the choicest part of that collection, and sold at high prices, one of them produced twenty guineas: prior to this period, mr. bewick had presented one of the same sort of shrubs to mr. thoburn, the fruits of whose skill and assiduous care in the cultivation of american plants are apparent in his late nursery at brompton, now mr. whitley's, and from the produce of which plant our figure was taken. the original species, found abundantly in the more southern parts of north-america, was introduced, according to mr. aiton's account, by peter collinson, esq. about the year . the brilliancy of colour and a happy combination of form, unite in rendering the variety here figured, one of the most beautiful plants in nature: yet it wants the fragrance of some of the varieties of the _viscosa_. it flowers in june and continues in blossom about three weeks, requires a sheltered but not too shady a situation, more dry than moist, and a soil composed of loam and bog earth, or rotten leaves. the usual mode of propagating it is by layers; care must be taken not to remove the offspring too soon from the mother plant. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _fourth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ aitonia capensis. alyssum saxatile. amygdalus nana. azalea nudiflora _var._ coccinea. buddlea globosa. bulbocodium vernum. cheiranthus maritimus. coreopsis verticillata. cytisus laburnum. dais continifolia. draba aizoides. epidendrum cochleatum. fumaria glauca. hibiscus rosa sinensis. hyacinthus botryoides. hypericum calycinum. hypericum coris. iris pavonia. ixia chinensis. ixora coccinea. kalmia latifolia. kalmia glauca. lamium orvala. lotus tetragonolobus. monarda fistulosa _var._ oxalis versicolor. pelargonium cordifolium. pelargonium betulinum. phlox divaricata. pumonaria virginica. ranunculus gramineus. sanguinaria canadensis. sophora tetraptera. saponaria ocymoides. tagetes patula. zinnia multiflora. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _fourth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ aitonia cape. almond dwarf. alyssum yellow. archangel balm-leav'd. azalea scarlet. buddlea round-headed. bulbocodium vernal. crane's-bill birch-leav'd. crane's-bill heart-leav'd. crowsfoot grass-leav'd. coreopsis whorled. dais continus-leav'd. draba fengreen. epidendrum two-leav'd. fumitory glaucous. hisicus china-rose. hyacinth grape. iris peacock. ixia chinese. ixora scarlet. kalmia broad-leav'd. kalmia glaucous. laburnum common. lotus winged. lungwort virginian. lychnidea early-flowering. marigold french. monarda crimson. puccoon canada. st. john's-wort large-flower'd. st. john's-wort heath-leav'd. soap-wort basil. sophora winged-podded. stock mediterranean. wood-sorrel striped-flower'd. zinnia many-flower'd. * * * * * footnotes [ ] pulcherrimos et latissimos in rupibus cespites efficit. _haller._ [ ] delectatur solo duro, arenoso, umbroso sylvarum. _jacquin._ [ ] _ait. hort. kew._ [ ] provenit sponte in america occidentali five in virginia seu canada, unde semen ad nos delata, quibus propagata ejus fobeles abundanter satis in hortulo suburbano gul. walker non longe a palatio divi jacobi, sito in vico ejusdem nominis jacobeo dicto. [ ] mr. a. was a pupil of the celebrated mr. miller. [ ] matthiolus long since noticed the excellence of this wood, and speaks of it as being particularly used for making the best kind of bows; are our modern toxopholites acquainted with this circumstance? janet blenkinship and the online distributed proofreaders europe at http://dp.rastko.net 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. iv.~ observe the rising lily's snowy grace, observe the various vegetable race; they neither toil nor spin, but careless grow, yet see how warm they blush! how bright they glow! what regal vestments can with them compare! what king so shining, or what queen so fair. thomson. london: printed by couchman and fry, throgmorton-street. for w. curtis, no , _st. george's-crescent_, black-friars-road; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xci. * * * * * [ ] lavatera trimestris. annual lavatera. _class and order_. monadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ duplex: exterior -fidus. _arilli_ plurimi, monospermi. _specific character and synonyms._ lavatera _trimestris_ caule scabro herbaceo, foliis glabris, pedunculis unifloris, fructibus orbiculo tectis. _linn. sp. pl. ._ _hort. kew. v. . p. ._ lavatera _(althææfolia)_ foliis infimis cordato-orbiculatis, caulinis trilobis acuminatis glabris, pedunculis unifloris, caule herbaceo. _miller's gard. dict. ed. . to._ malva folio vario. _bauh. pin. ._ malva hispanica flore carneo amplo. the spanish blush mallow. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] our plant is undoubtedly the _spanish blush mallow_ of parkinson, and the _lavatera althææfolia_ of miller according to the former, it is a native of spain, according to the latter, of syria. mr. miller considers it as distinct from the _trimestris_; mr. aiton has no _althææfolia_ in his _hort. kew._ we are therefore to conclude that the _althææfolia_ of miller, and the _trimestris_ of linnÆus are one and the same species. of the annuals commonly raised in our gardens, this is one of the most shewy, as well as the most easily cultivated; its seeds are to be sown in march, on the borders where they are to remain, the plants, thinned as they come up, and kept clear of weeds. it varies with white blossoms, and flowers from july to september. [ ] mimosa verticillata. whorl'd-leav'd mimosa. _class and order._ polygamia monoecia. _generic character._ hermaphrod. _cal._ -dentatus. _cor._ -fida. _stam._ . f. plura. _pist._ . _legumen._ masc. _cal._ -dentatus. _cor._ -fida. _stam._ . . plura. _specific character and synonyms._ mimosa _verticillata_ intermis, foliis verticillatis linearibus pungentibus. _l'herit. fert. angl. t. ._ _hort. kew. p. ._ [illustration: no ] the radical leaves of plants usually differ in shape from those of the stalk, in some plants remarkably so; the _lepidium perfoliatum_ figured in the _flora austriaca_ of professor jacquin is a striking instance of this dissimilarity: the _lathyrus aphaca_, a british plant, figured in the _flora lond._ is still more such, as large entire leaf-like stipulæ grow in pairs on the stalk, instead of leaves, while the true leaves next the root, visible when the plant first comes up from seed, are few in number, and those pinnated. the present plant no less admirably illustrates the above remark, the leaves which first appear on the seedling plants being pinnated, as is represented in the small figure on the plate, while those which afterwards come forth grow in whorls. we have observed the same disposition to produce dissimilar leaves in several other species of _mimosa_, which have arisen from botany-bay seeds, lately introduced. this singular species, on the authority of mr. david nelson, is a native of new south wales, and was introduced to the royal garden at kew by sir joseph banks, bart. we first saw it in flower, and have since seen it with ripe seed-pods, at mr. malcolm's, kennington. it is properly a green-house plant, and propagated only by seeds, which are to be sown on a gentle hot-bed. it is some years in arriving at its flowering state. [ ] lathyrus tuberosus. tuberous lathyrus, or pease earth-nut. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior. _cal._ laciniæ superiores breviores. _specific character and synonyms._ lathyrus _tuberosus_ pedunculis multifloris, cirrhis diphyllis: foliolis ovalibus, internodiis nudis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ lathyrus arvensis repens tuberosus. _bauh. pin. ._ lathyrus arvensis sive terræ glandes. pease earth-nuts. _parkins. theat. p. ._ [illustration: no ] grows spontaneously in various parts of france and germany; mr. philip hurlock lately shewed me some dried specimens of this plant, which he gathered in the corn fields, on the _luneburgh heide_, in _upper lusatia_, where it grew plentifully, and afforded a pleasing appearance to the curious traveller:--not so to the husbandman, to whom it is as noxious as the _convolvulus arvensis_ (_small bindweed_) is with us, and equally difficult to extirpate, having powerfully creeping roots, which somewhat like the _helianthus tuberosus_ (commonly called _jerusalem artichoke_) produce large tubera, and which like those of that plant, are in high esteem with some as an article of food, and as such even cultivated abroad. it flowers from june to the end of august. it is certainly a beautiful hardy perennial, similar to (but of more humble growth) than the everlasting pea, yet must be cautiously introduced on account of its creeping roots, by which it is most readily propagated, rarely ripening its seeds with us. it is, perhaps, better suited to decorate the unclip'd hedge of the pleasure-ground, than the border of the flower-garden. [ ] cistus ladaniferus. gum cistus. _class and order._ polyandria monognia. _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala. _calyx_ -phyllus: foliolis duobus minoribus. _capsula_. _specific character and synonyms._ cistus _ladaniferus_ arborescens ex stipulatus, foliis lanceolatis supra lævibus, petiolis basi coalitis vaginantibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ cistus ladanifera hispanica incana. _bauh. pin. ._ cistus ledon. the gum cistus or sweete holly rose. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] one of the most ornamental hardy shrubs we possess; at once pleasing to the eye, and grateful to the smell; for, as miller observes, the whole plant in warm weather exudes a sweet glutinous substance, which has a very strong balsamic scent, so as to perfume the circumambient air to a great distance. its blossoms, which appear in june and july in great profusion, exhibit a remarkable instance of quickly-fading beauty, opening and expanding to the morning sun, and before night strewing the ground with their elegant remains: as each succeeding day produces new blossoms, this deciduous disposition of the petals, common to the genus, is the less to be regretted. is a native of spain and portugal, prefers a dry soil and warm sheltered situation, and in very severe seasons requires some kind of covering. cultivated , by mr. john tradescant, jun. _ait. hort. kew._ is readily increased from cuttings; but miller remarks, that the best plants are raised from seeds. varies with waved leaves, and in having petals without a spot at the base. is not the plant from whence the ladanum of the shops is produced, though affording in warmer countries than ours a similar gum, hence its name of _ladanifera_ is not strictly proper. [ ] convolvulus purpureus. purple bindweed, or convolvulus major. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata, plicata. _stigmata_ . _capsula_ -locularis; loculis dispermis. _specific character and synonyms._ convolvulus _purpureus_ foliis cordatis indivisis, fructibus cernuis, pedicellis incrassatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ convolvulus purpureus folio subrotundo. _bauh. pin. ._ convolvulus cæruleus major rotundifolius. the greater blew bindweede or bell-flower with round leaves. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] "is an annual plant which grows naturally in asia and america, but has been long cultivated for ornament in the english gardens, and is generally known by the title of convolvulus major. of this there are three or four lasting varieties; the most common hath a purple flower, but there is one with a white, another with a red, and one with a whitish-blue flower, which hath white seeds. all these varieties i have cultivated many years, without observing them to change. if the seeds of these sorts are sown in the spring, upon a warm border where the plants are designed to remain, they will require no other culture but to keep them clear from weeds, and place some tall stakes down by them, for their stalks to twine about, otherwise they will spread on the ground and make a bad appearance. these plants, if they are properly supported, will rise ten or twelve feet high in warm summers: they flower in june, july, and august, and will continue till the frost kills them. their seeds ripen in autumn." _miller's gard. dict. ed. to. ._ [ ] silene pendula. pendulous catchfly. _class and order._ decandria trigynia. _generic character._ calyx ventricosus. petala , unguiculata coronata ad faucem, capsula -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ silene _pendula_ calycibus fructiferis pendulis inflatis: angulis decem scabris. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ viscago hirsuta sicula, lychnidis aquaticæ facie, supina. _dill. hort. elth. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] grows spontaneously in sicily and crete; is an annual of humble growth, and hence a suitable plant for the borders of the flower garden, or the decoration of rock-work, as its blossoms are shewy, and not of very short duration. it flowers in june and july, and if once permitted to scatter its seeds, will come up yearly without any trouble. [ ] lathyrus sativus. blue-flower'd lathyrus, or chichling-vetch. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior. _calycis_ laciniæ superiores breviores. _specific character and synonyms._ lathyrus _sativus_ pedunculis unifloris, cirrhis diphyllis tetraphyllisque, leguminibus ovatis compressis dorso bimarginatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ lathyrus sativus, flore fructusque albo. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: no ] a native of france, spain, and italy, and distinguishable when in flower by the blue colour of its blossoms, which are sometimes, however, milk-white; but its seed-pods afford a more certain mark of distinction, being unusually short, broad, and winged on the back. this species grows to the height of about two feet, and is usually sown in the spring with other annuals; though not so beautiful, it forms a contrast to the sweet and tangier pea, and may be introduced where there is plenty of room, or a desire of possessing and knowing most of the plants of a genus. it flowers in june and july. cultivated , by mr. philip miller. _ait. hort. kew._ [ ] limodorum tuberosum. tuberous-rooted limodorum. _class and order._ gynandria diandria. _generic character._ nectarium monophyllum, concavum, pedicellatum, intra petalum infimum. _specific character and synonyms._ limodorum _tuberosum_ floribus subspicatis barbatis. _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ [illustration: no ] for this rare plant i am indebted to the very laudable exertions of a late gardener of mine, james smith, who, in the spring of the year , examining attentively the bog earth which had been brought over with some plants of the _dionæa muscipula_, found several small tooth-like knobby roots, which being placed in pots of the same earth, and plunged into a tan-pit having a gentle heat, produced plants the ensuing summer, two of which flowered, and from the strongest of those our figure was taken. from this circumstance we learn, that this species is a native of south carolina, and properly a bog plant, growing spontaneously with the _dionæa muscipula_. both mr. dryander and dr. j. e. smith assure me, that it is the true _limodorum tuberosum_ of linnÆus; the one usually called by that name is a native of the west-indies, and treated as a stove plant. from the little experience we have had of the management of this species, it appears to us to be scarcely hardy enough for the open border, yet not tender enough to require a stove. we have succeeded best by treating it in the manner above mentioned; we may observe, that the tan-pit spoken of was built in the open garden, not in a stove, and was for the purpose of raising plants or seeds by a gentle heat, as well as for striking cuttings and securing plants from cold in the winter. our figure will make a description of the plant unnecessary, its flowering stem with us has arisen to the height of a foot and a half, the number of flowers has not exceeded five. in its most luxuriant state it will probably be found much larger, and to produce more flowers. [ ] campanula carpatica. carpatian bell-flower. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata fundo clauso valvis staminiferis. _stigma_ trifidum. _capsula_ infera poris lateralibus dehiscens. _specific character and synonyms._ campanula _carpatica_ foliis glabris cordatis serratis petiolatis, pedunculis elongatis, calyce reflexo glutinoso. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. . suppl. p. ._ _jacq. hort. v. i. t. ._ [illustration: no ] this species of bell-flower, which takes its name from its place of growth, is a native of the carpatian alps, and was introduced into the royal garden at kew, by _professor_ jacquin, of _vienna_, in the year . it flowers in june and july. as yet it is scarce in our gardens, but deserves to be more generally known and cultivated; its flowers, in proportion to the plant, are large and shewy: like many other alpine plants, it is well suited to decorate certain parts of rock-work, or such borders of the flower garden, as are not adapted for large plants. it is a hardy perennial, and propagated by parting its roots in autumn. our figure, from a deficiency in the colouring art, gives a very inadequate idea of its beauty. [ ] sedum anacampseros. evergreen orpine. _class and order._ decandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _cor._ -petala. _squamæ_ nectariferæ , ad basin germinis. _caps._ . _specific character and synonyms._ sedum _anacampseros_ foliis cuneiformibus basi attenuatis subsessilibus, caulibus decumbentibus, floribus corymbosis. _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ sedum _anacampseros_ foliis cuneiformibus integerrimis caulibus decumbemtibus, floribus corymbosis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. murr. p. ._ telephium repens folio deciduo. _bauh. pin. ._ telephium tertium. _dodon. pempt. p. ._ [illustration: no ] grows spontaneously out of the crevices of the rocks in the south of france; flowers in our gardens in july and august; is a very hardy perennial, and in sheltered situations retains its leaves all the year. the singular manner in which the leaves are attached to the flowering stem, deserves to be noticed. as many of the succulent plants are tender, and require a green-house in the winter, cultivators of plants are apt indiscriminately to extend the same kind of care to the whole tribe, hence it is not uncommon to find this and many other similar hardy plants, nursed up in the green-house or stove, when they would thrive much better on a wall or piece of rock-work, for the decoration of which this plant in particular is admirably adapted. like most of the sedum tribe it may readily be propagated by cuttings, or parting its roots in autumn. dodonÆus' figure admirably represents its habit. according to the _hort. kew._ it was cultivated in this country by gerard, in . +------------------------------------------------------+ |transcriber's note: | |there is a departure from the usual format here with | |strelitzia reginÆ having two illustrations, no and| |no , thus creating a gap in the sequence. | +------------------------------------------------------+ [ ] strelitzia reginÆ. canna-leaved strelitzia. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _spathæ. cal._ . _cor._ -petala. _nectarium_ triphyllum, genitalia involvens. _peric._ -loculare, polyspermum. strelitzia _reginæ ait. hort. kew. v. i. p. . tab. ._ heliconia _bibai j. mill. ic. tab. , ._ [illustration: no ] in order that we may give our readers an opportunity of seeing a coloured representation of one of the most scarce and magnificent plants introduced into this country, we have this number deviated from our usual plan, with respect to the plates, and though in so doing we shall have the pleasure of gratifying the warm wishes of many of our readers, we are not without our apprehensions least others may not feel perfectly well satisfied; should it prove so, we wish such to rest assured that this is a deviation in which we shall very rarely indulge and never but when something uncommonly beautiful or interesting presents itself: to avoid the imputation of interested motives, we wish our readers to be apprized that the expences attendant on the present number, in consequence of such deviation, have been considerably _augmented_, not lowered. it is well known to many botanists, and others, who have experienced sir joseph banks's well known liberality, that previous to the publication of the _hortus kewensis_ he made a new genus of this plant, which had before been considered as a species of _heliconia_, and named it _strelitzia_ in honour of our most gracious queen charlotte; coloured engravings of which, executed under his direction, he presented to his particular friends; impressions of the same plate have been given in the aforesaid work, in which we are informed that this plant was introduced to the royal garden at kew, by sir joseph banks, bart. in the year , where it lately flowered--of some other plants introduced after that period from the cape, of which it is a native, one flowered in the pine stove of bamber gascoyne, esq. several years ago, from whence mr. millar drew his figure, and the plant from which our drawing was made flowered this spring, in the bark stove of the garden belonging to the apothecaries company, at chelsea, where it will also soon flower again. this plant has usually been confined to the stove, where it has been placed in a pot, and plunged into the tan, as the plants in such situations usually are; it has been found that when the roots have been confined to the narrow limits of a pot, the plant has rarely or never flowered, but that when the roots have by accident extended into the rotten tan, it has readily thrown up flowering stems, the best practice therefore, not only with this, but many other plants, is to let the roots have plenty of earth to strike into. as it is a cape plant it may perhaps be found to succeed best in the conservatory. it has not, that we know of, as yet ripened its seeds in this country; till it does, or good seeds of it shall be imported, it must remain a very scarce and dear plant, as it is found to increase very slowly by its roots: plants are said to be sold at the cape for three guineas each. _general description of the strelitzia reginÆ._ [illustration: no ] from a perennial stringy root shoot forth a considerable number of leaves, standing upright on long footstalks, front a sheath of some one of which, near its base, springs the flowering stem, arising somewhat higher than the leaves, and terminating in an almost horizontal long-pointed spatha, containing about six or eight flowers, which becoming vertical as they spring forth, form a kind of crest, which the glowing orange of the corolla, and fine azure of the nectary, renders truly superb. the outline in the third plate of this number, is intended to give our readers an idea of its general habit and mode of growth. _particular description of the same._ root perennial, stringy, somewhat like that of the tawny day-lily (hemerocallis fulva); strings the thickness of the little finger, blunt at the extremity, extending horizontally, if not confined, to the distance of many feet. leaves numerous, standing upright on their footstalks, about a foot in length, and four inches in breadth, ovato-oblong, coriaceous, somewhat fleshy, rigid, smooth, concave, entire on the edges, except on one side towards the base, where they are more or less curled, on the upper side of a deep green colour, on the under side covered with a fine glaucous meal, midrib hollow above and yellowish, veins unbranched, prominent on the inside, and impressed on the outside of the leaf, young leaves rolled up. leaf-stalks about thrice the length of the leaves, upright, somewhat flattened, at bottom furnished with a sheath, and received into each other, all radical. scapus or flowering stem unbranched, somewhat taller than the leaves, proceeding from the sheath of one of them, upright, round, not perfectly straight, nearly of an equal thickness throughout, of a glaucous hue, covered with four or five sheaths which closely embrace it. two or more flowering stems spring from the same root, according to the age of the plant. spatha terminal, about six inches in length, of a glaucous hue, with a fine bright purple at its base, running out to a long point, opening above from the base to within about an inch of the apex, where the edges roll over to one side, forming an angle of about forty-five degrees, and containing about six flowers. flowers of a bright orange colour, becoming upright, when perfectly detached from the spatha, which each flower is a considerable time in accomplishing. in the plant at chelsea, the two back petals, or, more properly segments of the first flower, sprang forth with the nectary, and while the former became immediately vertical, the latter formed nearly the same angle as the spatha; four days afterwards the remaining segment of the first flower, with the two segments and nectary of the second came forth, and in the same manner at similar intervals all the flowers, which were six in number, continued to make their appearance. corolla deeply divided into three segments, which are ovato-lanceolate, slightly keeled, and somewhat concave, at the base white, fleshy, and covered with a glutinous substance flowing in great quantities from the nectary. nectary of a fine azure blue and most singular form, composed of two petals, the upper petal very short and broad, with a whitish mucro or point, the sides of which lap over the base of the other petal; inferior petal about two inches and a half in length, the lower half somewhat triangular, grooved on the two lowermost sides, and keeled at bottom, the keel running straight to its extremity, the upper half gradually dilating towards the base, runs out into two lobes more or less obtuse, which give it an arrow-shaped form, bifid at the apex, hollow, and containing the antheræ, the edges of the duplicature crisped and forming a kind of frill from the top to the bottom. stamina five filaments arising from the base of the nectary, short and distinct; antheræ long and linear, attached to and cohering by their tips to the apex of the nectary. style filiform, white, length of the nectary. stigma three quarters of an inch long, attached to, and hitched on as it were to the tip of the nectary, roundish, white, awl-shaped, very viscid, becoming as the flower decays of a deep purple brown colour, and usually splitting into three pieces, continuing attached to the nectary till the nectary decays. mr. fairbairn, to whose abilities and industry the companies garden at chelsea is indebted for its present flourishing state, being desirous of obtaining ripe seeds, i had no opportunity of examining the germen. such were the appearances which presented themselves to us in the plant which flowered at the chelsea garden; that they are liable to considerable variation is apparent from the figure of mr. millar, which appears to have been drawn from a very luxuriant specimen, as two spathæ grow from one flowering stem, the stigma is also remarkably convoluted, many other appearances are likewise represented, which our plant did not exhibit: in the figure given in the _hortus kewensis_, the stigma appears to have separated from the nectary on the first opening of the flower, and to be split into three parts, neither of which circumstances took place in our plant till they were both in a decaying state. [ ] narcissus incomparabilis. peerless daffodil. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _petala_ æqualia: _nectario_ infundibuliformi, -phyllo: _stamina_ intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _incomparabilis_ spatha uniflora, nectario campanulato plicato crispo petalis dimidio breviore, foliis planis. narcissus latifolius omnium maximus amplo calice flavo sive nompareille. the great nonesuch daffodil, or incomparable daffodil. _park. par. p. ._ [illustration: no ] this species of narcissus, though well described and figured by the old botanists, especially parkinson; has been overlooked by linnÆus. it is undoubtedly the _incomparable daffodil_ of parkinson, figured in his garden of pleasant flowers; and the _incomparabilis_ of miller's _dict. ed. . to._ the latter informs us, that he received roots of it from spain and portugal, which fixes its place of growth. it is a very hardy bulbous plant, and flowers in april; in its single state it is very ornamental, the petals are usually pale yellow, and the nectary inclined to orange, which towards the brim is more brilliant in some than in others; in its double state, it is well known to gardeners, by the name of butter and egg narcissus, and of this there are two varieties, both of which produce large shewy flowers, the one with colours similar to what we have above described, which is the most common, the other with petals of a pale sulphur colour, almost white, and the nectary bright orange; this, which is one of the most ornamental of the whole tribe, is named in the dutch catalogues, the _orange phoenix_; its blossoms are so large as frequently to require supporting; its bulbs may be had of many of the nurseries about london, and of those who, profiting by the supineness of our english gardeners, import bulbs from abroad. like most of the tribe, this species will grow well without any care, the bulbs of the double sort should be taken up yearly, otherwise they are apt to degenerate. [ ] hyacinthus racemosus. starch hyacinth. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ corolla campanulata: pori melliferi germinis. _specific character and synonyms._ hyacinthus _racemosus_ corollis ovatis, summis sessilibus, foliis laxis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _sp. pl. ._ hyacinthus racemosus cæruleus minor juncifolius. _bauh. pin. p. ._ hyacinthus botryodes . _car clus. hist. p. ._ hyacinthus racemosus. _dodon. pempt. p. ._ hyacinthus botroides minor cæruleus obscurus. the darke blew grape-flower. _park. par. p. ._ [illustration: no ] the _hyacinthus racemosus_ and _botryoides_ are both cultivated in gardens, but the former here figured is by far the most common; _racemosus_ and _botryoides_, though different words, are expressive of the same meaning, the former being derived from the latin term _racemus_, the latter from the greek one [greek: votrus], both of which signify a bunch of grapes, the form of which the inflorescence of these plants somewhat resembles, and hence they have both been called grape hyacinths, but as confusion thereby arises, we have thought it better to call this species the starch hyacinth, the smell of the flower in the general opinion resembling that substance, and leave the name of grape hyacinth for the _botryoides_. the _hyacinthus racemosus_ grows wild in the corn fields of germany, in which it increases so fast by offsets from the root as to prove a very troublesome weed, and on this account it must be cautiously introduced into gardens. it flowers in april and may. we have found the nurserymen very apt to mistake it for the _botryoides_, a figure of which it is our intention to give in some future number. [ ] anemone hortensis. star anemone, or broad-leav'd garden anemone. _class and order._ polyandria polygynia. _generic character._ cal. . petala - . semina plura. _specific character and synonyms._ anemone _hortensis_ foliis digitalis, feminibus lanatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. vol. . p. ._ anemone geranii rotundo folio, purpurascens. _bauh. pin. ._ anemone prima. _dodon. pempt. ._ anemone latifolia purpurea stellata sive papaveracea. the purple star-anemone or windflower. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] we are more and more convinced, that in our eagerness, for novelties, we daily lose plants by far more ornamental than the new ones we introduce; the present, a most charming spring plant, with which the gardens abounded in the time of parkinson, is now a great rarity; its blossoms, which are uncommonly brilliant, come forth in april, and, like those of many other plants, appear to advantage only when the sun shines. it may be propagated either by seeds, or by parting its roots in autumn, in the former way we may obtain many beautiful varieties. it prefers a light loamy soil and moderately exposed situation. roots of a variety of this plant with scarlet double flowers are imported from holland, under the name, of _anemonoides_, and sold at a high price. [ ] iberis gibraltarica. gibraltar candy-tuft. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliculosa. _generic character._ _corolla_ irregularis: petalis exterioribus majoribus. _silicula_ polysperma, emarginata. _specific character and synonyms._ iberis _gibraltarica_ frutescens foliis apice dentatis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ thlaspidium hispanicum, ampliore flore folio crasso dentato. _dill. elth. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] the flowers of this plant, a native of gibraltar, bear some resemblance to those of the common candy-tuft, but when they blow in perfection, they are usually twice as large; hence they are highly ornamental in the green-house, which early in the spring, the time of their coming forth, stands in need of some such shewy flowers. this plant is easily raised from cuttings, and easily preserved; it may be kept through the winter in a common hot-bed frame, and in mild winters will stand abroad, especially if sheltered amongst rock-work; its greatest enemy is moisture in the winter season, this often proves fatal to it, as indeed a long continued damp atmosphere does to many others; the nurserymen about london complain of losing more plants the last mild winter, from this cause, than they generally do from severe frosts. in a little green-house which i had in my late garden, lambeth-marsh, most of the plants became absolutely mouldy; in such seasons then, though in point of cold the plants may not require it, we must dissipate the superfluous moisture by a gentle heat. [ ] alstroemeria ligtu. striped-flower'd alstroemeria. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala, sub-bilabiata: petalis inferioribus basi tubulosis. _stamina_ declinata. _specific character and synonyms._ alstroemeria _ligtu_ caule erecto, foliis spathulato-oblongis, pedunculis umbellæ involucro longioribus, corolla bilabiata. _linn. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. suppl. p. ._ _amoen. acad. v. . p. ._ hemerocallis floribus purpurascentibus striatis. _few. peruv. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] this plant receives its generic name from claudius alstroemer (son of sir jonas alstroemer, a most respectable swedish merchant) who first found the other most beautiful species the _pelegrina_ in spain, whither it had been transmitted from peru; its trivial name _ligtu_ is a provincial one. according to fewillee, who has written on the plants of peru, this species is found on the banks of the rivers in chili: we treat it, and successfully, as a stove plant; its flowers, which usually make their appearance in february and march, emit a fragrance scarcely inferior to mignonet; its leaves, contrary to most others, grow inverted, which is effected by a twist of the footstalk, and afford an excellent example of linnÆus's _folium resupinatum_; the filaments, after the pollen is discharged, turn upwards, and the antheræ become almost globular. it is usually propagated by parting its roots in autumn. our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered extremely well in the stove of messrs. grimwood and co. kensington. [ ] alyssum deltoideum. purple alyssum. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliculosa. _generic character._ _filamenta_ quædam introrsum denticulo notata. _silicula_ emarginata. _specific character and synonyms._ alyssum _deltoideum_ caulibus suffrutescentibus prostratis, foliis lanceolato-deltoidibus, siliculis hirtis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ _sp. pl. ._ leucojum saxatile thymifolio hirsutum cæruleo-purpureum. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: no ] plants which flower early, and continue a long while in bloom, are deservedly preferred, more especially by those who content themselves with a partial collection; of that number is the present species of alyssum, which begins to flower in march, and continues to blossom through april, may, and june, and, if favourably situated, during most of the summer. it is properly a rock plant, being hardy, forming with very little care a neat tuft of flowers, and not apt to encroach on its neighbours. may be propagated by parting its roots in autumn, or by cuttings. is a native of the levant, according to mr. aiton; and cultivated by mr. miller, in , but omitted in the th to. edition of his dictionary: has usually been considered by the nurserymen about london as the _hyperboreum_. [ ] ixia flexuosa. bending-stalk'd ixia. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -partita, campanulata, regularis. _stigmata_ . _specific character and synonyms._ ixia _flexuosa_ foliis linearibus, racemo flexuoso multifloro. _linn. sp. pl. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ [illustration: no ] the ixias are a numerous tribe, chiefly natives of the cape, and in general remarkable either for their delicacy, or brilliant colours. the one here figured appears to be a variety of the _flexuosa_ with a purple eye, its blossoms are fragrant, and come forth in april or may. "all the sorts multiply very fast by offsets, so that when once obtained, there will be no occasion to raise them from seeds: for the roots put out offsets in great plenty, most of which will flower the following season, whereas those from seeds are three or four years before they flower. these plants will not thrive through the winter in the full ground in england, so must be planted in pots, and placed under a frame in winter, where they may be protected from frost, but in mild weather should enjoy the free air; but they must be guarded from mice, who are very fond of these roots, and if not prevented will devour them." _millers gard. dict._ [ ] scilla campanulata. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, patens, decidua. _filamenta_ filiformia. _specific character and synonyms._ scilla _campanulata_ bulbo folido, racemo multifloro oblongo-subconico, corollis campanulatis erectis, bracteis bipartitis, pedunculo longioribus, foliis lanceolatis. _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ hyacinthus hispanicus major flore campanulæ instar. the greater spanish bell-flowred jacinth. _park. par. ._ [illustration: no ] there are few old gardens which do not abound with this plant; it bears great affinity to our hare-bell, with which it appears to have been confounded by most botanists. _parkinson_ thus discriminates it: "this spanish bell-flowred jacinth is very like the former english or spanish jacinth, but greater in all parts, as well of leaves as flowers, many growing together at the toppe of the stalke; with many short greene leaves among them, hanging doune their heads with larger, greater, and wider open mouths, like unto bels of a darke blew colour, and no good sent." _park. parad._ though not remarkable for the fineness of its colours, or pleasing from its fragrance, it contributes with other bulbous plants to decorate the flower border or plantation in the spring, when flowers are most wanted. it is very hardy, and increases abundantly by offsets; its seeds also ripen well. [ ] amaryllis vittata. superb amaryllis. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ hexapetaloidea, irregularis. _filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta, declinata, inæqualia proportione vel directione, _linn. fil._ _specific character and synonyms._ amaryllis floribus pedicellatis, corollis cuneiformi-infundibuliformibus, petalorum exteriorum rachibus interiorum margini adnatis, scapo tereti, stigmatibus sulcatis. _linn. fil._ amaryllis _vittata._ _l'herit. sert. angl. t. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ [illustration: no ] linnÆus, the son, took much pains in new modelling the generic and specific characters of this genus; as may be seen in the _hort. kew_: mons. l'heritier, when in england a few years since, saw this species, described and named it _vittata_[ ]. of what country it is a native is not known with certainty, most probably of the cape, was first introduced into england by mr. malcolm. our figure was drawn from a fine specimen which flowered this spring with messrs. grimwood and co. kensington. it usually flowers in april or may, but may be forwarded by artificial heat. it rarely puts forth offsets from the root, but readily produces seeds, by which it is propagated without difficulty. when it blossoms in perfection it truly deserves the name of superb, which mr. aiton has given it, the stem rising to the height of three feet or more, and producing from two to five flowers. [ ] alyssum utriculatum. bladder-podded alyssum. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliculosa. _generic character._ _filamenta_ quædam introrsum denticulo notata. _silicula_ emarginata. _specific character and synonyms._ alyssum _utriculatum_ caule herbaceo erecto, foliis lævibus lanceolatis integerrimis, filiculis inflatis. _linn. syst. veget. ed. . murr._ alyssoides fruticosum, leucoji folio viridi. _tourn. inst. ._ [illustration: no ] a native of the levant, and cultivated by mr. miller in the year . is a hardy and beautiful perennial, flowering from april to june, at which time it begins to form its curiously inflated pods. like the _alyssum deltoideum_, it is well adapted to the decorating of walls, or rock-work, and is readily propagated either by seeds or slips. [ ] catesbÆa spinosa. thorny catesbÆa, or lily-thorn. _class and order._ tetrandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, infundibuliformis, longissima, supera. stamina intra faucem. _bacca_ polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ catesbÆa _spinosa._ _linn. syst. vegetab, ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _sp. pl. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. p. ._ frutex spinosus, buxi foliis plurimis simul nascentibus, flore tetrapetaloide pendulo sordide flavo, tubo longissimo, fructu ovali croceo semina parva continente. _catesb. carol. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] of this genus there is only one species described by authors, and which linnÆus has named in honour of our countryman mark catesby, author of the natural history of carolina. "this shrub was discovered by mr. catesby, near nassau-town, in the island of providence, where he saw two of them growing, which were all he ever saw; from these he gathered the seeds and brought them to england. "it is propagated by seeds, which must be procured from the country where it naturally grows. if the entire fruit are brought over in sand, the seeds will be better preserved; the seeds must be sown in small pots filled with light sandy earth, and plunged into a moderate hot-bed of tanner's-bark. if the seeds are good, the plants will appear in about six weeks; these plants make little progress for four or five years. if the nights should prove cold the glasses must be covered with mats every evening. as these plants grow slowly, so they will not require to be removed out of the seed-pots the first year, but in the autumn the pots should be removed into the stove, and plunged into the tan-bed; in spring the plants should be carefully taken up, and each planted in a separate small pot, filled with light sandy earth, and plunged into a fresh hot-bed of tanner's-bark. in summer when the weather is warm, they should have a good share of air admitted to them, but in autumn must be removed into the stove; where they should constantly remain, and must be treated afterwards in the same manner as other tender exotic plants." _miller's dict._ it is more usual with nurserymen to increase this plant by cuttings. our drawing was made from a plant which flowered this spring, with mr. colvill, nurseryman, king's-road, chelsea. it flowers most part of the summer, but not so freely as many other stove-plants. [ ] rubus arcticus. dwarf bramble. _class and order._ icosandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. petala . _bacca_ composita acinis monospermis. _specific character and synonyms._ rubus _arcticus_ foliis ternatis, caule inermi unifloro. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ rubus humilis flore purpureo. _buxb. cent. . p. . t. ._ rubus trifolius humilis non spinosus, sapore et odore fragariæ, fructu rubro polycocco. _amm. ruth. ._ [illustration: no ] the rubus arcticus grows wild in the northern parts of europe and america, in moist, sandy, and gravelly places. linnÆus has figured and minutely described it in his _flora lapponica_, out of gratitude, as he expresses himself, for the benefits reaped from it in his lapland journey, by the nectareous wine of whose berries he was so often recruited when sinking with hunger and fatigue; he observes that the principal people in the north of sweden make a syrup, a jelly, and a wine, from the berries, which they partly consume themselves, and partly transmit to stockholm, as a dainty of the most delicious kind; and truly he adds, of all the wild swedish berries this holds the first place. our figure does not correspond altogether with linnÆus's description, but it is drawn as the plant grew; culture doubtless made it produce more than its usual number of flowering stems and petals. it grows readily and increases rapidly in bog-earth, on a north border, and flowers in may and june, but very rarely ripens its fruit in gardens. [ ] hyacinthus comosus. two coloured, or, tassel hyacinth. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata: pori -melliferi germinis. _specific character and synonyms._ hyacinthus _comosus_ corollis angulato-cylindricis: summis sterilibus longius pedicellatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. ._ hyacinthus comosus major purpureus. _bauh. pin. ._ the purple faire haired jacinth; or purse tassels. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] most of the old botanists arranged this plant, the _racemosus_, and others having almost globular flowers with the hyacinths. tournefort, struck with the difference of their appearance, made a distinct genus of them under the name of _muscari_, in which he is followed by miller, and should have been by linnÆus, for they differ so much that no student would consider the present plant as belonging to the same genus with the hare-bell. this species grows wild in the corn-fields of spain, portugal, and some parts of germany, and flowers in may and june. it is distinguished more by its singularity than beauty, the flowers on the summit of the stalk differing widely in colour from the others, and being mostly barren: parkinson says, "the whole stalke with the flowers upon it, doth somewhat resemble a long purse tassell, and thereupon divers gentlewomen have so named it." it is a hardy bulbous plant, growing readily in most soils and situations, and usually propagated by offsets. [ ] adonis vernalis. _class and order._ polyandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ quinis plura absque nectario. _sem._ nuda. _specific character and synonyms._ adonis _vernalis_ flore dodecapetalo, fructu ovato. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. murr. p. ._ _ait. hort. kew. vol. . p. ._ helleborus niger tenuifolius, buphthalmi flore. _bauh. pin. ._ buphthalmum _dodon. pempt. ._ helleborus niger ferulaceus sive buphthalmum. the great ox-eye, or the great yellow anemone. _parkins. parad. p. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] of this plant linnÆus makes two species, viz. the _vernalis_ and _appennina_, differing in their specific character merely in the number of their petals, which are found to vary from situation and culture; as the first name taken from its time of flowering is the most expressive, we have followed mr. miller and mr. aiton in adopting it. it is an old inhabitant of the english gardens, and a most desirable one, as it flowers in the spring; produces fine shewy blossoms, which expand wide when exposed to the sun, is hardy and readily cultivated. grows wild on the mountainous pastures of some parts of germany. it may be increased by parting its roots in autumn or spring, or by seed. miller recommends the latter mode. [ ] gladiolus cardinalis. superb gladiolus; or, corn-flag. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ -partita, irregularis, inæqualis, _stigmata_ . _specific character._ gladiolus _cardinalis_ corollæ erectæ limbo campanulato, floribus secundis, scapo multifloro, foliis ensiformibus multinerviis. [illustration: no ] this new species of gladiolus, of whose magnificence our figure can exhibit but an imperfect idea, was introduced into this country from holland, a few years since, by mr. graffer, at present gardener to the king of naples; and first flowered with messrs. lewis and mackie, nurserymen, at kingsland; a very strong plant of it flowered also this summer at messrs. grimwoods and co. which divided at top into three branches, from one of which our figure was drawn. it obviously differs from the other more tender plants of this genus, in the colour of its flowers, which are of a fine scarlet, with large white somewhat rhomboidal spots, on several of the lowermost divisions of the corolla; strong plants will throw up a stem three or four feet high. it is most probably a native of the cape, flowers with us in july and august, and is increased by offsets from the bulbs; must be treated like the ixias and other similar cape plants. [ ] pelargonium tetragonum. square stalked geranium. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus, lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem, nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _filamenta_ , inæqualia: quorum (raro ) castrata. _fructus_ -coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ spiralia, introrsum barbata. _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _tetragonum_ pedunculis bifloris, ramis tetragonis carnosis, corollis tetrapetalis, _l'herit. n. . t. ._ geranium _tetragonum_. _linn. suppl. p. ._ [illustration: no ] a vein of singularity runs through the whole of this plant, its stalks are unequally and obtusely quadrangular, sometimes more evidently triangular; its leaves few, and remarkably small; its flowers, on the contrary, are uncommonly large, and what is more extraordinary have only four petals; previous to their expansion they exhibit also an appearance somewhat outrè, the body of the filaments being bent so as to form a kind of bow, in which state we have represented one of the blossoms in our figure. when it flowers in perfection, which it is not apt to do in all places, the largeness of its blossoms renders it one of the most ornamental of the genus. there is a variety of it with beautifully coloured leaves, of which we have availed ourselves in its representation. it flowers from june, to august, and september; requires the same treatment as the more common geraniums, and is readily propagated by cuttings. was first introduced to the royal garden at kew, by mr. masson, in , from the cape, of which, it is a native. _ait. hort. kew._ [ ] hypericum balearicum. warty st. john's-wort. _class and order._ polyadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus. _petala_ . _nectarium_ . _capsula_. _specific character and synonyms._ hypericum _balearicum_ floribus pentagynis, caule fruticoso foliis ramisque cicatrizatis. _linn. syst. veget. p. ._ myrto-cistus pennæi _clus. hist. . p. ._ [illustration: no ] is according to linnÆus a native of _majorca_; miller says that it grows naturally in the island of _minorca,_ from whence the seeds were sent to england by mr. salvador, an apothecary at barcelona, in the year . the stalks of this species are usually of a bright red colour, and covered with little warts; the leaves are small with many depressions on their upper sides like scars; the flowers are not always solitary, but frequently form a kind of corymbus. it is a hardy green-house plant, and readily propagated by cuttings. it flowers during most of the summer. clusius informs us in his _hist. pl. rar. p. ._ that he received from thomas penny, a physician of london, in the year , a figure of this elegant plant, and who the next year shewed a dried specimen of the same in london, which had been gathered in the island of majorca, and named by him [greek: murto kison], or myrtle-cistus[ ] it appears therefore that this plant has long been known, if not cultivated in this country. we may remark that clusius's figure of this plant is not equally expressive with many of his others. [ ] kalmia hirsuta. hairy kalmia. _class and order._ decandria monogynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus. _corolla_ hypocrateriformis: limbo subtus quinquecorni _caps._ -locularis. _specific character._ kalmia _hirsuta_ foliis ovato-lanceolatis hirsutis sparsis, floribus racemosis. [illustration: no ] this new species of kalmia which we have called _hirsuta,_ the stalk, leaves, and calyx, being covered with strong hairs, was imported from carolina in the spring of , by mr. watson, nurseryman at islington, with whom several plants of it flowered this present autumn, about the middle of september, from one of which our drawing was made. the plants were brought over with their roots enclosed in balls of the earth in which they naturally grew, which on being examined appeared of a blackish colour, and full of glittering particles of sand; similar indeed to the bog-earth which we find on our moors and heaths; there is therefore little doubt (for no account accompanied the plants) but this kalmia grows on moorish heaths, or in swamps. in its general appearance it bears some resemblance to the _andromeda daboecii_; from the specimens we have seen its usual height would appear to be from two to three feet; it grows upright; the flowers which are about the size of those of the _kalmia glauca_, are of a purple colour, and contrary to all the other known kalmia's grow in racemi. it is propagated by layers, and requires the same treatment as the rest of the genus, that is, to be planted in bog-earth, on a north border: as this however is a new, and of course a dear plant, it will be most prudent till we know what degree of cold it will bear, to keep it in a pot of the same earth, plunged in the same situation, which may be removed in the winter to a green-house or hot-bed frame. [ ] alstroemeria pelegrina. spotted-flower'd alstroemeria. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala, supera, irregularis. _stamina_ declinata. _specific character and synonyms._ alstroemeria _pelegrina_ caule erecto, corollis campanulatis rectis, foliis lineari-lanceolatis sessilibus. _linn. syst. veg. p. . ed. murr._ _amoen. acad. . p. . cum icone._ hemerocallis floribus purpurascentibus maculatis vulgo pelegrina. _feuill. peruv. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] father feuillee[ ] figures and describes three species of _alstroemeria_, viz. _pelegrina_, _ligtu_, and _salsilla_, common names by which they are severally distinguished in peru: the present species, which is much valued by the natives on account of its beauty, he informs us is found wild on a mountain to the north of, and a mile distant from lima. from peru, as might be expected, the present plant found its way into spain, from whence by the means of his beloved friend alstroemer, linnÆus first received seeds of it; the value he set on the acquisition is evident from the great care he took of the seedling plants, preserving them through the winter in his bed-chamber. according to mr. aiton, this species was introduced to the royal garden at kew, by messrs. kennedy and lee, as long ago as the year . being a mountainous plant, it is found to be much more hardy than the _ligtu_ already figured, and is generally treated as a green-house plant; it is found, however, to flower and ripen its seeds better under the glass of a hot-bed frame, where air is freely admitted. it flowers from june to october, and, though a perennial, is generally raised from seeds, yet may sometimes be increased by parting its roots, which somewhat resemble those of the asparagus: the seeds should be sown in the spring, in a pot of light earth, on a gentle hot-bed, either of dung or tan. [ ] lupinus luteus. yellow lupine. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ -labiatus. _antheræ_ oblongæ, subrotundæ. _legumen_ coriaceum. _specific character and synonyms._ lupinus _luteus_ calycibus verticillatis appendiculatis: labio superiore bipartito; inferiore tridentato. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ lupinus sylvestris, flore luteo. _bauh. pin. ._ the yellow lupine. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] the present, with many other species of lupine, is very generally cultivated in flower gardens, for the sake of variety, being usually sown in the spring with other annuals; where the flower-borders are spacious, they may with propriety be admitted, but as they take up much room, and as their blossoms are of short duration, they are not so desirable as many other plants. it is a native of sicily, and flowers in june and july. we have often thought that the management of the kitchen garden, in point of succession of crops, might be advantageously transplanted to the flower garden; in the former, care is taken to have a regular succession of the annual delicacies of the table, while in the latter, a single sowing in the spring is thought to be all-sufficient; hence the flower garden, which in august, september, and part of october, might be covered with a profusion of bloom, exhibits little more than the decayed stems of departed annuals. [ ] heliotropium peruvianum. peruvian turnsole. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ hypocrateriformis, -fida, interjectis dentibus: fauce clausa fornicibus. _specific character and synonyms._ heliotropium _peruvianum_ foliis lanceolato-ovatis, caule fruticoso, spicis numerosis aggregato-corymbosis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ heliotropium foliis ovato-lanceolatis, spicis plurimis; confertis, caule fruticoso. _mill. dict. ed. . to. icon. t. ._ [illustration: no ] this plant recommends itself by its fragrance rather than its beauty, so delicious indeed is the odour it diffuses, that it is considered as essential to every green-house and stove. "it grows naturally in peru, from whence the seeds were sent by the younger jussieu to the royal garden at paris, where the plants produced flowers and seeds; and from the curious garden of the duke d'ayen, at st. germain's, i was supplied with some of the seeds, which have succeeded, in the chelsea garden, where the plants have flowered and perfected their seeds for some years." _miller's gard. dict._ you may consider it either as a stove or a green-house plant, the former is more congenial to it in the winter season. a pure atmosphere is essential to its existence, as i experienced at lambeth-marsh, where i in vain endeavoured to cultivate it. it is propagated by cuttings as easily as any geranium, and requires a similar treatment; in hot weather it must be well supplied with water, and in winter carefully guarded against frost, so fatal to most of the natives of peru. [ ] scorzonera tingitana. tangier scorzonera, or poppy-leav'd vipers grass. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia Æqualis. _generic character._ _receptaculum_ nudum. _pappus_ plumosus. _calyx_ imbricatus, squamis margine scariosis. _specific character and synonyms._ scorzonera _tingitana_ foliis omnibus runcinatis amplexicaulibus. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ sonchus tingitanus papaveris folio _raii suppl. ._ chondrilla tingitana, floribus luteis papaveris hortensis folio. _herm. lugdb. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] i am indebted for seeds of this plant to my very worthy and liberal friend nich. gwyn, m. d. of ipswich, to whose penetrating genius, and learned researches, botany owes much. as its name implies, it is a native of the province of tangier, on the barbary coast; appears to have been cultivated here, according to the _hort. kew._ in , but is not mentioned in the th to. edit. of miller's dictionary. it may be considered as forming a valuable addition to our stock of annuals, being a beautiful plant, and easily cultivated: it thrives best on a moderately dry soil, warmly situated: should be sown in the spring with other annuals. i have observed, that in the middle of summer, a hot unclouded sun, which is favourable to the expansion of most of the flowers of this class, is too powerful for those of the present plant, which then appear to the greatest advantage in warm hazy weather. [ ] pelargonium glutinosum. clammy crane's bill. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillare nectariferum fecus pedunculum decurrentem. _corolla_ pentapetala, irregularis. _filamenta_ inæqualia, quorum raro castrata. _fructus_ pentacoccus, rostratus, rostra spiralia introrsum barbata. _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _glutinosum_ umbellis paucifloris foliis cordatis hastato-quinquangulis viscosis. _l'herit. ger. ait. hort. kew. v. . p. ._ geranium _glutinosum_. _jacq. ic. collect. . p. ._ geranium _viscosum_. _cavanill. diss. . p. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] the leaves of this species exhibit, on being touched, a manifest viscidity, or clamminess, which, independent of their shape, serves to characterize the species; the middle of the leaf is also in general stained with purple, which adds considerably to its beauty; but this must be regarded rather as the mark of a variety, than of the species. with most of its congeners, it is a native of the cape, and of modern date in this country, being introduced to the royal garden at kew, by messrs. kennedy and lee, in the year . it flowers from may to september; is readily propagated by cuttings, and sometimes raised from seeds, from whence several varieties have been produced. [ ] ferraria undulata. curled ferraria. _class and order._ gynandria triandria. _generic character._ monogyna. _spathtæ_ unifloræ. _petala_ , undulato-crispata. _stigmata_ cucullata. _caps._ -locularis, infera. _specific character and synonyms._ ferraria _undulata_ caule multifloro. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. . ed. ._ _murr. ait. kew. p. . v. ._ flos indicus e violaceo fuscus radice tuberosa. _i. b. ferrar. flora, ed. nov. p. . t. ._ gladiolus indicus e violaceo fuscus radice tuberosa nobis. _moris. hist. f. . t. . f. ._ narcissus indicus flore saturate purpureo. _rudb. elys. . t. . f. ._ iris stellata cyclamine radice pullo flore. _barrel. icon. ._ [illustration: no ] the old botanists appear to have been wonderfully at a loss to what family they should refer this very singular plant, as will appear on consulting the synonyms; burman at length made a distinct genus of it, naming it _ferraria_ in honour of joh. baptista ferrarius, by whom it was described, and very well figured, in his _flora feu de florum cultura_, published at amsterdam, in . mr. miller informs us, that he received roots of this plant from dr. job baster, f. r. s. of zirkzee, who obtained it from the cape, of which it is a native. in the vegetable line, it is certainly one of the most singular and beautiful of nature's productions; much it is to be regretted that its flowers are of very short duration, opening in the morning and finally closing in the afternoon of the same day; a strong plant will, however, throw out many blossoms in succession. in its structure and oeconomy, it approaches very near to the _sisyrinchium_. it flowers very early in the spring, from february to may, and is usually propagated by offsets, which its bulbs produce in tolerable plenty. it requires a treatment similar to the ixias and other cape bulbs. our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered this spring, in the possession of r. forster, esq. of turnham-green. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _fourth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ adonis vernalis. alstroemeria ligtu. ------------ pelegrina. alyssum deltoideum. ------- utriculatum. amaryllis vittata. anemone hortensis. campanula carpatica. catesbæa spinosa. cistus ladaniferus. convolvulus purpureus. ferraria undulata. gladiolus cardinalis. heliotropium peruvianum. hyacinthus racemosus. ---------- comosus. hypericum balearicum. iberis gibraltarica. ixia flexuosa. kalmia hirsuta. lathyrus tuberosus. -------- sativus. lavatera trimestris. limodorum tuberosum. lupinus luteus. mimosa verticillata. narcissus incomparabilis. pelargonium tetragonum. ----------- glutinosum. rubus arcticus. scilla campanulata. scorzonera tingitana. sedum anacampseros. silene pendula. strelitzia reginæ. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _fourth volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ adonis spring. alstroemeria striped-flowered. ------------ spotted-flowered. amaryllis superb. alyssum bladder-podded. ------- purple. anemone star. bell-flower carpatian. bindweed purple. bramble dwarf. candy-tuft gibraltar. catchfly pendulous. catesbæa thorny. cistus gum. crane's-bill clammy. daffodil peerless. ferraria curled. geranium square-stalked. gladiolus superb. hyacinth starch. -------- two-coloured. ixia bending-stalked. kalmia hairy. lathyrus tuberous. -------- blue-flowered. lavatera annual. limodorum tuberous-rooted. lupine yellow. mimosa whorl'd-leaved. orpine evergreen. scorzonera tangier. st. john's-wort warty. strelitzia canna-leaved. squill bell-flowered. turnsole peruvian. footnotes [ ] from the gaiety of its flowers, which, from their stripes, appear like an object decorated with ribbands.--_vitta_, a ribband; _vittata_, dressed with ribbands. _ainsw._ [ ] the leaves being somewhat like those of the myrtle, and a gummy substance exuding from the plant as in the gum cistus. [ ] in his journal des observations physiques, mathematiques, et botaniques, faites sur les côtes orientales de l'amerique meridionale, &c. printed in . distributed proofreaders europe at http://dp.rastko.net 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. iii.~ "the spleen is seldom felt where flora reigns; the low'ring eye, the petulance, the frown, and sullen sadness, that o'ershade, distort, and mar the face of beauty, when no cause for such immeasurable woe appears; these flora banishes, and gives the fair sweet smiles and bloom, less transient than her own." cowper. london: printed by couchman and fry, throgmorton-street, for w. curtis, at his botanic-garden, lambeth-marsh; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xc. * * * * * [ ] monsonia speciosa. large-flower'd monsonia. _class and order._ polyadelphia dodecandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -petala. _stam._ . connata in filamenta. _stylus_ -fidus. _caps._ -cocca. _specific character and synonyms._ monsonia _speciosa_ foliis quinatis: foliolis bipinnatis, _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ monsonia grandiflora. _burm. prodr. ._ [illustration: no ] the genus of which this charming plant is the most distinguished species, has been named in honour of _lady anne monson_. the whole family are natives of the cape, and in their habit and fructification bear great affinity to the geranium. the present species was introduced into this country in , by mr. masson. we received this elegant plant just as it was coming into flower, from mr. colvill, nurseryman, king's-road, chelsea, who was so obliging as to inform me that he had succeeded best in propagating it by planting cuttings of the root in pots of mould, and plunging them in a tan-pit, watering them as occasion may require; in due time buds appear on the tops of the cuttings left out of the ground. it rarely or never ripens its seed with us. should be treated as a hardy greenhouse plant; may be sheltered even under a frame, in the winter. [ ] antirrhinum triste. melancholy or black-flower'd toad-flax. _class and order._ didynamia angiopspermia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera. _caps._ . locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ antirrhinum _triste_ foliis linearibus sparsis inferioribus oppositis nectariis subulatis, floribus sub-sessilibus. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ linaria tristis hispanica. _dill. elth. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] receives its name of _triste_ from the sombre appearance of its flowers; but this must be understood when placed at some little distance, for, on a near view, the principal colour of the blossoms is a fine rich brown, inclined to purple. is a native of spain, and of course a greenhouse plant with us, but it must not be too tenderly treated, as it loses much of its beauty when drawn up, it should therefore be kept out of doors when the season will admit, as it only requires shelter from severe frost, and that a common hot-bed frame will in general sufficiently afford it. it flowers during most of the summer months; as it rarely or never ripens its seeds with us, the usual mode of propagating it, is by cuttings, which strike readily enough in the common way. miller relates that it was first introduced into this country by sir charles wager, from gibraltar seeds. [ ] potentilla grandiflora. large-flower'd potentilla. _class and order._ icosandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala_ . _sem._ subrotunda, nuda, receptaculo parvo exsucco affixa. _specific character and synonyms._ potentilla _grandiflora_ foliis ternatis dentatis utrinque subpilosis, caule decumbente foliis longiore, _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ fragaria sterilis, amplissimo folio et flore petalis cordatis, _vaill. paris. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] culture is well known to produce great alterations in the appearance of most plants, but particularly in those which grow spontaneously on dry mountainous situations, and this is strikingly exemplified in the present instance, this species of _potentilla_, becoming in every respect much larger, as well as much smoother than in its natural state. _vid._ vaill. above quoted. it is a hardy herbaceous plant, a native of switzerland, siberia, and other parts of europe, and flowers in july. linnÆus considers it as an annual; miller, as a biennial; we suspect it to be, indeed have little doubt of its being a perennial; having propagated it by parting its roots, but it may be raised more successfully from seed. [ ] epilobium angustissimum. narrowest leav'd willow-herb. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala_ . _caps._ oblonga, infera. _sem._ papposa. _specific character and synonyms._ epilobium angustifolium, foliis sparsis linearibus obsolete denticulatis aveniis, petalis æqualibus integerrimis, _ait. hort. kew. . p. ._ epilobium _angustifolium_, var. _lin. sp. pl._ epilobium flore difformi, foliis linearibus. _hall, hist. helv. p. . n. ._ [illustration: no ] though the _epilobium_ here figured has not been many years introduced into this country, it is a plant which has long been well known, and described. linnÆus makes it a variety only of the _epilobium angustifolium_; haller, a distinct species, and in our opinion, most justly. those who have cultivated the _epilobium angustifolium_ have cause to know that it increases prodigiously by its creeping roots. the present plant, so far as we have been able to determine from cultivating it several years, in our garden, lambeth-marsh, has not shewn the least disposition to increase in the same way, nor have any seedlings arisen from the seeds which it has spontaneously scattered: we have, indeed, found it a plant rather difficult to propagate, yet it is highly probable that at a greater distance from london, and in a more favourable soil, its roots, though not of the creeping kind, may admit of a greater increase, and its seeds be more prolific. it is a native of the alps of switzerland, from whence it is frequently dislodged, and carried into the plains by the impetuosity of torrents. it flowers with us in july and august, and being a hardy perennial, and perhaps the most elegant species of the genus, appears to us highly deserving a place in the gardens of the curious. [ ] centaurea montana. greater blue-bottle. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia frustranea. _generic character._ receptaculum setosum. pappus simplex. corollæ radii infundibuliformes, longiores, irregulares. _specific character and synonyms._ centaurea montana calycibus serratis, foliis lanceolatis decurrentibus caule simplicissimo. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ cyanus montanus latifolius s. verbasculum cyanoides. _bauh. pin. ._ cyanus major. _lobel. icon. ._ [illustration: no ] it has been suggested by some of our readers, that too many common plants, like the present, are figured in this work. we wish it to be understood, that the professed design of the botanical magazine is to exhibit representations of such. we are desirous of putting it in the power of all who cultivate or amuse themselves with plants, to become scientifically acquainted with them, as far as our labours extend; and we deem it of more consequence, that they should be able to ascertain such as are to be found in every garden, than such as they may never have an opportunity of seeing. on viewing the representations of objects of this sort, a desire of seeing the original is naturally excited, and the pleasure is greatly enhanced by having it in our power to possess it. but, while we are desirous of thus creating botanists, we are no less anxious to gratify the wishes of those already such; and we believe, from a perusal of the magazine, it will appear that one-third of the plants figured, have some pretensions to novelty. the _centaurea montana_ is a native of the german alps, flowers during the greatest part of the summer, is a hardy perennial, and will grow in any soil or situation, some will think too readily. [ ] narcissus odorus. sweet-scented, or great jonquil. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _petala_ -æqualia. _nectario_ infundibuliformi, -phyllo. _stamina_ intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _odorus_ spatha sub-biflora, nectario campanulato sexfido lævi dimidio petalis breviore, foliis semicylindricis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ narcissus angustifolius, five juncifolius maximus amplo calice. the great jonquilia with the large flower or cup. _park parad. p. . fig. ._ [illustration: no ] we shall be thought, perhaps, too partial to this tribe of plants, this being the fifth species now figured; but it should be remembered, that as the spring does not afford that variety of flowers which the summer does, we are more limited in our choice; the flowers of this delightful season have also greater claims to our notice, they present themselves with double charms. this species, which, as its name implies, possesses more fragrance than many of the others, is a native of the south of europe, flowers in the open border in april, is a hardy-perennial, thriving in almost any soil or situation, but succeeds best in a loamy soil and eastern exposure. varies with double flowers, in which slate it is often used for forcing. no notice is taken of this species by miller, except as a variety of the n. _jonquilla_, from which it differs _toto calo_. [ ] lotus jacobÆus. black-flower'd lotus. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _legumen_ cylindricum strictum. _alæ_ sursum longitudinaliter conniventes. _cal._ tubulosus. _specific character and synonyms._ lotus _jacobæus_ leguminibus subternatis, caule herbaceo erecto, foliolis linearibus. _lin. syst. veg. ._ lotus angustifolia, flore luteo purpurascente, infulæ s. jacobi. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] this species of _lotus_ has been called black-flower'd, not that the flowers are absolutely black, for they are of a very rich brown inclined to purple, but because they appear so at a little distance; the light colour of the foliage contributes not a little to this appearance. "it grows naturally in the island of st. james; is too tender to live abroad in england, so the plants must be kept in pots, and in the winter placed in a warm airy glass cafe, but in the summer they should be placed abroad in a sheltered situation. it may be easily propagated by cuttings during the summer season, and also by seeds, but the plants which have been two or three times propagated by cuttings, seldom are fruitful." _miller's gard. dict._ it continues to flower during the whole of the summer; as it is very apt to die off without any apparent cause, care should be taken to have a succession of plants from seeds, if possible. [ ] spigelia marilandica. maryland spigelia, or worm-grass. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ infundibuliformis. _capsula_ didyma. -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ spigelia _marilandica_ caule tetragono, foliis omnibus oppositis. _lin. syst. veg. p. ._ _mant. . p. ._ lonicera _marilandica_, _spec. pl. ed. . p. ._ periclymeni virginiani flore coccineo planta marilandica spicata erecta foliis conjugatis. _d. sherard raii suppl. p. ._ _catesb. carol. . t. ._ anthelmia indian pink. _dr. lining. essays physical and literary, vol. . and vol. ._ [illustration: no ] this plant, not less celebrated for its superior efficacy in destroying worms[a], than admired for its beauty, is a native of the warmer parts of north america; the older botanists, and even linnÆus, at one time considered it as a _honeysuckle_, but he has now made a new genus of it, which he has named in honour of spigelius, a botanist of considerable note, author of the _ifagog. in yem herbar_. published at _leyden_ in . "this plant is not easily propagated in england, for the roots make but slow increase, so that the plant is not very common in the english gardens at present; for although it is so hardy as to endure the cold of our ordinary winters in the open air, yet as it does not ripen seeds, the only way of propagating it is by parting of the roots; and as these do not make much increase by offsets, so the plants are scarce; it delights in a moist soil, and must not be often transplanted." _miller's dict._ the scarcity of this plant, even now, is a proof of the justness of mr. miller's observation; it is in fact a very shy plant, and scarcely to be kept in this country but by frequent importation. it flowers in june and july. [footnote a: _vid. lewis's mater. medica._] [ ] colutea arborescens. tree colutea, or bladder senna. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ -fidus. _legumen_ inflatum, basi superiore dehiscens. _specific character and synonyms._ colutea _arborescens_ arborea foliolis obcordatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ colutea vesicaria. _bauh. pin. ._ the greater bastard senna with bladders. _park. par. ._ [illustration: no ] the bladder senna, a native of the south of france and italy, produces a profusion of bloom from june to august, when its inflated pods please from the singularity of their appearance; on these accounts, it is one of the most common flowering shrubs cultivated in gardens and plantations. "it is propagated by sowing its seeds any time in the spring in a bed of common earth; and when the plants are come up, they must be kept clear from weeds, and the michaelmas following they should be transplanted either into nursery-rows, or in the places where they are designed to remain; for if they are let grow in the seed-bed too long, they are very subject to have tap roots, which render them unfit for transplanting; nor should these trees be suffered to remain too long in the nursery before they are transplanted, for the same reason." _miller's gard. dict._ we have learned by experience, that a very wet soil will prove fatal to these shrubs. [ ] lachenalia tricolor. three-coloured lachenalia. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ subtriphyllus, inferus, coloratus. _corolla_ -petala, receptaculo inferta. _jacquin jun. in act. helv. vol. ._ _specific character and synonyms._ lachenalia _tricolor_. _lin. syst, vegetab. ed. . p. ._ _jacq. icon. pl. rarior, t. ._ phormium _aloides_. _lin. syst. vegetab. ed. . p. . suppl. ._ [illustration: no ] to mr. lee, of the vineyard, hammersmith, the first, and as we understand, the only nurseryman as yet in possession of this plant, which has but lately been introduced into this country from the cape, we are indebted for the present specimen. mr. jacquin, jun. who has figured and described it in the _acta helvetica_, gives it the name of _lachenalia_, in honour of warnerus de la chenal, a very eminent swiss botanist, and the particular friend of the late illustrious haller. our readers should be informed, that it had before been called by two other different names, viz. _hyacinthus orchiodes_, and _phormium aloides_, under the latter of which it now stands in the th edition of the _systema vegetabilium_, as well as that of _lachenalia_. its trivial name of _tricolor_ it receives from the three colours observable in the flowers; but it must be noticed, that it is only at the middle period of its flowering, that these three colours are highly distinguishable; as it advances, the brilliant orange of the top flowers dies away; the spots on the leaves also, which when the plant is young, give it the appearance of an orchis, as it advances into bloom become less and less conspicuous. like most of the cape plants, the _lachenalia_ requires to be sheltered in the winter; during that season it must therefore be kept in a greenhouse, or hot-bed frame, well secured. it flowers in the spring, but its blowing may be accelerated by the warmth of the stove, for it bears forcing well enough. it is increased by offsets from the bulbs. [ ] hibiscus syriacus. syrian hibiscus; commonly called althÆa frutex. _class and order._ monadelphia polyandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ duplex, exterior polyphyllus. _capsula_ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ hibiscus _syriacus_ foliis cuneiformi ovatis superne incise-serratis, caule arboreo. _lin. syst. veg. p. ._ alcea arborescens syriaca. _bauh. pin. p. ._ althÆa frutex flore albo vel purpureo. _park. par. p. ._ [illustration: no ] the _hibiscus syriacus_, known generally by the name of _althæa frutex_, is a native of syria, and forms one of the chief ornaments of our gardens in autumn; we view it, however, with less delight, as it is a sure indication of approaching winter. there are many varieties of it mentioned by authors, as the _purple, red-flowered, white-flowered, variegated red and white flowered_, and the _striped-flowered_, to which may be added, another variety, lately introduced, with double flowers: it varies also in its foliage, which is sometimes marked with white, sometimes with yellow. as from the lateness of its flowering, and the want of sufficient warmth, it rarely ripens its seeds with us; the usual mode of increasing it is by layers, and sometimes by cuttings; but the best plants are raised from seeds. miller observes, that the scarce varieties may be propagated by grafting them on each other, which is the common method of propagating the sorts with striped leaves. in the time of parkinson it was not looked on as a hardy shrub: he thus writes,--"they are somewhat tender, and would not be suffered to be uncovered in the winter time, or yet abroad in the garden, but kept in a large pot or tubbe, in the house or in a warme cellar, if you would have them to thrive." _park. parad._ [ ] tussilago alpina. alpine coltsfoot. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia. _generic character._ _receptaculum_ nudum. _pappus_ simplex. _cal._ squamæ æquales, discum æquantes, submembranaceæ. _specific character and synonyms._ tussilago _alpina_ scapo unifloro subnudo, foliis cordato orbiculatis crenatis utrinque virentibus. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ tussilago alpina rotundifolia glabra. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: no ] this species, a native of the alps, of switzerland, and austria, is frequently kept in gardens for the sake of variety; like the rest of the genus, it flowers early in the spring, in march and april; is a very hardy perennial, increases most readily in a moist shady situation, is usually kept in pots for the convenience of sheltering it in very severe seasons; but it will grow readily enough in the open border. all plants that flower early, though ever so hardy, require some kind of shelter, previous to, and during their flowering. is propagated by parting its roots in autumn. [ ] spartium jungeum. spanish broom. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _stigma_ longitudinale, supra villosum. _filamenta_ germini adhærentia. _calyx_ deorsum productus. _specific character and synonyms._ spartium _junceum_ ramis oppositis teretibus apice floriferis, foliis lanceolatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ spartium arborescens, feminibus lenti similibus. _bauh. pin. ._ spanish broom. _park. parad. p. . t. . fig. ._ [illustration: no ] grows naturally in france, spain, italy, and turkey; bears our climate extremely well; is a common shrub in our nurseries and plantations, which it much enlivens by its yellow blossoms: flowers from june to august, or longer in cool seasons. is raised by seeds, which generally come up plentifully under the shrubs. miller mentions a variety of it, which, as inferior to the common sort, does not appear to be worth cultivating. [ ] gladiolus communis. common corn-flag. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ sexpartita, ringens. _stamina_ adscendentia. _specific character and synonyms._ gladiolus _communis_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus distantibus. gladiolus utrinque floridus? _bauh. pin. ._ the french corn-flag. _park. parad. p. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] grows wild in the corn fields of most of the warmer parts of europe, varies with white and flesh-coloured blossoms, increases so fast, both by offsets and seeds, as to become troublesome to the cultivator; hence, having been supplanted by the greater corn-flag, the _byzantinus_ of miller, whose blossoms are larger, and more shewy, it is not so generally found in gardens as formerly. it flowers in june. [ ] hyoscyamus aureus. golden-flower'd henbane. _class and order._ pentandria digynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ infundibuliformis, obtusa. _stamina_ inclinata. _capsula_ operculata -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ hyoscyamus _aureus_ foliis petiolatis dentatis acutis floribus pedunculatis, fructibus pendulis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ hyoscyamus creticus luteus major. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: no ] a native of crete, and other parts of the east. "flowers most part of the summer, but seldom ripens seeds in england; will continue for several years, if kept in pots and sheltered in winter, for it will not live in the open air during that season; if placed under a common hot-bed frame, where it may enjoy as much free air as possible in mild weather, it will thrive better than when more tenderly treated. "it may be easily propagated by cuttings, which if planted in a shady border and covered with hand-glasses, in any of the summer months, they will take root in a month or six weeks, and may be afterwards planted in pots and treated like the old plants." miller's _gard. dict._ it is, however, a more common practice to keep this plant in the stove in the winter; one advantage, at least, attends this method, we secure it with certainty. [ ] narcissus bulbocodium. hoop petticoat narcissus. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _petala_ , æqualia: _nectario_ infundibuliformi, -phyllo. _stamina_ intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _bulbocodium_ spatha uniflora, nectario turbinato petalis majore, staminibus pistilloque declinatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ narcissus montanus juncifolius, calyce aureo. _bauhin. p. ._ the greater yellow junquilia, or bastard daffodil. _park. parad. p. . t. . fig. . var. min. fig. ._ [illustration: no ] grows spontaneously in portugal; flowers in the open border about the middle of may, is an old inhabitant of our gardens, but, like the _triandrus_, is now become scarce, at least in the nurseries about london; in some gardens in hampshire we have seen it grow abundantly: miller calls it the _hoop petticoat narcissus_, the nectary, as he observes, being formed like the ladies hoop petticoats. it certainly is one of the neatest and most elegant of the genus, is propagated by offsets, and should be planted in a loamy soil, with an eastern exposure. [ ] viola pedata cut-leav'd violet. _class and order._ syngenesia monogamia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus. _cor._ -petala, irregularis, postice cornuta. _capsula_ supera, -valvis; -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ viola _pedata_ acaulis, foliis pedatis septempartitis. _lin. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. . spec. pl. p. ._ _gronov. fl. virg. ed. . p. ._ viola _tricolor_ caule nudo, foliis tenuius dissectis. _banist. virg._ viola inodora flore purpurascente specioso, foliis ad modum digitorum incisis. _clayt. n. ._ [illustration: no ] this species of violet, a native of virginia, is very rarely met with in our gardens; the figure we have given, was drawn from a plant which flowered this spring in the garden of thomas sykes, esq. at hackney, who possesses a very fine collection of plants, and of american ones in particular. it is more remarkable for the singularity of its foliage than the beauty of its blossoms; the former exhibit a very good example of the _folium pedatum_ of linnÆus, whence its name. miller, who calls it _multifida_ from a former edition of linnÆus's _species plantarum_, says, that the flowers are not succeeded by seeds here, hence it can only be propagated by parting its roots. the best mode of treating it, will be to place the roots in a pot of loam and bog earth mixed, and plunge the pot into a north border, where it must be sheltered in the winter, or taken up and kept in a common hot-bed frame. [ ] gorteria rigens. rigid-leav'd gorteria. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia frustranea. _generic character._ _receptaculum_ nudum. _pappus_ lanatus. _corollæ_ radii ligulatæ. _calyx_ imbricatus, squamis spinosis. _specific character and synonyms._ gorteria _rigens_ foliis lanceolatis pinnatifidis, caule depresso, scapis unifloris. _lin. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. . sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ arctotis ramis decumbentibus, foliis lineari-lanceolatis rigidis, subtus argenteis. _mill. dict. et icon. t. ._ arctotheca foliis rigidis leniter dissectis. _vaill. act. . n. ._ [illustration: no ] the gorteria, of which there are several species, and most of them, like the present, natives of the cape, has been named in honour of david de gorter, author of the _flora zutphanica_ and _ingrica_; the trivial name of _rigens_ is given to this species from the rigidity of its leaves, a term which it is sometimes apt to exchange for the more common botanic name of _ringens_; an instance of such mistake occurs in the th edition of miller's _gard. dict._ the greenhouse, to which it properly belongs, can scarcely boast a more shewy plant; its blossoms, when expanded by the heat of the sun, and it is only when the sun shines on them that they are fully expanded, exhibit an unrivalled brilliancy of appearance. it flowers in june, but rarely brings its seeds to perfection in this country, which is of the less consequence, as the plant is readily enough increased by cuttings. it requires the common treatment of a greenhouse plant. [ ] iris surfing. chalcedonian iris. _class and order._ triandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _specific character and synonyms._ iris _surfing_ barbata foliis ensiformibus glabris, scapo unifloro, petalis rotundatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. ed. . p. ._ iris surfing flore maximo et albo nigricante. _bauh. pin. ._ the great turkey flower-de-luce. _park. parad. ._ [illustration: no ] this species, by far the most magnificent of the iris tribe, is a native of persia, from a chief city of which it takes the name of surfing; linnÆus informs us, that it was imported into holland from constantinople in . though an inhabitant of a much warmer climate than our own, it thrives readily in the open borders of our gardens; and, in certain favourable situations, flowers freely about the latter end of may or beginning of june. it succeeds best in a loamy soil and sunny exposure, with a pure air moisture, which favours the growth of most of the genus, is injurious and sometimes even fatal to this species. as it rarely ripens its seeds with us, it is generally propagated by parting its roots in autumn. these are also usually imported from holland, and may be had of the importers of bulbs at a reasonable rate. being liable to be destroyed by seasons unusually severe, it will be prudent to place a few roots of it in pots, either in the greenhouse or in a hot-bed frame during the winter. it bears forcing well. [ ] saxifraga sarmentosa. strawberry saxifrage. _class and order._ decandria digynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus. _cor._ -petala. _caps._ -rostris, -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ saxifraga _sarmentosa_ foliis radicalibus subrotundis cordatis crenatis, sarmentis axillaribus radicantibus, corolla irregulari, racemo composito. _lin. syst. veg. ed. . p. ._ _suppl. p. ._ [illustration: no ] this species of saxifrage differing so widely from the others, both in its habit and fructification, as to create a doubt in the minds of some, whether it ought not to be considered as a distinct genus, is a native of china, and one of the many plants which have been introduced into our gardens since the time of miller. its round variegated leaves, and strawberry-like runners, the uncommon magnitude of the two lowermost pendant petals, joined to the very conspicuous glandular nectary in the centre of the flower, half surrounding the germen, render this species strikingly distinct. it is properly a greenhouse plant; in mild winters indeed it will bear the open air, especially if placed at the foot of a wall, or among rock-work; but, in such situations, it is frequently killed in severe seasons. it flowers in may and june, but does not produce its blossoms so freely as some others. no difficulty attends the propagation of it, for it increases so fast by its runners, as to be even troublesome. [ ] sempervivum monanthes. dwarf houseleek. _class and order._ dodecandria dodecagynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus. _petala_ . _capsulæ_ . polyspermæ. _specific character and synonyms._ sempervivum _monanthes_ foliis teretibus clavatis confertis, pedunculis nudis subunifloris, nectariis obcordatis. _aiton. hort. kew._ [illustration: no ] it appears from the _hortus kewensis_, the publication of which is daily expected, that the plant here figured was first brought to this country from the canary islands, by mr. francis masson, in the year . it is highly deserving the notice of the botanist, not only as being by far the least species of the genus, but on account of its nectaria; these, though not mentioned by linnÆus in his character of the genus, have been described by other authors, particularly jacquin and haller; and though not present in most, and but faintly visible in a few species of _sempervivum_, in this plant form a principal part of the fructification; they are usually seven in number, but vary from six to eight. in the specimens we have examined, and which perhaps have been rendered luxuriant by culture, the number of stamina has been from twelve to sixteen; of styles, from six to eight; of flowers on the same stalk, from one to eight. it flowers during most of the summer months, succeeds very well with the common treatment of a greenhouse plant in the summer, but does best in a dry stove in the winter. is readily increased by parting its roots. [ ] sisyrinchium irioides. iris-leav'd sisyrinchium. _class and order._ gynandria triandria. _generic character._ monogyna. _spatha_ diphylla. _petala_ plana. _capsula_ tri-locularis, infera. _specific character and synonyms._ sisyrinchium _iridioides_ foliis ensiformibus; petalis oblongo-obcordatis, venosis; germinibus pyriformibus, subhirsutis. sisyrinchium _bermudiana._ _lin. syst. vegetab. p. . var. . spec. pl. p. ._ bermudiana iridis folio, radice fibrosa. _dill. elth. . t. . f. ._ sisyrinchium _bermudiana_ foliis gladiolatis amplexicaulibus, pedunculis brevioribus. _miller's dict. ed. . to._ [illustration: no ] on comparing the present plant with the _bermudiana graminea flore minore coeruleo_ of dillenius, both of which i have growing, and now in pots before me, the difference appears so striking, that i am induced with him and miller to consider them as distinct species; especially as, on a close examination, there appear characters sufficient to justify me in the opinion, which characters are not altered by culture. it is a native of the bermudian islands, and flowers in the open border from may to the end of july; it is not uncommon to keep it in the greenhouse, for which, from its size &c. it is very well adapted; but it is not necessary to treat it tenderly, as it will bear a greater degree of cold than many plants usually considered as hardy. it may be propagated most readily by seeds, or by parting its roots in the autumn; should be planted on a border with an eastern aspect; soil the same as for bulbs. [ ] geranium radula. rasp-leav'd geranium. _class and order._ monadelphia decandria. _generic character._ monogyna. _stigmata_ . _fructus_ rostratus, -coccus. _specific character and synonyms._ geranium _revolutum_ pedunculis subbifloris, foliis multifidis linearibus scabris ad oras revolutis, caule arboreo. _jacq. ic. . collect. . p. ._ geranium _radula._ _cavanill. diss. . p. . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] this is one of the numerous tribe of _geraniums_ introduced from the cape since the time of miller: it takes the name of _radula_, which is the latin term for a rasp or file, from the rough rasp-like surface of the leaves. there are two varieties of it, a _major_ and a _minor_, which keep pretty constantly to their characters; and as this species is readily raised from seeds, it affords also many seminal varieties. as a botanist, desirous of seeing plants distinct in their characters, we could almost wish it were impossible to raise these _foreign geraniums_ from seeds; for, without pretending to any extraordinary discernment, we may venture to prophecy, that in a few years, from the multiplication of seminal varieties, springing from seeds casually, or perhaps purposely impregnated with the pollen of different sorts, such a crop will be produced as will baffle all our attempts to reduce to species, or even regular varieties. such as are partial to this tribe, will no doubt wish to have this species in their collection; the blossoms are pretty, and the foliage is singular, but it remains but a short time in flower. it is readily propagated by cuttings. [ ] lantana aculeata. prickly lantana. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -dentatus obsolete. _stigma_ uncinato-refractum. _drupa_ nucleo -loculari. _specific character and synonyms._ lantana _aculeata_ foliis oppositis, caule aculeato ramoso spicis hemisphæricis. _lin. syst. veg. ed. . p. ._ [illustration: no ] according to miller, this species grows naturally in _jamaica_, and most of the other islands in the _west-indies_, where it is called _wild sage_; the flowers, which are very brilliant, are succeeded by roundish berries, which, when ripe, turn black, having a pulpy covering over a single hard seed. it is readily propagated by cuttings. different plants vary greatly in the colour of their blossoms, and the prickliness of their stalks; the prickles are seldom found on the young shoots. this plant will bear to be placed abroad in the warmest summer months, the rest of the year it requires artificial heat. it is usually placed in the dry stove, to which, as it is seldom without flowers, it imparts great brilliancy. [ ] fuchsia coccinea. scarlet fuchsia. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus, coloratus, corollifer, maximus. _petala_ , parva, _bacca_ infera, -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ fuchsia _coccinea_ foliis oppositis ovatis denticulatis; petalis obovatis, obtusis. _hort. kew._ thilco _feuillée it. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] the present plant is a native of _chili_, and was introduced to the royal gardens at kew, in the year , by capt. firth; it takes the name of _fuchsia_ from _fuchs_ a german botanist of great celebrity, author of the _historia stirpium_ in _folio_, published in , containing five hundred and sixteen figures in wood; and which, though mere outlines, express the objects they are intended to represent, infinitely better than many laboured engravings of more modern times. every person who can boast a hot-house will be anxious to possess the _fuchsia_, as it is not only a plant of peculiar beauty, but produces its rich pendant blossoms through most of the summer; the petals in the centre of the flower are particularly deserving of notice; they somewhat resemble a small roll of the richest purple-coloured ribband. though this plant will not succeed well in the winter, nor be easily propagated unless in a stove, it will flower very well during the summer months, in a good greenhouse or hot-bed frame, and though at present from its novelty it bears a high price, yet as it is readily propagated, both by layers, cuttings, and seeds, it will soon be within the purchase of every lover of plants. mr. lee, of hammersmith, we understand first had this plant for sale. [ ] tropÆolum minus. small tropÆolum, or indian-cress. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, calcaratus. _petala_ , inæqualia. _bacca_ tres, siccæ. _specific character and synonyms._ tropÆolum _minus_ foliis peltatis repandis, petalis acuminato-setaceis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ indian-cresses, or yellow larke's-heeles. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] this species of _tropæolum_ (which like the _majus_ already figured in this work, is a native of _peru_) has long been an inhabitant of our gardens; it was the only species we had in the time of parkinson, by whom it is figured and described; it appears indeed to have been a great favourite with that intelligent author, for he says this plant "is of so great beauty and sweetnesse withall, that my garden of delight cannot bee unfurnished of it, and again the whole flower hath a fine small sent, very pleasing, which being placed in the middle of some carnations or gilloflowers (for they are in flower at the same time) make a delicate tussimusie, as they call it, or nosegay, both for sight and sent." as the _passiflora cærulea_, from its superior beauty and hardiness, has in a great degree supplanted the _incarnata_, so has the _tropæolum majus_ the _minus_; we have been informed indeed that it was entirely lost to our gardens till lately, when it was reintroduced by dr. j. e. smith, who by distributing it to his friends, and the nurserymen near london, has again rendered it tolerably plentiful. like the _majus_ it is an annual, though by artificial heat it may be kept in a pot through the winter, as usually is the variety of it with double flowers; but as it will grow readily in the open air, in warm sheltered situations, it should be raised on a hot-bed, like other tender annuals, if we wish to have it flower early in the summer, continue long in blossom, and produce perfect seeds. [ ] antirrhinum purpureum. purple toad-flax. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus. _corollæ_ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera. _capsula_ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ antirrhinum purpureum foliis quaternis linearibus, caule erecto spicato. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ linaria purpurea major odorata. _bauh. pin. ._ linaria altera purpurea. _dod. pempt. ._ [illustration: no ] though not so beautiful as many of the genus, this species is a common inhabitant of the flower-garden, in which it continues to blossom, during most of the summer. it is a native of italy, and delights in a dry soil and situation; it will even flourish on walls, and hence will serve very well to decorate the more elevated parts of rock-work. when once introduced it comes up spontaneously from seeds. [ ] lathyrus tingitanus. tangier pea. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior, _cal._ laciniæ superiores -breviores. _specific character and synonyms._ lathyrus _tingitanus_ pedunculis bifloris, cirrhis diphyllis, foliolis alternis lanceolatis glabris, stipulis lunatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p. ._ lathyrus tingitanus, filiquis orobi, flore amplo ruberrimo. _moris, hist. . p. ._ [illustration: no ] the tangier pea, a native of morocco, cannot boast the agreeable scent, or variety of colours of the sweet pea; nor does it continue so long in flower; nevertheless there is a richness in the colour of its blossoms, which entitles it to a place in the gardens of the curious, in which it is usually sown in the spring, with other hardy annuals. it flowers in june and july. the best mode of propagating it, is to, sow the seeds on the borders in patches, where the plants are to remain; thinning them when they come up, so as to leave only two or three together. [ ] alyssum halimifolium. sweet alyssum. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliculosa. _generic character._ _filamenta_ quædam introrsum denticulo notata. _silicula_ emarginata. _specific character and synonyms._ alyssum _halimifolium_ caulibus suffruticosis, diffusis, foliis lineari-lanceolatis integerrimis, villosiusculis, staminibus simplicibus, siliculis subrotundis integris. _hort. kew. v. . p. ._ alyssum halimifolium caulibus procumbentibus, perennantibus, foliis lanceolato-linearibus, acutis, integerrimis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ thlaspi halimi folio sempervirens. _herm. lugd. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] grows spontaneously in dry situations, in the southernmost parts of europe, where it is shrubby; and in similar situations it is so in some degree with us; but on our flower-borders, where it is usually sown, it grows so luxuriantly, that the stalks becoming juicy and tender, are generally destroyed by our frosts; hence it is an annual from peculiarity of circumstance; as such, it is very generally cultivated; the flowers exhibit a pretty, innocent appearance, and strongly diffuse an agreeable honey-like smell. they continue to blow through most of the summer months. it is a very proper plant for a wall or piece of rock-work; care must be taken, however, not to sow too much of the seed in one pot, as it spreads wide, but it may easily be reduced at any period of its growth, as it does not creep at the root. the specific description in the _hortus kewensis_ above referred to, admirably characterizes the plant, but surely at the expence of its generic character. [ ] campanula speculum. venus's looking-glass. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata, fundo clauso valvis staminiferis. _stigma_ trifidum. _capsula_ infera, poris lateralibus dehiscens. _specific character and synonyms._ campanula speculum caule ramosissimo, diffuso; foliis oblongis subcrenatis, floribus solitariis, capsulis prismaticis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p. ._ onobrychis arvensis f. campanula arvensis erecta. _bauh. pin. ._ [illustration: no ] grows wild among the corn in the south of europe, is an annual, and, like the _sweet alyssum_, generally cultivated in our gardens, and most deservedly so indeed, for when a large assemblage of its blossoms are expanded by the rays of the sun, their brilliancy is such as almost to dazzle the eyes of the beholder. those annuals which bear our winter's frosts without injury, are advantageously sown in the autumn; for by that means they flower more early, and their seeds ripen with more certainty; the present plant is one of those: it usually sows itself, and is therefore raised without any trouble. it begins to flower in may and june, and continues to enliven the garden till august or september. [ ] pelargonium acetosum. sorrel crane's-bill. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ -partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem, nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _filam._ . in æqualia: quorum (raro ) castrata. _fructus_, -coccus, rostratus: rostra spiralia, introrsum barbata. _l'herit. geran._ _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _acetosum_ umbellis paucifloris, foliis obovatis crenatis glabris carnosis, petalis linearibus. _l'herit. monogr de geran. n. ._ geranium _acetosum_ calycibus monophyllis, foliis glabris obovatis carnosis crenatis, caule fruticoso laxo. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. . sp. pl. p. ._ geranium africanum frutescens, folio crasso et glauco acetosæ sapore. _comm. præl. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] mons. l'heritier, the celebrated french botanist, who in the number, elegance, and accuracy of his engravings, appears ambitious of excelling all his contemporaries, in a work now executing on the family of _geranium_, has thought it necessary to divide that numerous genus into three, viz. _erodium_, _pelargonium_, and _geranium_. the _erodium_ includes those which linnÆus (who noticing the great difference in their appearance, had made three divisions of them) describes with five fertile stamina, and calls myrrhina; the _pelargonium_ those with seven fertile stamina, his _africana_; the _geranium_, those with ten fertile stamina, his _batrachia_. they are continued under the class _monadelphia_, in which they now form three different orders, according to the number of their stamina, viz. _pentandria_, _heptandria_, and _decandria_. if the principles of the linnæan system had been strictly adhered to, they should perhaps have been separated into different classes; for though the _pelargonium_ is monadelphous, the _geranium_ is not so; in consequence of this alteration, the _geranium peltatum_ and _radula_, figured in a former part of this work, must now be called _pelargonium peltatum_, and _radula_, and the _geranium reichardi_ be an _erodium_. the leaves of this plant have somewhat the taste of sorrel, whence its name, it flowers during most of the summer, and is readily propagated by cuttings. miller mentions a variety of it with scarlet flowers. it is a native of the cape, and known to have been cultivated in chelsea garden, in the year . [ ] lysimachia bulbifera. bulb-bearing loosestrife. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ rotata. _capsula_ globosa, mucronata, -valvis. _specific character and synonyms._ lysimachia _stricta_ racemis terminalibus, petalis lanceolatis patulis, foliis lanceolatis sessilibus. _hort. kew. p. ._ [illustration: no ] in the spring of the year , i received roots of this plant from mr. robert squibb, then at new-york, which produced flowers the ensuing summer, since that time, i have had frequent opportunities of observing a very peculiar circumstance in its oeconomy; after flowering, instead of producing seeds, it throws out _gemmæ vivaces_, or _bulbs_ of an unusual form, from the alæ of the leaves, which falling off in the month of october, when the plant decays, produce young plants the ensuing spring. as it is distinguished from all the known species of _lysimachia_ by this circumstance, we have named it _bulbifera_ instead of _stricta_, under which it appears in the _hortus kewensis_. some botanists, whose abilities we revere, are of opinion that the trivial names of plants, which are or should be a kind of abridgment of the specific character, ought very rarely or never to be changed: we are not for altering them capriciously on every trivial occasion, but in such a case as the present, where the science is manifestly advanced by the alteration, it would surely have been criminal to have preferred a name, barely expressive, to one which immediately identifies the plant. the _lysimachia bulbifera_ is a hardy perennial, grows spontaneously in boggy or swampy ground, and hence requires a moist soil. it flowers in august. [ ] tradescantia virginica. virginian tradescantia, or spiderwort. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ triphyllus. _petala_ . _filamenta_ villis articulatis. _capsula_ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ tradescantia _virginica_ erecta lævis, floribus congestis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. . sp. pl. ._ allium five moly virginianum. _bauh. pin. ._ phalangium ephemerum virginianum joannis tradescant. the soon-fading spiderwort of virginia, or tradescant his spiderwort. _park. parad. . . t. . f. ._ [illustration: no ] under the name of _spiderwort_, the old botanists arranged many plants of very different genera: the name is said to have arisen from the supposed efficacy of some of these plants, in curing the bite of a kind of spider, called _phalangium_; not the _phalangium_ of linnÆus, which is known to be perfectly harmless: under this name, parkinson minutely describes it; he mentions also, how he first obtained it. "this spiderwort," says our venerable author, "is of late knowledge, and for it the christian world is indebted unto that painful, industrious searcher, john tradescant, who first received it of a friend that brought it out of virginia, and hath imparted hereof, as of many other things, both to me and others." tournefort afterwards gave it the name of _ephemerum_, expressive of the short duration of its flowers, which linnÆus changed to _tradescantia_. though a native of virginia, it bears the severity of our climate uninjured, and being a beautiful, as well as hardy perennial, is found in almost every garden. though each blossom lasts but a day, it has such a profusion in store, that it is seldom found without flowers through the whole of the summer. there are two varieties of it, the one with white the other with pale purple flowers. the most usual way of propagating it is by parting its roots in autumn to obtain varieties, we must sow its seeds. [ ] iberis umbellata. purple candy-tuft. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliculosa. _generic character._ _corolla_ irregularis: _petalis_ exterioribus majoribus: _silicula_ polysperma, emarginata. _specific character and synonyms._ iberis _umbellata_ herbacea, foliis lanceolatis, acuminatis, inferioribus serratis; superioribus integerrimis. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. . sp. pl. p. ._ thlaspi umbellatum creticum, iberidis folio. _bauh. pin. ._ draba s. arabis s. thlaspi candiæ. _dod. pempt. ._ thlaspi creticum umbellatum flore albo et purpureo. candy-tufts, white and purple. _park. parad. p. ._ [illustration: no ] the candy-tuft is one of those annuals which contribute generally to enliven the borders of the flower-garden: its usual colour is a pale purple, there is also a white variety of it, and another with deep but very bright purple flowers, the most desirable of the three, but where a garden is large enough to admit of it, all the varieties may be sown. for want of due discrimination, as miller has before observed, nurserymen are apt to collect and mix with this species the seeds of another, viz. the _amara_, and which persons not much skilled in plants consider as the white variety; but a slight attention will discover it to be a very different plant, having smaller and longer heads, differing also in the shape of its leaves and seed vessels, too trifling a plant indeed to appear in the flower-garden. purple candy-tuft is a native of the south of europe, and flowers in june and july: it should be sown in the spring, on the borders of the flower-garden in patches; when the plants come up, a few only should be left, as they will thereby become stronger, produce more flowers, and be of longer duration. [ ] cassia chamÆcrista. dwarf cassia. _class and order._ decandria monogynia. _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus. _petala_ . _antheræ_ superne steriles; infimæ rostratæ. _legumen._ _specific character and synonyms._ cassia _chamæcrista_ foliis multijugis, glandula petiolari pedicellata, stipulis ensiformibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _hort. kew. p. ._ chamÆcrista pavonis major. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] a native of the west-indies, and of virginia according to linnÆus; not common in our gardens, though cultivated as long ago as , by the duchess of beaufort; (_vid. hort. kew._) unnoticed by miller. this species, superior in beauty to many of the genus, is an annual, and consequently raised only from seeds, these must be sown in the spring, on a hot-bed, and when large enough to transplant, placed separately in pots of light loamy earth, then replunged into a moderate hot-bed to bring them forward, and in the month of june removed into a warm border, where, if the season prove favourable, they will flower very well towards august; but, as such seldom ripen their seeds, it will be proper to keep a few plants in the stove or greenhouse for that purpose, otherwise the species may be lost. [ ] anthyllis tetraphylla. four-leav'd ladies-finger. _class and order._ diadelphia decandria. _generic character._ _calyx_ ventricosus. _legumen_ subrotundum, tectum. _specific character and synonyms._ anthyllis _tetraphylla_ herbacea, foliis quaterno-pinnatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _hort. kew. vol. . p. ._ lotus pentaphyllos vesicaria. _bauh. pin. ._ trifolium halicacabum. _cam. hort. . t. ._ [illustration: no ] an annual; the spontaneous growth of spain, italy, and sicily, flowers in the open border in july, and ripens its seeds, in september. long since cultivated in our gardens, but more as a rare, or curious, than a beautiful plant. its seeds are to be sown in april, on a bed of light earth, where they are to remain; no other care is necessary than thinning them, and keeping them clear of weeds. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _third volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ alyssum halimifolium. anthyllis tetraphylla. antirrhinum triste. " purpureum. campanula speculum. cassia chamæcrista. centaurea montana. colutea arborescens. epilobium angustissimum. fuchsia coccinea. geranium radula. gladiolus communis. gorteria rigens. hibiscus syriacus. hyoscyamus aureus. iberis umbellata. iris susiana. lachenalia tricolor. lantana aculeata. lathyrus tingitanus. lotus jacobæus. lysimachia bulbifera. monsonia speciosa. narcissus bulbocodium. " odorus. pelargonium acetosum. potentilla grandiflora. saxifraga sarmentosa. sempervivum monanthes. sisyrinchium iridioides. spartium junceum. spigelia marilandica. tradescantia virginica. tropæolum minus. tussilago alpina. viola pedata. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _third volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ alyssum sweet. blue-bottle greater. broom spanish. candy-tuft purple. cassia dwarf. coltsfoot alpine. colutea, or bladder-senna tree. corn-flag common. crane's-bill sorrel. fuchsia scarlet. geranium rasp-leav'd. gorteria rigid-leav'd. henbane golden-flower'd. hibiscus syrian. houseleek dwarf. iris chalcedonian. jonquil great. lachenalia three-colour'd. ladies finger four-leav'd. lantana prickly. looking-glass venus's. loosestrife bulb-bearing. lotus black-flower'd. monsonica large-flower'd. narcissus hoop-petticoat. pea tangier. potentilla large-flower'd, saxifrage strawberry. sisyrinchium iris-leav'd. spigelia, or worm-grass maryland. toad-flax black-flower'd. " purple. tradescantia virginian. tropæolum, or indian cress, small. violet cut-leav'd. willow-herb narrowest-leav'd. file made using scans of public domain works at the university of georgia.) [transcriber's note: many inconsistencies appeared in the original book and were retained in this version.] 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. i "a garden is the purest of human pleasures." verulam. london: printed by couchman and fry, throgmorton-street, for w. curtis, at his botanic-garden, lambeth-marsh; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. m dcc xc. preface. the present periodical publication owes its commencement to the repeated solicitations of several ladies and gentlemen, subscribers to the author's botanic garden, who were frequently lamenting the want of a work, which might enable them, not only to acquire a systematic knowledge of the foreign plants growing in their gardens, but which might at the same time afford them the best information respecting their culture--in fact, a work, in which botany and gardening (so far as relates to the culture of ornamental plants) or the labours of linnÆus and miller, might happily be combined. in compliance with their wishes, he has endeavoured to present them with the united information of both authors, and to illustrate each by a set of new figures, drawn always from the living plant, and coloured as near to nature, as the imperfection of colouring will admit. he does not mean, however, to confine himself solely to the plants contained in the highly esteemed works of those luminaries of botany and gardening, but shall occasionally introduce new ones, as they may flower in his own garden, or those of the curious in any part of great-britain. at the commencement of this publication, he had no design of entering on the province of the florist, by giving figures of double or improved flowers, which sometimes owe their origin to culture, more frequently to the sportings of nature; but the earnest entreaties of many of his subscribers, have induced him so far to deviate from his original intention, as to promise them one, at least, of the flowers most esteemed by florists. the encouragement given to this work, great beyond the author's warmest expectations, demands his most grateful acknowledgements, and will excite him to persevere in his humble endeavours to render botany a lasting source of rational amusement; and public utility. botanic garden, lambeth-marsh, . [ ] ~iris persica. persian iris.~ _class and order._ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ corolla -partita: petalis alternis, reflexis. stigmata petaliformia. _specific character and synonyms._ iris _persica_ corolla imberbi, petalis interioribus brevissimis patentissimis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . iris bulbosa præcox minus odora persica variegata. _moris. hist._ . _p._ . xiphium persicum. _miller dict. ed._ . _to._ the persian bulbous flower-de-luce. _parkins. parad. p._ . [illustration: no ] a native of persia. flowers in february and march. its beauty, early appearance, and fragrant blossoms, make it highly esteemed by all lovers of flowers; like the hyacinth or narcissus it will blow within doors in a water-glass, but stronger in a small pot of sand, or sandy loam; a few flowers will scent a whole apartment: it will also blossom in the open air, but requires warmth and shelter; it is propagated by offsets and seeds; the best flowering roots are imported from holland, they bear forcing well; and hence this plant may be had to flower a full month or six weeks in succession. parkinson remarks, that in his time ( ) it was very rare, and seldom bore flowers. [ ] ~rudbeckia purpurea. purple rudbeckia.~ _class and order._ ~syngenesia polygamia frustranea.~ _generic character._ receptaculum paleaceum, conicum. pappus margine quadri-dentato. calyx duplici ordine squamarum. _specific character and synonyms._ rudbeckia _purpurea_ foliis lanceolato-ovatis alternis indivisis, radii petalis bifidis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . dracunculus virginianus latifolius, petalis florum longissimis purpurascentibus. _moris. hist._ . _p._ . _f._ . _t._ . _f._ . [illustration: no ] this species differs from the other plants of the genus, in the colour of its outermost petals, which are long, narrow, purple, and pendulous, and not unaptly resemble small pieces of red tape. notwithstanding it is a native of the warm climates carolina and virginia, it succeeds very well with us in an open border: but, as mr. miller very justly observes, it will always be prudent to shelter two or three plants under a common hot-bed frame in winter, to preserve the kind, because in very severe winters, those in the open air are sometimes killed. it flowers in july. as it rarely ripens its seeds with us, the only mode of propagating it, is by parting the roots; but in that way the plant does not admit of much increase. [ ] ~helleborus hyemalis. winter hellebore, or aconite.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria polygynia[a].~ _generic character._ calyx . petala sive plura. nectaria bilabiata, tubulata. capsulæ polyspermæ erectiusculæ. _specific character and synonyms._ helleborus _hyemalis_ flore folio infidente. _linn. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . aconitum unifolium bulbosum. _bauh. pin._ . the winter's wolfesbane. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no ] grows wild in lombardy, italy, and austria, affects mountainous situations, flowers with us in february, and hence is liable to be cut off by severe frosts. "is propagated by offsets, which the roots send out in plenty. these roots may be taken up and transplanted any time after their leaves decay, which is generally by the beginning of june till october, when they will begin to put out new fibres; but as the roots are small and nearly the colour of the ground, so if care is not taken to search for them, many of the roots will be left in the ground. these roots should be planted in small clusters, otherwise they will not make a good appearance, for single flowers scattered about the borders of these small kinds are scarce seen at a distance; but when these and the snowdrops are alternately planted in bunches, they will have a good effect, as they flower at the same time, and are much of a size." _millers gard. dict._ [footnote a: most of the hellebores vary greatly in the number of their pistils, which in general are too few to justify the placing those plants in the order polygynia.] [ ] ~cyclamen coum. round-leav'd cyclamen.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ corolla rotata, reflexa, tubo brevissimo fauce prominente. bacca tecta capsula. _specific character and synonyms._ cyclamen _coum_ foliis orbiculatis planis, pediculis brevibus, floribus minoribus. _miller's dict._ cyclamen hyemale orbiculatis foliis inferius rubentibus purpurascente flore; coum herbariorum. _hort. reg. paris._ _herm. cat._ cyclamen orbiculato folio inferne purpurascente. _bauh. pin. p._ . the common round-leav'd sowebread. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] grows wild in many parts of italy and germany, and is sometimes found with white flowers; if the season be mild, or the plants sheltered from the inclemency of the weather, this species will flower as early as february, or much earlier by artificial heat. as it grows naturally in woods and shady places, it will thrive best in a mixture of bog-earth and loam placed in a north border; if planted in the open border, it will require to be covered with a hand-glass during winter, and in the spring, when in bloom; the more usual method with gardeners is to preserve them in pots in a common hot-bed frame, the advantage of this method is that they may, at any time, be removed to decorate the parlour or the study. the plants of this genus admit of but little increase by their roots; the best method of propagating them is by seed, which should be sown soon after they are ripe in boxes or pots, and covered about half an inch deep, placing them where they may have only the morning-sun, till the beginning of september, when they may be removed to a warmer exposure. [ ] ~erythronuim dens canis. dogs-tooth, or dogs-tooth violet.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ corolla -petala, campanulata: nectario tuberculis -petalorum alternorum basi adnatis. _specific character and synonyms._ erythronium _dens canis._ _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . dens canis latiore rotundioreque folio. _bauh. pin._ . dogs-tooth with a pale purple flower. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] of this genus mr. miller makes two species; linnæus, perhaps with more propriety, only one, for breadth of leaves or colour of flowers can scarcely be considered as sufficient to constitute a specific difference. it is found in the gardens with purple flowers of two different tints, also with white and yellow blossoms, grows naturally in hungary and some parts of italy, and blows in the open border at the beginning of april. "they are propagated by offsets from their roots. they love a shady situation and a gentle loamy soil, but should not be too often removed. they may be transplanted any time after the beginning of june, when their leaves will be quite decayed, till the middle of september; but the roots should not be kept very long out of the ground, for if they shrink it will often cause them to rot. the roots of these flowers should not be planted scattering in the borders of the flower-garden, but in patches near each other, where they will make a good appearance." _miller's gard. dict._ [ ] ~narcissus minor. least daffodil.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ petala , æqualia: nectario infundibuliformi, -phyllo. stamina intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _minor_ spatha uniflora, nectario obconico erecto crispo sexfido æquante petala lanceolata. _lin. sp. pl. p._ . _syst. vegetab. p._ . narcissus parvus totus luteus. _bauhin. pin._ . the least spanish yellow bastard daffodil. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] we are not a little surprised that mr. miller should have taken no notice of the present species, as it must have been in the english gardens long before his time, being mentioned by parkinson in his garden of pleasant flowers: it is nearly related to the _pseudo-narcissus_, but differs from it in many particulars except size, _vid. lin. sp. pl._ and parkinson above quoted. though its blossoms are not so large as those of the other species, yet when the roots are planted in a cluster, they make a very pretty shew, and have this advantage, that they flower somewhat earlier than any of the others. like the common daffodil it propagates very fast by the roots, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation. though a native of spain, it is seldom injured by the severity of our climate. [ ] ~cynoglossum omphalodes. blue navelwort.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ corolla infundibuliformis, fauce clausa fornicibus. semina depressa interiore tantum latere stylo affixa. _specific character and synonyms._ cynoglossum omphalodes repens, foliis radicalibus cordatis[b], _lin. sp. pl. p._ . _syst. vegetab. p._ . _scopoli fl. carn. p._ . _t._ . symphytum minus borraginis facie. _bauh. pin._ . borago minor verna repens, folio lævi. _moris. hist._ . _p._ . _s._ , _t._ . _fig._ . [illustration: no. ] a native of spain, portugal, and carniola, and an inhabitant of woods and shady situations, flowers in march and april: in the autumn it puts forth trailing shoots, which take root at the joints, whereby the plant is most plentifully propagated; thrives best under a wall in a north border. [footnote b: "stolones repunt non caulis florifer, cui folia ovalia, et minime cordata. tournefortius separavit a symphito, et dixit omphallodem _pumilam vernam, symphyti folio_, sed bene monet linnÆus solam fructus asperitatem aut glabritiem, non sufficere ad novum genus construendum." _scopoli fl. carn. p._ .] [ ] ~helleborus niger. black hellebore, or christmas rose.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria polygynia.~ _generic character._ calyx nullus. petala sive plura. nectaria bilabiata, tubulata. capsulæ polyspermæ, erectiusculæ. _specific character and synonyms._ helleborus niger scapo sub-bifloro subnudo, foliis pedatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . helleborus niger flore roseo, _bauh. pin._ . the true black hellebore, or christmas flower. _parkins. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] as our publication seems likely to fall into the hands of such as are totally unacquainted with botany, or botanical writings, it must plead as an apology for our often explaining many circumstances relative to plants, which may be well known to adepts in the science. this plant derives its first name from the black colour of its roots, its second from its early flowering, and the colour of its petals, which though generally milk-white on their first appearance, yet have frequently a tint of red in them, which increases with the age of the blossom and finally changes to green; in some species of hellebore, particularly the _viridis_, the flower is green from first to last. black hellebore grows wild on the appenine and other mountains, preferring such as are rocky. if the weather be unusually mild, it will flower in our gardens, in the open border, as early as december and january; it may indeed be considered as the herald of approaching spring. like most other alpine plants, it loves a pure air, a situation moderately moist, and a soil unmanured: as the beauty of its flowers is apt to be destroyed by severe frosts, it should be covered during the winter with a hand-glass, or if it be treated in the manner recommended for the round-leav'd cyclamen, it may be had to flower in still greater perfection. it is propagated by parting its roots in autumn: neither this species nor the _hyemalis_ thrive very near london. [ ] ~iris pumila. dwarf iris.~ _class and order._ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ corolla sex-partita: petalis alternis, reflexis. stigmata petaliformia. _specific character and synonyms._ iris pumila corollis barbatis, caule foliis breviore unifloro. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. plant. p._ . _jacq. fl. austr. t._ . chamÆiris minor flore purpureo. _bauh. pin._ . the lesser purple dwarf flower-de-luce. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] gardeners, in former days, not having that profusion of plants to attend to and cultivate, which we can at present boast, appear to have been more solicitous in increasing generally the varieties of the several species; accordingly, we find in the _paradisus terrestris_ of the venerable parkinson, no less than six varieties of this plant[c], most of which are now strangers to the nursery gardens. we may observe, that varieties in general not being so strong as the original plant, are consequently much sooner lost. the iris pumila grows wild in many parts of hungary, affects open and hilly situations, and flowers in our gardens in the month of april; it is a very hardy plant, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; is propagated by parting its roots in autumn. [footnote c: the lesser purple dwarf flower-de-luce with white blossoms, -- ---- ---- --- ---- --- straw colour ditto. -- ---- ---- --- ---- --- pale blue ditto. -- ---- ---- --- ---- --- blush-coloured ditto. -- ---- ---- --- ---- --- yellow variable ditto. -- ---- ---- --- ---- --- blue variable ditto, and the purple dwarf sea flower-de-luce of the same author, is probably no other than a variety.] [ ] ~anemone hepatica. hepatica, or noble liverwort.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria polygynia.~ _generic character._ calyx nullus. petala . . semina plura. _specific character and synonyms._ anemone hepatica foliis trilobis integerrimis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . _fl. suec. n._ . trifolium hepaticum flore simplici et pleno. _bauh. pin._ . red hepatica or noble liverwort. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] dillenius, miller, and some other authors, make a distinct genus of the _hepatica_: linnæus unites it with the _anemone_, observing, that though it differs from the _anemone_ in having a calyx, yet that calyx is at some distance from the flower, and partakes more of the nature of an involucrum, which is not uncommon to the anemonies. the hepaticas, as parkinson observes, flower soon after the winter hellebore, "and making their pride appear in winter, are the more welcome early guests." it is found wild in its single state, with red, blue, and white flowers, in the woods and shady mountains of sweden, germany, and italy; the red variety with double flowers is the one most commonly cultivated in our gardens; the double blue is also not unfrequent; the single white is less common; and the double white miller never saw, yet admits that it may exist spontaneously, or be produced from seed: parkinson mentions a white variety with red threads or stamina. according to miller, this plant delights in a loamy soil, and in an eastern position where it may have only the morning sun: the single sorts are easily raised from seed; the double, increased by parting the roots, which ought to be done in march when they are in bloom; they should not be divided into very small heads: these plants, if often removed and parted, are apt to die, but left undisturbed for many years, they will thrive exceedingly, and become very large roots. [ ] ~erica herbacea. herbaceous heath.~ _class and order._ ~octandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ calyx -phyllus. corolla -fida. filamenta receptaculo inserta. antheræ bifidæ. capsula -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ erica _herbacea_ antheris muticis exsertis, corollis oblongis, stylo exserto, foliis quaternis, floribus secundis, _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _carnea sp. pl. ed._ . _p._ . erica _carnea_. _jacq. fl. austr. v._ . _tab._ erica procumbens herbacea. _bauh. pin. p._ . [illustration: no. ] since the days of mr. miller, who, with all his imperfections, has contributed more to the advancement of practical gardening than any individual whatever, our gardens, but more especially our green-houses, have received some of their highest ornaments from the introduction of a great number of most beautiful heaths: the present plant, though a native of the alps and mountainous parts of germany, is of modern introduction here, what renders it particularly acceptable, is its hardiness and early flowering; its blossoms are formed in the autumn, continue of a pale green colour during the winter, and expand in the spring, flowering as early as march, especially if kept in a green-house, or in a common hot-bed frame, which is the more usual practice. it may be propagated by seeds or cuttings, the latter is the most ready way of increasing this and most of the other species of the genus: when the cuttings have struck root, they should be planted in a mixture of fresh loam and bog earth, either in the open border, under a wall, or in pots. the name of _herbacea_, which linnæus has given to this plant, is not very characteristic, but it should be observed, that linnæus in this, as in many other instances, has only adopted the name of some older botanist; and it should also be remembered, that in genera, where the species are very numerous, it is no easy matter to give names to all of them that shall be perfectly expressive. this species does not appear to us to be specifically different from the _mediterranea_. [ ] ~dodecatheon meadia. mead's dodecatheon, or american cowslip.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ rotata, reflexa. _stamina_ tubo insidentia. _capsula_ unilocularis, oblonga. _specific character and synonyms._ dodecatheon _meadia_. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. plant. p._ . meadia _catesb. car._ . _p._ . _t._ . _trew. ehret. t._ . auricula ursi virginiana floribus boraginis instar rostratis, cyclaminum more reflexis. _pluk. alm._ . _t._ . _f._ . [illustration: no. ] this plant grows spontaneously in virginia and other parts of north america, from whence, as miller informs us, it was sent by mr. banister to dr. compton, lord bishop of london, in whose curious garden he first saw it growing in the year . it is figured by mr. catesby, in his natural history of carolina, among the natural productions of that country, who bestowed on it the name of _meadia_, in honour of the late dr. mead, a name which linnæus has not thought proper to adopt as a generic, though he has as a trivial one. "it flowers the beginning of may, and the seeds ripen in july, soon after which the stalks and leaves decay, so that the roots remain inactive till the following spring. "it is propagated by offsets, which the roots put out freely when they are in a loose moist soil and a shady situation; the best time to remove the roots, and take away the offsets, is in august, after the leaves and stalks are decayed, that they may be fixed well in their new situation before the frost comes on. it may also be propagated by seeds, which the plants generally produce in plenty; these should be sown in autumn, soon after they are ripe, either in a shady moist border, or in pots, which should be placed in the shade; in the spring, the plants will come up, and must then be kept clean from weeds; and, if the season proves dry, they must be frequently refreshed with water: nor should they be exposed to the sun; for while the plants are young, they are very impatient of heat, so that i have known great numbers of them destroyed in two or three days, which were growing to the full sun. these young plants should not be transplanted till the leaves are decayed, then they may be carefully taken up and planted in a shady border, where the soil is loose and moist, at about eight inches distance from each other, which will be room enough for them to grow one year, by which time they will be strong enough to produce flowers, so may then be transplanted into some shady borders in the flower-garden, where they will appear very ornamental during the continuance of their flowers." _miller's gard. dict._ [ ] ~coronilla glauca. sea-green, or day-smelling coronilla.~ _class and order._ ~diadelphia decandria.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ bilabiatus: / : dentibus superioribus connatis. _vexillum_ vix alis longius. _legumen_ isthmis interceptum. _specific character and synonyms._ coronilla _glauca_ fruticosa, foliolis septenis, obtusissimis, stipulis lanceolatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl._ . coronilla maritima, glauco folio. _tournef. inst._ . colutea scorpioides maritima, glauco folio. _bauh. pin._ . _prodr._ . [illustration: no. ] this charming shrub, which is almost perpetually in blossom, and admirably adapted for nosegays, is a native of the south of france, and a constant ornament to our green-houses. linnæus has observed, that the flowers, which in the day time are remarkably fragrant, in the night are almost without scent. "it is propagated by sowing the seeds in the spring, either upon a gentle hot-bed, or on a warm border of light earth: when the plants are come up about two inches high, they should be transplanted either into pots, or into a bed of fresh earth, at about four or five inches distance every way, where they may remain until they have obtained strength enough to plant out for good, which should be either in pots filled with good fresh earth, or in a warm situated border, in which, if the winter is not too severe, they will abide very well, provided they are in a dry soil." _miller's gard. dict._ [ ] ~primula villosa. mountain primula.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _involucrum_ umbellulæ. _corollæ_ tubus cylindricus: ore patulo. _specific character and synonyms._ primula _villosa_ foliis obovatis dentatis villosis, scapo brevissimo multifloro. primula _villosa_. _jacquin fl. austr. app. t._ . [illustration: no. ] mr. miller, in the sixth edition of the abridgment of his gardener's dictionary, mentions only four primulas, exclusive of the auricula, the two first of which are named erroneously, and of the two last not a syllable is said either as to their place of growth or culture. the plant here figured, has been introduced pretty generally into the nursery-gardens in the neighboured of london within these few years: mr. salisbury informs me, that a variety of this plant with white flowers, brought originally from the alps of switzerland, has for many years been cultivated in a garden in yorkshire. it is not noticed by linnæus: professor jacquin, in his flora austriaca, has figured and described a primula, which, though not agreeing so minutely as could be wished with the one we have figured, is nevertheless considered by some of the first botanists in this country as the same species; he gives it the name of _villosa_, which we adopt, though with us it is so slightly villous as scarcely to deserve that epithet. it varies in the brilliancy of its colours, flowers in april, and will succeed with the method of culture recommended for the round-leaved cyclamen. [ ] ~narcissus jonquilla. common jonquil.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _petala_ sex. _nectario_ infundibuliformi, monophyllo. _stamina_ intra nectarium. _specific character and synonyms._ narcissus _jonquilla_ spatha multiflora, nectario hemisphærico crenato, breviore petalis, foliis semiteretibus. _lin. spec. pl. p._ . [illustration: no. ] the fragrant jonquil is a native of spain, flowers in the open ground, about the latter-end of april, or beginning of may, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation, but prefers, as most bulbs do, a fresh loamy earth; indeed such a soil is favourable to the growth of most plants, as being exempt from a variety of subterraneous insects, which are apt to infest ground which has been long cultivated. it is found in the gardens with double flowers. our plant accords exactly with the description of linnæus, above quoted, but must be carefully distinguished from some others very similar to it. [ ] ~iris variegata. variegated iris.~ _class and order._ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ -partita; _petalis_ alternis, reflexis. _stigmata_ petaliformia. _specific character and synonyms._ iris _variegata_ corollis barbatis, caule subfolioso longitudine foliorum multifloro. _linn. spec. pl. p._ . iris latifolia pannonica, colore multiplici. _bauh. pin._ . the yellow variable flower-de-luce. _parkinson parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] this species of iris, inferior to few in point of beauty, is a native of the hilly pastures of hungary, and flowers in our gardens in the month of may, and beginning of june. it is a hardy perennial, requires no particular treatment, and may be easily propagated by parting its roots in autumn. [ ] ~cactus flagelliformis. creeping cereus.~ _class and order._ ~icosandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus, superus, imbricatus. _corolla_ multiplex. _bacca_ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character._ cactus _flagelliformis_ repens decemangularis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed._ _p._ . cereus _flagelliformis_. _miller's gard. dict. ed._ . _to._ [illustration: no. ] grows spontaneously in south-america, and the west-indies, flowers in our dry stoves early in june, is tolerably hardy, and will thrive even in a common green-house, that has a flue to keep out the severe frosts. it is superior to all its congeners in the brilliancy of its colour, nor are its blossoms so fugacious as many of the other species. no plant is more easily propagated by cuttings; these miller recommends to be laid by in a dry place for a fortnight, or three weeks, then to be planted in pots, filled with a mixture of loam and lime rubbish, having some stones laid in the bottom of the pot to drain off the moisture, and afterwards plunged into a gentle hot-bed of tanners bark, to facilitate their rooting, giving them once a week a gentle watering: this business to be done the beginning of july. it is seldom that this plant perfects its seeds in this country: miller relates that it has borne fruit in chelsea gardens. [ ] ~geranium reichardi. dwarf geranium.~ _class and order._ ~monadelphia decandria.~ _general character._ monogynia. stigmata . fructus rostratus, -coccus. _specific character and synonyms._ geranium _reichardi_ scapis unifloris, floribus pentandris, foliis subreniformibus inciso-crenatis. geranium _reichardi_ scapis unifloris, foliis plerisque oblongis trilobis vel quinquelobis inciso-crenatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. murr._ . _p._ . [illustration: no. ] this species of geranium, so strikingly different from all others at present cultivated in our gardens, has been known for several years to the nursery-men in the neighbourhood of london, by the name of _acaule_, a name we should gladly have retained, had not professor murray described it in the th edition of linnæus's _systema vegetabilium_, under the name of _reichardi_, a name he was disposed to give it in compliment to a french gentleman, who first discovered it in the island of minorca, and introduced it into the gardens of france. linnæus describes many of the geraniums, as having only five antheræ, though several of those he thus describes have to our certain knowledge ten, the five lowermost of which shedding their pollen first, often drop off, and leave the filaments apparently barren: but in this species (with us at least) there never are more than five, but betwixt each stamen, there is a broad pointed barren filament or squamula, scarcely to be distinguished by the naked eye. the usual and best practice is to make a green-house plant of this species, though it has been known to remain in the open ground, during a mild winter, unhurt. it continues to have a succession of blossoms during the greatest part of the summer, and may be propagated either by seed or parting its roots. [ ] ~hemerocallis flava. yellow day-lily.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata, tubus cylindraceus. _stamina_ declinata. _specific character and synonyms._ hemerocallis _flava_ foliis lineari-subulatis carinatis, corollis flavis. _linn. syst. veg. ed._ . _p._ . lilium luteum, asphodeli radice. _bauh. pin._ . the yellow day-lily. _parkins. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] this genus has been called _hemerocallis_, in english, _day-lily_, from the short duration of its blossoms, but these are not quite so fugacious in this species as in the _fulva_. it very rarely happens that linnæus, in his specific character of a plant, has recourse to colour, he has however in this instance; but this seems to arise from his considering them rather as varieties, than species. to us they appear to be perfectly distinct, and in addition to several other characters, the flava is distinguished by the fragrance of its blossoms. this species is an inhabitant of hungary and siberia, and consequently bears our climate exceedingly well; it requires a moist soil, and a situation somewhat shady, and is easily propagated by parting its roots in autumn. [ ] ~geranium peltatum. ivy-leaved geranium.~ _class and order._ ~monadelphia decandria.~ _generic character._ monogyna. _stigmata_ quinque. _fructus_ rostratus. -coccus. _specific character._ geranium _peltatum_ calycibus monophyllis, foliis quinquelobis integerrimis glabris subpeltatis, caule fruticoso. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed._ . _p._ . geranium africanum, foliis inferioribus asari, superioribus staphidisagriæ maculatis splendentibus et acetosæ sapore. _comm. præl._ . _t._ . [illustration: no. ] a native of africa, as are most of our shewy geraniums, is not so tender as many others, and may be propagated very readily from cuttings. a leaf, having its foot-stalk inserted into the disk or middle part of it, or near it, is called by linnæus, peltatum, hence the latin trivial name of this plant. it may be observed, however, that some of the leaves have this character more perfectly than others. the african geraniums differ much from the european, in the irregularity of their petals, but exhibit the character of the class _monadelphia_ much better than any of our english ones, having their filaments manifestly united into one body; this species has only filaments bearing antheræ, but barren ones may be discovered upon a careful examination, which makes it of the order _decandria_. [ ] ~iris versicolor. particoloured iris.~ _class and order._ ~triandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ -petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. conf. _thunb. dis. de iride._ _specific character and synonyms._ iris _versicolor_ imberbis foliis ensiformibus, scapo tereti flexuoso, germinibus subtrigonis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed._ . _murr. p._ . _sp. plant. ed._ . _p._ . iris americana versicolor stylo crenato. _dill. elth._ . . . _f._ . [illustration: no. ] a native of virginia, maryland, and pensylvania, has a perennial root, is hardy, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; may be increased by parting its roots in autumn. our plant is the _picta_ of miller, and the _versicolor_ of miller is, we believe, the _sibirica_ of linnæus. this species has, for the most part, a stalk unusually crooked or elbowed, by which it is particularly distinguished. it flowers in june, as do most of this beautiful tribe. [ ] ~nigella damascena. garden fennel-flower, love in a mist, devil in a bush.~ _class and order._ ~polyandria pentagynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ nullus. _petala_ . nectaria . trifida, intra corollam. _capsulæ_ connexæ. _specific character and synonyms._ nigella _damascena_ floribus involucro folioso cinctis. _lin. syst. vegetab. ed._ . _murr. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . nigella angustifolia, flore majore simplici cæruleo. _bauh. pin._ . the great spanish nigella. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] is an annual, and grows wild among the corn in the southern parts of europe; varies with white and blue flowers, both single and double. "may be propagated by sowing their seeds upon a bed of light earth, where they are to remain (for they seldom succeed well if transplanted); therefore, in order to have them intermixed among other annual flowers in the borders of the flower garden, the seeds should be sown in patches at proper distances: and when the plants come up, they must be thinned where they grow too close, leaving but three or four of them in each patch, observing also to keep them clear from weeds, which is all the culture they require. in july they will produce their flowers, and their seeds will ripen in august. "the season for sowing these seeds is in march; but if you sow some of them in august, soon after they are ripe, upon a dry soil and in a warm situation, they will abide through the winter, and flower strong the succeeding year; by sowing of the seeds at different times, they may be continued in beauty most parts of the summer." _miller's gard. dict. ed._ . _to._ [ ] ~tropæolum majus. greater indian-cress, or nasturtium.~ _class and order._ ~octandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus, calcaratus. _petala_ in æqualia. _baccæ_ tres, siccæ. _specific character and synonyms._ tropÆolum _majus_ foliis peltatis subquinquelobis, petalis obtusis. _lin. syst. vegetab. ed._ . _murr. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . cardamindum ampliori folio et majori flore. _grande capucine tournef. inst. p._ . [illustration: no. ] the present plant is a native of peru, and is said by linnæus to have been first brought into europe in the year ; it is certainly one of the greatest ornaments the flower-garden can boast: it varies in colour, and is also found in the nurseries with double flowers. the former, as is well known, is propagated by seed; the latter by cuttings, which should be struck on a hot-bed. to have these plants early, they should be raised with other tender annuals; they usually begin to flower in july, and continue blossoming till the approach of winter: the stalks require to be supported, for if left to themselves they trail on the ground, overspread, and destroy the neighbouring plants. elizabeth christina, one of the daughters of linnæus, is said to have perceived the flowers to emit spontaneously, at certain intervals, sparks like those of electricity, visible only in the dusk of the evening, and which ceased when total darkness came on. the flowers have the taste of water-cress, with a degree of sweetness, which that plant does not possess, more particularly resident in the spur of the calyx or nectary; hence are sometimes used in sallads, and hence the plant acquires its name of _nasturtium_. [ ] ~agrostemma coronaria. rose cockle, or campion.~ _class and order._ ~decandria pentagynia.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ -phyllus, coriaceus. _petala_ unguiculata: limbo obtuso, indiviso. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ agrostemma _coronaria_ tomentosa, foliis ovato-lanceolatis, petalis emarginatis coronatis serratis. _lin. syst. vegetab. ed._ . _murr. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ lychnis coronaria dioscoridis sativa. _bauh. pin._ . the single red rose campion. _parkins. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] grows spontaneously in italy and siberia; linnæus informs us that the blossom is naturally white, with red in the middle. "the single rose campion has been long an inhabitant of the english gardens, where, by its seeds having scattered, it is become a kind of weed. there are three varieties of this plant, one with deep red, another with flesh-coloured, and a third with white flowers, but these are of small esteem, for the double rose campion being a finer flower, has turned the others out of most fine gardens. the single sorts propagate fast enough by the seeds, the sort with double flowers never produces any, so is only propagated by parting of the roots; the best time for this is in autumn, after their flowers are past; in doing of this, every head which can be slipped off with roots should be parted; these should be planted in a border of fresh undunged earth, at the distance of six inches, observing to water them gently until they have taken root, after which they will require no more, for much wet is injurious to them, as is also dung. after the heads are well rooted, they should be planted into the borders of the flower-garden, where they will be very ornamental during the times of their flowering, which is in july and august." _miller's gard. dict. ed._ . _to._ miller, by mistake, calls this plant _cælirosa_. [ ] ~dianthus chinensis. china or indian pink.~ _class and order._ ~decandria digynia.~ _generic character._ _calyx_ cylindricus, -phyllus: basi squamis . _petala_ , unguiculata. _capsula_ cylindrica, -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ dianthus _chinensis_ floribus solitariis, squamis calycinis subulatis patulis, tubum æquantibus, corollis crenatis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl._ . caryophyllus sinensis supinus, leucoji folio, flore unico. _tournef. act._ . _p._ . _f._ . [illustration: no. ] this species, unknown to the older botanists, is a native of china, hence its name of china pink; but, in the nurseries, it is in general better known by the name of indian pink. though it cannot boast the agreeable scent of many of its congeners, it eclipses most of them in the brilliancy of its colours; there are few flowers indeed which can boast that richness and variety found among the most improved varieties of this species; and as these are easily obtained from seed, so they are found in most collections, both single and double. it is little better than an annual, but will sometimes continue two years in a dry soil, which it affects. attempts have been made to force it, but, as far as we have learned, with no great success. [ ] ~stapelia variegata. variegated stapelia.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria digynia.~ _generic character._ contorta. _nectarium_ duplici stellula tegente genitalia. _specific character and synonyms._ stapelia _variegata_ denticulis ramorum patentibus. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . asclepias aizoides africana. _bradl. suc._ . _p._ . _t._ . [illustration: no. ] this very singular plant is a native of the cape of good hope, where it grows and flourishes on the rocks with the _stapelia hirsuta_. if these plants be kept in a very moderate stove in winter, and in summer placed in an airy glass-case where they may enjoy much free air, but screened from wet and cold, they will thrive and flower very well; for although they will live in the open air in summer, and may be kept through the winter in a good green-house; yet these plants will not flower so well as those managed in the other way. they must have little water given them, especially in winter. it is very seldom that the _variegata_ produces seed-vessels in this country; miller observes, in upwards of forty years that he cultivated it, he never saw it produce its pods but three times, and then on such plants only as were plunged into the tan-bed in the stove. this plant may be propagated without seeds, as it grows fast enough from slips; treatment the same as that of the creeping cereus, which see. it takes its name of _stapelia_ from _stapel_, a dutchman, author of some botanical works, particularly a description of theophrastus's plants. [ ] ~convolvulus tricolor. small convolvulus or bindweed.~ _class and order._ ~pentandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _corolla_ campanulata, plicata. _stigmata_ . _capsula_ -locularis: loculis dispermis. _specific character and synonyms._ convolvulus _tricolor_ foliis lanceolato ovatis glabris, caule declinato, floribus solitariis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . convolvulus peregrinus cæruleus, folio oblongo. _bauh. pin._ . flore triplici colore insignito. _moris. hist._ . _p._ . _s._ . _t._ . _f._ . the spanish small blew bindeweede. _parkins. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] this species has usually been called _convolvulus minor_ by gardeners, by way of distinguishing it from the _convolvulus purpureus_, to which they have given the name of _major_. it is a very pretty annual; a native of spain, portugal, and sicily, and very commonly cultivated in gardens. the most usual colours of its blossoms are blue, white, and yellow, whence its name of _tricolor_; but there is a variety of it with white, and another with striped blossoms. the whole plant with us is in general hairy, hence it does not well accord with linnÆus's description. it is propagated by seeds, which should be sown on the flower-borders in the spring, where the plants are to remain: they require no other care than to be thinned and weeded. [ ] ~passiflora coerulea. common passion-flower.~ _class and order._ ~gynandria hexandria.~ _generic character._ trigyna. _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ . _nectarium_ corona. _bacca_ pedicellata. _specific character and synonyms._ passiflora _coerulea_ foliis palmatis integerrimis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl. p._ . granadilla polyphyllos, fructu ovato. _tourn. inst._ . flos passionis major pentaphyllus. _sloan. jam._ . _hist._ . _p._ . [illustration: no. ] the passion-flower first introduced into this country was the _incarnata_ of linnæus, a native of virginia, and figured by parkinson in his _paradisus terrestris_, who there styles it the surpassing delight of all flowers: the present species, which, from its great beauty and superior hardiness, is now by far the most common, is of more modern introduction; and, though a native of the brasils, seldom suffers from the severity of our climate; flowering plentifully during most of the summer months, if trained to a wall with a southern aspect, and, in such situations, frequently producing ripe fruit, of the size and form of a large olive, of a pale orange colour. this most elegant plant may be propagated by seeds, layers, or cuttings; foreign seeds are most to be depended on; they are to be sown in the spring, on a moderate hot-bed, and when the plants are grown to the height of two or three inches, they are to be carefully taken up, and each planted in a separate small pot, filled with good loam, then plunged into a moderate hot-bed, to forward their taking new root; after which they should be gradually inured to the common air: the younger the plants the more shelter they require, and if ever so old or strong, they are in danger from severe frosts. the layers and cuttings are to be treated in the common way, but seedling plants, if they can be obtained, are on many accounts to be preferred. [ ] ~reseda odorata. sweet-scented reseda or mignonette.~ _class and order._ ~dodecandria trigynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, partitus. _petala_ laciniata. _caps._ ore dehiscens, -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ reseda _odorata_ foliis integris trilobisque, calycibus florem æquantibus. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . reseda foliis integris trilobisque, floribus tetragynis. _mill. dict. t._ . [illustration: no. ] _mignonette_ grows naturally in egypt, it was unknown to the older botanists; miller says he received the seeds of it from dr. adrian van royen, professor of botany at leyden, so that it is rather a modern inhabitant of our gardens. the luxury of the pleasure-garden is greatly heightened by the delightful odour which this plant diffuses; and as it is most readily cultivated in pots, its fragrance may be conveyed to the parlour of the recluse, or the chamber of the valetudinarian; its perfume, though not so refreshing perhaps as that of the sweet-briar, is not apt to offend on continuance the most delicate olfactories. being an annual it requires to be raised yearly from seed; when once introduced on a warm dry border it will continue to sow itself, and grow very luxuriantly, flowering from june to the commencement of winter; but as it is desirable to have it as early as possible in the spring, the best way is either to sow the seed in pots in autumn, securing them through the winter in frames, or in a greenhouse, or to raise the seeds early on a gentle hot bed, thinning the plants if they require it, so as to have only two or three in a pot. [ ] ~lilium chalcedonicum. chalcedonian lily.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, campanulata: _linea_ longitudinali nectarifera. _caps._ valvulis pilo cancellato connexis. _specific character and synonyms._ lilium _chalcedonicum_ foliis sparsis lanceolatis, floribus reflexis, corollis revolutis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . lilium byzantium miniatum. _bauh. pin._ . the red martagon of constantinople. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] this species is best known in the nurseries by the name of the _scarlet martagon_; but as it is not the martagon of linnæus, to avoid confusion it will be most proper to adhere to the name which linnæus has given it. it is a native not only of persia, but of hungary; professor jacquin, who has figured it in his most excellent _flora austriaca_, describes it as growing betwixt carniola and carinthia, and other parts of hungary, but always on the tops of the largest mountains. it varies in the number of its flowers, from one to six, and the colour in some is found of a blood red. authors differ in their ideas of its smell: jacquin describing it as disagreeble, while scopoli compares it to that of an orange. it flowers in june and july; and is propagated by offsets, which it produces pretty freely, and which will grow in almost any soil or situation. the best time for removing the roots is soon after the leaves are decayed, before they have begun to shoot. [ ] ~jasminum officinale. common jasmine or jessamine.~ _class and order._ ~diandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _cor._ -fida. _bacca_ dicocca. _sem_. arillata. _antheræ_ intra tubum. _specific character and synonyms._ jasminum _officinale_ foliis oppositis; foliolis distinctis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . jasminum vulgatius flore albo. _bauh. pin._ . jasmine or gesmine. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] there is an elegance in the jasmine which added to its fragrance renders it an object of universal admiration. "it grows naturally at malabar, and in several parts of india, yet has been long inured to our climate, so as to thrive and flower extremely well, but never produces any fruit in england. it is easily propagated by laying down the branches, which will take root in one year, and may then be cut from the old plant, and planted where they are designed to remain: it may also be propagated by cuttings, which should be planted early in the autumn, and guarded against the effects of severe frosts. "when these plants are removed, they should be planted either against some wall, pale, or other fence, where the flexible branches may be supported. these plants should be permitted to grow rude in the summer, otherwise there will be no flowers; but after the summer is past, the luxuriant shoots should be pruned off, and the others must be nailed to the support. "there are two varieties of this with variegated leaves, one with white, the other with yellow stripes, but the latter is the most common: these are propagated by budding them on the plain jasmine; they require to be planted in a warm situation, especially the white-striped, for they are much more tender than the plain, and in very severe winters their branches should be covered with mats or straw to prevent their being killed." _miller's gard. dict._ [ ] ~mesembryanthemum dolabriforme. hatchet-leav'd fig-marigold.~ _class and order._ ~icosandria pentagynia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _petala_ numerosa, linearia. _caps._ carnosa infera, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ mesembryanthemum _dolabriforme_ acaule, foliis dolabriformibus punctatis. _lin. syst. veg. p._ . ficoides capensis humilis, foliis cornua cervi referentibus, petalis luteis noctiflora, _bradl. suc._ . _p._ . _t._ . _dillen hort. elth. t._ . _f._ . [illustration: no. ] though many latin names of plants, as _geranium_, _hepatica_, _convolvulus_, &c. are more familiar to the ear, and more generally used than their english ones, yet _mesembryanthemum_ though used by some, appears too long to be generally adopted, its english name of _fig-marigold_ is doubtless to be preferred. the fig-marigolds are a very numerous tribe, chiefly inhabitants of the cape of good hope; no less than thirty-three species are figured in that inestimable work the _hortus elthamensis_ of dillenius. as most of these plants grow readily from slips, or cuttings, and require only the shelter of a common greenhouse, and as they recommend themselves to our notice, either from the extreme singularity of their foliage, the beauty of their flowers, or the peculiarity of their expansion, so they are a favourite class of plants with many. the present species is a native of the cape of good hope, and is particularly distinguished by having leaves somewhat resembling a hatchet, whence its name; it is as hardy as most, and flowers as freely, but its blossoms fully expand in the evening and night only. it is very readily propagated by cuttings. [ ] ~aster tenellus. bristly-leav'd aster.~ _class and order._ ~syngenesia polygamia superflua.~ _generic character._ _recept._ nudum. _pappus_ simplex. _cor._ radii plures . _cal._ imbricati squamæ inferiores patulæ. _specific character and synonyms._ aster _tenellus_ foliis subfiliformibus aculeato-ciliatis, pedunculis nudis, calycibus hemisphæricis æqualibus. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . aster parvus æthiopicus, chamæmeli floribus, tamarisci ægyptiaci foliis tenuissime denticulatis. _pluk. alm._ . _t._ . _f._ . _raii. suppl._ . _n._ . [illustration: no. ] most of the numerous species of this genus flower about michaelmas, hence their vulgar name of _michaelmas-daisy_; a name exceptionable not only on account of its length, but from its being a compound word. _aster_, though a latin term, is now so generally received, that we shall make no apology for adopting it. we are indebted to north-america for most of our asters, but the present species, which is omitted by _miller_, and is rather a scarce plant in this country, though not of modern introduction, being figured by _plukenet_ and described by _ray_, is a native of africa, and, like a few others, requires in the winter the shelter of a greenhouse. it is particularly distinguished by having very narrow leaves with short bristles on them, and by its blossoms drooping before they open. it is a perennial, flowers in september and october, and may be propagated by slips or cuttings. the plant from whence our drawing was made, came from messrs. _gordon_ and _thompson_'s nursery, mile-end. [ ] ~browallia elata. tall browallia.~ _class and order._ ~didynamia gymnospermia.~ _generic character._ _cal._ -dentatus. _cor._ limbus -fidus, æqualis, patens: umbilico clauso antheris , majoribus. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ browallia _elata_ pedunculis unifloris multiflorisque. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _sp. pl._ . _mill. dict._ [illustration: no. ] of this genus there are only two species, both natives of south-america, the _elata_, so called from its being a much taller plant than the _demissa_, is a very beautiful, and not uncommon stove or green-house plant; it is impossible, by any colours we have, to do justice to the brilliancy of its flowers. being an annual, it requires to be raised yearly from seed, which must be sown on a hot-bed in the spring, and the plants brought forward on another, otherwise they will not perfect their seeds in this country. some of these may be transplanted into the borders of the flower-garden which are warmly situated, where, if the season prove favourable, they will flower and ripen their seeds; but, for security's sake, it will be prudent to keep a few plants in the stove or green-house. as these plants have not been distinguished by any particular english name, miller very properly uses its latin one; a practice which should as much as possible be adhered to, where a genus is named in honour of a botanist of eminence. [ ] ~crepis barbata. bearded crepis, or purple-eyed succory-hawkweed.~ _class and order._ ~syngenesia polygamia Æqualis.~ _generic character._ _recept._ nudum. _cal._ calyculatus squamis deciduis. _pappus_ plumosus, stipitatus. _specific character and synonyms._ crepis _barbata_ involucris calyce longioribus: squamis setaceis sparsis. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . hieracium proliferum falcatum. _bauh. pin._ . hieracium calyce barbato. _col. ecphr._ . _p._ . _t._ . _f._ . hieracium boeticum medio nigro. _herm. parad. bat._ . _t._ . [illustration: no. ] grows spontaneously in the south of france, about montpelier; also, in spain, italy, sicily, and elsewhere in the south of europe: is one of the most common annuals cultivated in our gardens. it begins flowering in july, and continues to blossom till the frost sets in. no other care is necessary in the cultivation of this species than sowing the seeds in the spring, in little patches, on the borders where they are to remain, thinning them if they prove too numerous. miller calls this species _boetica_, and improperly describes the centre of the flower as black, as also does herman: in all the specimens we have seen, it has evidently been of a deep purple colour, or, as linnÆus expresses it, _atropurpurascens_. [ ] ~lilium bulbiferum. orange lily.~ _class and order._ ~hexandria monogynia.~ _generic character._ _cor._ -petala, campanulata: _linea_ longitudinali nectarifera. _caps._ valvulis pilo cancellato connexis. _specific character and synonyms._ lilium _bulbiferum_ foliis sparsis, corollis campanulatis erectis: intus scabris. _lin. syst. vegetab. p._ . _jacq. fl. austr. t._ . lilium purpureo-croceum majus. _bauh. pin._ . lilium aureum, the gold red lily. _park. parad. p._ . [illustration: no. ] "the common orange or red lily is as well known in the english gardens as the white lily, and has been as long cultivated here. this grows naturally in austria and some parts of italy. it multiplies very fast by offsets from the roots, and is now so common as almost to be rejected; however, in large gardens these should not be wanting, for they make a good appearance when in flower if they are properly disposed; of this sort there are the following varieties: the orange lily with double flowers, the orange lily with variegated leaves, the smaller orange lily. these varieties have been obtained by culture, and are preserved in the gardens of florists. they all flower in june and july, and their stalks decay in september, when the roots may be transplanted and their offsets taken off, which should be done once in two or three years, otherwise their branches will be too large, and the flower-stalks weak. this doth not put out new roots till towards spring, so that the roots may be transplanted any time after the stalks decay till november. it will thrive in any soil or situation, but will be strongest in a soft gentle loam, not too moist." _mill. dict._ bears the smoke of london better than many plants. varies with and without bulbs on the stalks. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _first volume_, are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ agrostemma coronaria. anemone _hepatica_. aster tenellus. browallia elata. cactus flagelliformis. convolvulus tricolor. coronilla glauca. crepis barbata. cyclamen _coum_. cynoglossum _omphalodes_. dianthus chinensis. dodecatheon _meadia_. erica herbacea. erythronium _dens canis_. geranium reichardi. geranium peltatum. helleborus hyemalis. helleborus niger. hemerocallis flava. jasminum officinale. iris persica. iris pumila. iris variegata. iris versicolor. lilium chalcedonicum. lilium bulbiferum. mesembryanthemum dolabriforme. narcissus minor. narcissus _jonquilla_. nigella damascena. passiflora coerulea. primula villosa. reseda odorata. rudbeckia purpurea. stapelia variegata. tropæolum majus. index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _first volume_, are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ aster bristly-leav'd. browallia tall. cereus creeping. cockle rose. coronilla sea-green. convolvulus small. crepis bearded. cyclamen round-leav'd. daffodil lesser. day-lily yellow. dodecatheon mead's. dog's-tooth. fennel-flower garden. fig-marigold hatchet-leav'd. geranium dwarf. geranium ivy-leav'd. heath herbaceous. hellebore black. hellebore winter. hepatica. jasmine common. indian-cress greater. jonquil common. iris dwarf. iris particoloured. iris persian. iris variegated. lily chalcedonian. lily orange. navel-wort blue. passion-flower common. pink china. primula mountain. reseda sweet-scented. rudbeckia purple. stapelia variegated. file made using scans of public domain works at the university of georgia.) 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. vii. "now let us range both far, and wide, "thro' all the gardens boasted pride. "here jasmines spread the silver flow'r, "to deck the wall or weave the bow'r, "the woodbines mix in am'rous play, "and breathe their fragrant lives away. "there rising myrtles form a shade; "there roses blush, and scent the glade; "the orange, with a vernal face, "wears ev'ry rich autumnal grace; "while the young blossoms here unfold, "there shines the fruit like pendant gold; "citrons their balmy sweets exhale, "and triumph in the distant gale. cotton. _london:_ printed by stephen couchman, for w. curtis, no , _st. george's-crescent_, black-friars-road; and sold by the principal booksellers in great-britain and ireland. mdccxciv. [ ] buchnera viscosa. clammy buchnera. _class and order._ didynamia angiospermia. _generic character._ _cal_. obsolete -dentatus. _corollæ_ limbus -fidus, æqualis: lobis cordatis. _caps_. -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ buchnera _viscosa_ foliis lineari-lanceolatis laxe dentatis subglutinosis, floribus pedunculatis, caule fruticoso. _l' herit. strip. nov. tom. . tab. . ait. kew. v. . p. ._ _buchnera_ is a genus of plants established by linnÆus in honour of a. e. buchner, a german naturalist. of this genus, nine species are enumerated in the th edition of the _systema vegetabilium_, by professor murray. we learn from mr. aiton, that the present species (a native of the cape) was introduced to the royal garden at kew in . it cannot boast much beauty, yet as it occupies but little room, grows readily from cuttings, and flowers during most of the summer: it obtains a place in most greenhouses. [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] disandra prostrata. trailing disandra. _class and order._ heptandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ sub -partitus. _cor._ rotata, subseptem-partita. _caps._ -locularis, polysperma. _specific character and synonyms._ disandra prostrata. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. suppl. pl. p. . ._ _ait. kew, v. . p. ._ sibthorpia peregrina. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ the foliage of this plant greatly resembles that of ground ivy, and its branches trail on the ground somewhat in the same manner, extending to the length of several feet; but it is not on the ground that it is best seen, as its flowers are apt to be hid among the leaves: it appears most advantageously when growing in a pot, placed on a pedestal, or in some elevated situation, where its branches may hang carelessly down: thus treated, when fully blown, it becomes a most pleasing object. linnÆus, the son, in his _suppl. plant._ observes, that the _disandra_ varies extremely in the number of its stamina, as it does also in the divisions of its calyx, and corolla; in this respect;, indeed, we do not know its equal: fortunately for those systems of botany, which are formed from the number of certain parts of the fructification, few such inconstants exist. professor murray observes, that seven is the most prevalent number of its stamina, five the most natural. linnÆus describes it as a native of the east; mr. aiton informs us, that it was introduced here about the year , from madeira. it flowers during most of the summer months; in the winter it must be kept in the green-house; in the summer it will bear the open air, grows readily from cuttings, should be planted in rich earth, and plentifully watered in dry weather. [illustration: _no _] [ ] michauxia campanuloides. rough-leav'd michauxia. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus. _cor._ rotata, -partita. _nectarium_ -valve, staminiferum. _caps._ -locularis, polysperma. _l' heritier monogr._ _specific character and synonyms._ michauxia campanuloides. _l' heritier monogr._ the celebrated author of the _hortus kewensis_ informs us, that the plant here figured is a native of the levant, and was introduced to this country in the year , by mons. l'heritier, who first gave it the name of _michauxia_, and wrote a monographia, or particular treatise on it. we have before observed, that when a plant has been named in honour of any particular person, that name must be retained in all countries, however uncouth its pronunciation may be, and there are few of our readers but what will think the present name sufficiently so. last summer , in the month of july, we had the pleasure to see a fine plant of this sort, fully blown, in the collection of messrs. grimwood and co. kensington; though in a small pot, it grew nearly to the height of six feet, was branched almost to the bottom, and loaded with a profusion of blossoms, such as are represented on the plate, and which bore some distant resemblance to those of a passion-flower. it is a biennial green-house plant, and, of course, only to be raised from seeds, which we are sorry to find have not ripened in this country, though they are said to do so in france. [ ] erica cerinthoides. honeywort-flower'd heath. _class and order._ octandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _cor._ -fida. _filamenta_ receptaculo inferta. _antheræ_ bifidæ. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ erica _cerinthoides_ antheris muticis inclusis, corollis clavatis grossis, stigmate incluso cruciato, foliis quaternis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ the _erica cerinthoides_ is one of the most magnificent and shewy of the genus, grows wild at the cape, from whence it was introduced to the royal garden at kew, by mr. masson, in ; it is the more valuable, as it flowers during most of the year: its blossoms are found to vary from a deep to a very pale red. it is a hardy green-house plant, and usually propagated by cuttings. to have this beautiful tribe of plants in perfection, they must be kept in pots proportioned to their size, filled with that kind of bog earth in which our british heaths grow spontaneously, finely sifted; to which it may be necessary sometimes to add a third part of the mould of rotten leaves, or choice loam, partaking more of a clayey than a sandy nature: we must be careful not to let them suffer for want of water in dry hot weather, as such an omission, even for one day, may be fatal; and to give them as much air as possible at all times when the weather is mild. [illustration: _no _] [ ] ipomoea coccinea. scarlet ipomoea. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ infundibuliformis, _stigma_ capitato-globosum, _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ ipomoea _coccinea_ foliis cordatis acuminatis basi angulatis, pedunculis multifloris. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ convolvulus coccineus, folio anguloso, _plum. amer. . t. ._ quamolcit americana, folio hederæ, flore coccineo. _comm. rar. . t. ._ the _ipomoea_ is very nearly related to the _convolvulus_, one principal difference consists in the different form of its stigma, which is globular, like that of the primrose; whereas in the convolvulus it is divided into two substances, as is obviously shewn in the _convolvulus arvensis_ and _sepium_, but all the plants of these two genera have not this character marked with equal strength. the present species is a twining plant, will run up a stick to the height of six, eight, or ten feet, and produce an abundance of flowers, of a rich orange colour tending to scarlet, which renders it one of the most ornamental annuals cultivated in our gardens, into which it is not as yet generally introduced, though cultivated by mr. miller, in . mr. miller describes it as a native of carolina, and the bahama islands, mr. aiton of the west-indies; it flowers from june to september. it is cultivated in the same manner, and with the same ease as other annuals; three seeds may be set in the ground, about four inches asunder, in the form of a triangle; when the seedlings are sufficiently advanced, a tall stick is to be thrust down in the centre betwixt the three plants, for them to twine around: the warmer and more sheltered the situation, and the richer the soil in which they are placed, the taller the plants will grow; by raising them on a hot bed, you may anticipate their natural time of flowering, and be more certain of obtaining good seed. [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] struthiola erecta. smooth struthiola. _class and order._ tetrandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ nulla. _cal._ tubulosus, ore glandulis . _bacca_ exsucca, polysperma. _linn. mant. p. . syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _specific character and synonyms._ struthiola _erecta_ glabra. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ passerina _dodecandra_. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ _amæn. acad. v. . p. ._ passerina filiformis. _mill. dict. ed. . to._ passerina. _burm. afric. t. . f. ._ the plant here represented appears to have been first described and figured by burman, in his _pl. afric._ under the name of _passerina_: linnÆus introduced it in the d edition of his _sp. pl._ by the title of _passerina dodecandra_; discovering afterwards that it had in reality only four stamina, and that the other eight substances, mistaken for such, were so many glandular nectaria, he made in his _mantiss. plant._ a new genus of it, by the name of _struthiola_, and assigned it the trivial name of _erecta_; in the abbreviated generic description given of it by prof. murray, an alteration is made in this generic character, and what before was considered as corolla, is here regarded as calyx; no reason is assigned for this alteration, and we are at a loss to account for the propriety of it. mr. miller, who cultivated this plant in , describes it in his dictionary, and observes very justly, that though its branches when young are erect, when loaded with blossoms they incline to a horizontal position; hence the term _erecta_ becomes an improper one, and should be changed for one more expressive. this species of struthiola is a very common shrub in our greenhouses, will grow to the height of five or six feet, and, though not so ornamental as some other plants, has the merit of flowering during most of the year, and often in the depth of winter. is readily increased by cuttings. [ ] lychnis coronata. chinese lychnis. _class and order._ decandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus, oblongus, lævis. _petala_ , unguiculata: _limbo_ sub-bifido. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ lychnis _coronata_ glabra, floribus axillaribus terminalibusque solitariis, petalis laciniatis. _thunb. japon. p. ._ _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ lychnis _grandiflora_ floribus axillaribus terminalibusque folitariis, petalis inæqualiter crenatis. _jacq. collect. v. . p. . icon. v. ._ japonice sen sjun ra, vulgo ganpi. _kempf. amæn. exot. fasc. v. p. ._ the rich and elegant blossoms of this chinese or japanese beauty, possess a flatness and stiffness, which gives them an artificial air, to which their colour, which is exactly that of common red lead, may perhaps somewhat contribute; they make their appearance towards the close of the summer, and as many (when the plant is in health and vigour) are produced on the same stem, they continue a considerable time in bloom; its root is perennial, and its stem, which rises to the height of about two feet, herbaceous. we remember to have seen this plant in the collection of the late dr. fothergill at upton, about the year , by whom it was first introduced to this country: kÆmpfer, the celebrated dutch traveller, who saw it growing in japan, gives a very short description of it in his _amænitates exoticæ_, and mentions a variety of it with white flowers: professor thunberg, who saw it also in its wild state, as well as in the gardens of that country, confines himself to describing the plant more at large: professor jacquin, in his _icones_, has given an admirable figure of it. persons here differ in their mode of cultivating this species of lychnis, some treating it as a stove others as a greenhouse and others as a hardy herbaceous plant; the latter mode is to be preferred, provided care be taken to plant it in a sheltered situation, and to guard it against the inclemency of particular seasons; it is propagated by parting its roots, also by slips, and cuttings, but in this business more than ordinary care is required to be successful. [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] phylica ericoides. heath-leav'd phylica. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _perianthium_ -partitum, turbinatum. _petala_ . _squamæ_ , stamina munientes. _caps._ tricocca, infera. _specific character and synonyms._ phylica _ericoides_ foliis linearibus verticillatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ alaternoides africana ericæ foliis, floribus albicantibus et muscosis. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ mr. miller, who cultivated this plant in , informs us, that it grows wild about lisbon, where it covers extensive tracts of ground, in the same manner as the heath does in this country; it seldom rises above the height of three feet, and is much disposed to become bushy; its flowers, which are slightly odoriferous, begin to appear in autumn, and continue during the winter and spring; they grow in little heads on the summits of the branches: their whiteness, contrasted with the dark colour of the foliage, forms a pleasing appearance, and entitles this plant, though a common and long-established inhabitant of the greenhouse, to a place with such as may boast more brilliancy of colour. its leaves, which thickly cover the stalks, do not well accord with linnÆus's specific description. it is usually propagated by cuttings, which strike readily. [illustration: _no _] [ ] lobelia surinamensis. shrubby lobelia. _class and order._ syngenesia monogamia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _caps._ infera, sive -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ lobelia _surinamensis_ caule suffruticoso, foliis oblongis glabris serratis, floribus axillaribus pedunculatis. _ait. kew. v. . p. . sp. pl. ._ lobelia _lævigata_ foliis ellipticis serratis glabris, capsulis grossis globosis, calycibus subulatis, corollis glaberrimis. _linn. suppl. p. ._ the lobelia surinamensis, a plant newly introduced here, is minutely described in the _suppl. pl._ of the younger linnÆus, under the name of _lævigata_, apparently from the smoothness of its flowers: in the year , mr. alexander anderson sent this plant to the royal garden at kew, from the west-indies, where it grows spontaneously, as well as at surinam; and mr. aiton has inserted it at the end of the _hort. kew._ assigning to it a new specific description, and a new trivial name: our drawing was made from a plant which flowered in the stove of messrs. grimwood and co. kensington, to whom it was imparted by richard molesworth, esq. of peckham, a gentleman liberal in his communications, and anxious to promote the cause of botany. this species of lobelia is a stove plant, having a some-*what shrubby stalk, growing to the height of several feet; its blossoms are very large, of a pale red colour, and its antheræ, which might be mistaken for the stigma, unusually hairy. it begins to flower in january and february, and continues to blossom during most of the summer. is increased by cuttings. [ ] arabis alpina. alpine wall-cress. _class and order._ tetradynamia siliquosa. _generic character._ _glandulæ_ nectariferæ , singulæ intra calycis foliola, squamæ instar reflexæ. _specific character and synonyms._ arabis _alpina_ foliis amplexicaulibus dentatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. . murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. vol. . p. ._ _mill. dict. ed. . to._ draba alba siliquosa repens. _bauh. pin. p. ._ an early-blowing plant, if it has no great pretensions to beauty, brings with it a powerful recommendation, more especially if its flowers are not of the more common hue; such are the claims which the present plant has to a place in this work: it is perennial, hardy, herbaceous, of low growth, rarely exceeding a foot in height, producing its white blossoms in april and may: its size renders it a suitable plant for the border of a small garden, or for the covering of rock-work. it is readily increased by parting its roots in autumn. grows spontaneously on the alps of switzerland, austria, and lapland, and was cultivated (_vid. hort. kew_) in the botanic garden at oxford, in . [illustration: _no _] [ ] helianthus multiflorus. many-flowered or perennial sun-flower. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia frustranea. _generic character._ _recept._ paleaceum, planum. _pappus_ -phyllus. _cal._ imbricatus, subsquarrosus. _specific character and synonyms._ helianthus _multiflorus_ foliis inferioribus cordatis trinervatis superioribus ovatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ chrysanthemum americanum majus perenne, floris folis foliis et floribus. _moris. hist. . p. ._ the helianthus multiflorus, a native of north-america, is a hardy perennial herbaceous plant, arising usually to the height of five or six feet, and producing a great number of large yellow shewy blossoms, which renders it a suitable plant to ornament the shrubbery or garden of large extent; the variety with double flowers is the one most commonly cultivated, and this we find in almost every garden: it flowers from july to september, and is propagated by parting its roots in autumn. this is a hardy plant, of ready growth, will bear the smoke of london better than many others; if it continues in the same spot for a great number of years, the blossoms are apt to become single. the single sort, according to morison, was introduced before by lord lemster. _ait. kew._ [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] bellis perennis _var._ major flore pleno. great double daisy. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _recept._ nudum, conicum. _pappus_ nullus. _cal._ hemisphæricus: squamis æqualibus. _sem._ subovata. _specific character and synonyms._ bellis _perennis_ scapo nudo. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ bellis hortensis flore pleno. _bauh. pin. p. ._ bellis minor hortensis flore pleno. double garden daisy. _park. parad. p. ._ the daisy, a plant common to europe, in its wild state delights in open situations, which are moderately moist, its root is perennial, and increases greatly; the usual colour of its flowers is white, the florets are sometimes tipt with red, but more frequently red on the under side. when double, the daisy becomes much more ornamental, and in this state many varieties of it have long been cultivated, very generally in gardens; those principally found in our nurseries are the large double daisy with florets of a deep red colour on the under side, figured on the plate; the flowers of this sort will sometimes expand nearly to the size of a half-crown piece, and are the most shewy of any that we have seen; the foliage of this sort is also proportionably larger. the pale red double daisy, more delicate in its appearance, but smaller, varying in its shades of colour. the pure white double daisy. the deep red double daisy; in this the petals are usually tubular or quilled. besides these, there are the coxcomb double daisy, both red and white, in which the flowering stem rises up preternaturally flattened, and carries on its summit a long-extended ridge of flowers, frequently of an enormous size; this monstrous production seems to arise from the coalescence of two or more flowering stems: and as it is of accidental origin, so we find that a daisy which has been a coxcomb one year, shall lose that appearance entirely the next, and out of a long edging of daisies growing luxuriantly, new ones shall here and there arise; we cannot therefore depend upon the constancy of this variety. another singular variety is the proliferous or hen and chicken daisy, in which a number of flowers standing on short footstalks spring circularly out of the main flower; as this appearance for the most part arises from great luxuriance[a], this sort of daisy is also found occasionally to lose its prolific character: in my garden at lambeth-marsh, i once had a daisy growing in an edging among a number of others, which not only became proliferous, or of the hen and chicken kind, but its stalk also, or scapus, became branched, producing six or seven flowering-stems, with flowers at their extremities of the size of the common daisy; thus we find that the most permanent characters of plants are liable to be altered, and even destroyed, by accident, or culture. daisies appear to most advantage planted as an edging to a border, not that they are superior, or even equal to box for the great purposes of an edging; but in the spring of the year they enliven the border more, and add much to the general gaiety of the garden: in the formation of these, we shall give our readers some practical instructions, which will enable them to succeed much better than by following the mode commonly practised. the last week in september, or the first in october, take up your daisy roots, and divide them into single plants; your border being dug, put down your line, and make a shallow trench along it as for the planting of box; in this trench place your plants three inches apart, spreading out their fibres in the trench, and pressing the earth closely round them; in this way they will soon become rooted, and firmly fixed in the ground before the approach of frost; should this business be deferred later, as it frequently is, and the daisies be planted with a dibber in the usual way, in all probability the worms will draw out every plant before spring, especially if the earth has been rendered loose by repeated frosts. edgings of this kind require to be replanted in the same way every autumn, as the plants, if they grow well, spread too wide; if the summer prove dry, many of the roots fail, and if they remain undisturbed in the same spot, they will degenerate and become single, notwithstanding mr. miller informs us, that he never observed them to do so. [footnote a: we once saw a specimen of a hen and chicken daisy gathered on a hill in sussex, much inferior in size to the daisy as it usually grows.] [ ] primula acaulis fl. pleno carneo. double lilac primrose. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _involucr._ umbellulæ. _corollæ_ tubus cylindricus ore patulo. _specific character and synonyms._ primula _acaulis_ foliis rugosis dentatis, subtus hirsutis; scapis unifloris. _jacq. misc. austr. p. ._ _curt. flor. lond. fasc. ._ the primrose in its wild single state is frequently introduced into shrubberies and plantations, for the purpose of enlivening them in the spring months; in its double state it has been deemed peculiarly worthy of cultivation by the curious in flowers. of the _double yellow_ primrose, which seems to have been the first known, we meet with a figure in the _hort. eyst._ and in the _parad. terrestr._ of parkinson, since those publications many new and perfectly double varieties have been introduced, as the _double white_, rarely met with. the _double deep red or velvet_, the blossoms of this will sometimes come single. the _double pink or lilac_, here figured, a plant much admired. the _double crimson_, a new variety, which, in brilliancy of colour, far surpasses all the others. the _red_, commonly called the _scotch primrose_, less ornamental than any of the preceding: besides these, we have observed a variety with blossoms of a dingy yellow inclining to red, not worth cultivating. these several varieties of primrose are admirably adapted to the decoration of the shrubbery, plantations, or even the north side of rock-work; they delight to grow in a stiff loam, a moist and somewhat shady situation, so planted they thrive admirably, the double succeeding almost as well as the single; every second or third year their roots should be divided, which may be done either in spring or autumn, they may be cultivated also in pots for the convenience of removing them when in blossom. [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] plumbago rosea. rose-coloured leadwort. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ infundibuliformis: _stamina_ squamis basin corollæ claudentibus inserta. _stigma_ -fidum. _sem._ . oblongum tunicatum. _specific character and synonyms._ plumbago _rosea_ foliis petiolatis ovatis glabris, subdenticulatis caule geniculis gibbosis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. . sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ plumbago zeylanica, folio splendento ocymastri, flore rubro. _burm. zeyl. ._ radix vesicatoria. _rumph. amboin. . p. . t. ._ the _plumbago rosea_, one of the most ornamental plants which we keep in our stoves, is a native of india, from whence it was introduced to this country by the late dr. fothergill, in the year , posterior to the publication of the last edition of mr. miller's dictionary. it is a shrubby plant, which frequently grows to the height of four or five feet, and is perpetually putting forth flowering spikes; these continue a long while in blossom, and hence, with proper management, it may be had to flower during most of the year, a very desirable circumstance in a plant of such singular beauty. the usual mode of increasing it is by cuttings, which strike freely. its parts of fructification, whether we regard their colour or structure, are highly deserving of notice. [illustration: _no _] [ ] fumaria solida. solid-rooted fumitory. _class and order._ diadelphia pentandria. _generic character._ _cal._ diphyllus. _cor._ ringens. _filam._ membranacea, singula _antheris_ . _specific character and synonyms._ fumaria _solida_, caule simplici, bracteis brevioribus multifidis, radice solida. _mill. dict. ed. . to._ fumaria _bulbosa_, caule simplici, bracteis longitudine florum. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. . sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ fumaria _bulbosa_ radice non cava major. _bauh. pin. p. ._ small hollow roote. _park parad. p. . . f. ._ by the old botanists this species of _fumaria_, whose root is constantly solid, was considered as a distinct species from another similar to it of larger growth, whose root is as constantly hollow, and which will be figured in the next number of this work; caspar bauhine in particular, in his _pinax_, describes the characters in which they differ: linnÆus nevertheless makes them varieties of each other, uniting them under the name of _bulbosa_; from this union we have taken the liberty to dissent, choosing rather to follow miller, who regards them as distinct, and the botanists preceding him. the _fumaria solida_, a very old inhabitant of our gardens, is a plant of very humble growth, rarely exceeding three or four inches in height, and producing its spike of purple flowers in april, which continue in blossom about a fortnight. in point of colour the flowers of this plant are not subject to much variation, we possess a variety of it with blossoms of a much brighter colour than those of the common sort, and which, on that account, is much more worthy of cultivation. as a spring plant, it deserves a place in the garden; in point of ornament, it is applicable to the same purposes as the primrose, will grow in almost any soil or situation, requires to be taken up in the autumn, and fresh-planted every two or three years; if suffered to remain in the same spot for a great length of time, it becomes smaller, produces few or no flowers, and is so altered in its appearance, as to look like another species. [illustration: _no _] [ ] fumaria cava. hollow-rooted fumitory. _class and order._ diadelphia hexandria. _generic character._ _cal_. diphyllus. _cor._ ringens. _filamenta_ membranacea singula _antheris_ . _specific character and synonyms._ fumaria _cava_, caule simplici, bracteis longitudine florum integris, radice cava. fumaria _bulbosa_ radice cava major. _bauh. pin. p. ._ radix _cava_ major. _park. parad. p. ._ the hollow-rooted fumitory differs from the _solida_, already figured, and that constantly, in a variety of particulars; its root is always, as far as we have observed, hollow, appearing sometimes, as parkinson informs us, "like a shell, every part of which when broken will grow;" frequently acquiring a very great size; the plant itself usually grows to twice the height of the _solida_, bearing foliage and flowers proportionably large; its bracteæ or floral leaves, which in the _solida_ assume a kind of finger'd appearance from the manner in which they are divided, in this are entire or but slightly indented; it flowers also about three weeks earlier. of the _fumaria cava_ there are three principal varieties in point of colour, viz. the white, the blush-coloured, and the purple, which, though plentiful in our gardens formerly, are now rarely met with; mr. chappelow informs me, that he found them all this spring, in an old plantation at teddington, where they produced the most pleasing effect. it begins to flower in march and continues in bloom three weeks or a month, rarely produces any seed, so that it is to be propagated only by dividing its roots; it is a hardy herbaceous plant, a native of germany, and will grow in almost any soil provided it be planted in a shady situation. [ ] chironia baccifera. berry-bearing chironia. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ rotata. _pistillum_ declinatum. _stamina_ tubo corollæ infidentia. _antheræ_ demum spirales. _peric._ -loculare. _specific character and synonyms._ chironia _baccifera_ frutescens baccifera. _linn. syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ centaurium minus arborescens pulpiferum. _comm. rar. . t. ._ centaurium minus africanum arborescens angustifolium. _old. afr. ._ the _chironia baccifera_, a native of africa, is a plant not unfrequent in our greenhouses; its flowers are curious in their structure, of a lively hue, and suceeded by round seed-vessels, which, when ripe, have the appearance of red berries, whence its name of _baccata_; if we carefully examine these seed-vessels, we shall find that they are not properly berries, for on cutting them transversly, they are found to be hollow and to be divided into two cells (_vid. pl._) in which are contained small black seeds, whose surface is beautifully reticulated with impressed dots; the sides of the seed-vessel are fleshy, and do not appear to divide or split in any regular manner for the discharge of the seed; they must however be regarded rather as capsules than berries: in the genus _hypericum_, the seed-vessels are found to vary in a somewhat similar manner; in this part of the fructification there is not, therefore, that deviation which has been supposed, but there is a very great one in the antheræ, which do not ultimately become spiral. this plant, which grows to the height of a foot and a half or two feet, becomes very bushy, rather too much so in point of ornament, and produces both flowers, and fruit, during most of the summer. though regarded as a greenhouse plant, it does not ripen its seeds well unless kept in the stove; is with difficulty raised from cuttings, from seeds readily, by which it requires to be frequently renovated. was cultivated by mr. miller in . _ait. kew._ [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] linum arboreum. tree flax. _class and order._ pentandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ . _caps._ -valvis, -locularis. _sem._ solitaria. _specific character and synonyms._ linum _arboreum_ foliis cuneiformibus, caulibus arborescentibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ linum _arboreum_. _alp. exot. . t. ._ contrary to what we observe in most of the plants of this genus, the present very rare and no less beautiful species of flax forms (if not a tree, as its name imports) a shrub of the height of several feet, which begins to flower in the green-house in march, and continues to be more or less covered with blossoms to the close of the summer. it is a native of the levant, from whence it was introduced to this country in the year , with a profusion of other vegetables, by john sibthorp, m. d. the present celebrated professor of botany in the university of oxford; who, for the laudable purpose of promoting the science in which he is so eminent, and of enriching the oxford collection, already rendered most respectable by his unwearied labours, meditates, as we are informed, a second journey into greece. hitherto this plant has produced no seeds in this country, and it is with difficulty increased by cuttings. our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered in the spring with messrs. grimwood and co. kensington. [ ] trollius asiaticus. asiatic globe-flower. _class and order._ polyandria polygynia. _generic character._ _cal._ . _petala_ circiter . _capsulæ_ plurimæ, ovatæ, polyspermæ. _specific character and synonyms._ trollius _asiaticus_ corolla patula, nectariis staminibus longioribus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ helleborus aconiti folio, flore globoso croceo. _amm. ruth. ._ of this genus, two species only have as yet been discovered, the one a native of great-britain, the other here figured the produce of siberia and cappadocia, both hardy, perennial, herbaceous plants; the latter, more particularly, from the bright orange colour of its flowers, held in high estimation as an ornamental plant, and flowering in may and june. this species, as yet rare in this country, is usually propagated by parting its roots in autumn; it may also be raised from seeds, which ripen frequently on strong healthy plants: to succeed in its cultivation, we should plant it in a composition of loam and bog earth, and place it in a north border, taking care that it does not suffer from want of watering in dry summers. was cultivated by mr. miller, in . _ait. kew._ [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] verbascum myconi. borage-leav'd mullein. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ rotata, subinæqualis. _caps._ -locularis -valvis. _specific character and synonyms._ verbascum _myconi_ foliis lanatis radicalibus, scapo nudo. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. p. ._ cortusa foliis ovatis sessilibus. _linn. hort. cliff. ._ sanicula alpina, foliis boraginis villosa. _bauh. pin. ._ auricula _ursi_ myconi. _dalech. hist. ._ auricula _ursi_ flore coeruleo folio boraginis. blew beares eares with borage leaves. _park. parad. p. . . f. ._ most of the plants of this genus are tall and shewy; the one here figured is however, of very humble growth, its flowering stem in the cultivated plant rarely exceeding six inches in height; its flowers are proportionably large, of a blueish purple colour, and highly ornamental; they make their appearance in may, and continue successively in blossom for several months, hence it becomes a desirable plant to cultivate, especially for the decorating of rock-work; it is very hardy, requires a north aspect in the summer, and to be carefully watered in dry weather; will grow in almost any soil, and is usually propagated by planting its roots in autumn. grows spontaneously on the pyrenean alps; in its wild state it is more dwarfish than our figure represents it, its foliage more woolly, and enriched with various tints, which the plant loses on cultivation; such specimens i saw in the possession of dr. r. halifax, of albemarle-street, who gathered it on its native alps. was cultivated by mr. miller, in , _ait. kew._ and most probably long before that period by parkinson, who lives a figure and accurate description of it in his _parad. terrestris_. [ ] oxalic carina. goat's-foot wood sorrel. _class and order._ decandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ unibus connect. _caps._ anglos discerns, -gina. _specific character and synonyms._ oxalis _carina_ scapis unbeliefs, foliis ternaries glabris, floribus erects. _thunb. oxalic, n. ._ _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ oxalis _peas capra_ scapo embellisher, foliis ternaries sub bipartite apiece subtus callouses. _linn. sp. pl. ed. . p. ._ oxalis bulbosa pentacle et hexagonal, floribus margins lutes et copiosis. _burm. afr. . t. . et t. . f. ._ the cape of good-hope, that most fertile source of curious and beautiful plants, affords numerous species of wood sorrel, and, among others, the present one, which is distinguished for the largeness of its blossoms; they are of a fine yellow colour, and, when expanded by the influence of the sun, make a very conspicuous figure in the green-house; it begins to flower early in april, and continues about two months in bloom, many flowering stems arising from the same root. this species is of free growth, and increases plentifully by bulbs, which are produced on the crown of the root, as well as on its fibres; these, when the plant decays, should be taken up, and two or three of the largest planted in the middle of a pot filled with a mixture of bog earth and rotten leaves, well incorporated; towards winter, the pots mould be placed in the green-house, or in a frame so secured as perfectly to keep out frost. was cultivated by mr. miller, in . _ait. kew._ [illustration: _no _] [ ] senecio elegans. purple groundsel, or ragwort. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superflua. _generic character._ _recept._ nudum. _pappus_ simplex. _cal._ cylindricus, calyculatus. _squamis_ apice sphacelatis. _specific character and synonyms._ senecio _elegans_ corollis radiants, foliis pontiffs æqualibus pianissimos margin increased recurved. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ senecio _elegans_ corollis radiants, foliis polos-viscid is pontiffs æqualibus pianissimos, roach inferno angsts, calycibus hurts. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ aster africans annuus senecionis foliis. _comm. hort. . p. . t. ._ linnÆus has given to this charming annual the name of _elegans_, on account of the great beauty of its flowers, the florets of the radius being of a most brilliant purple, and those of the disk bright yellow; colours regarded as peculiar to this plant, till the _sen. venustus_ described in the _hort. kew._ was discovered and introduced here; it is a native of the cape and other parts of africa, grows usually to the height of a foot and a half, or two feet; flowers from june to august, grows readily, requiring the same treatment as other annuals of the more tender kind; seedling plants raised in the autumn in pots, and kept in the green-house or under a frame during winter, will, of course, flower much earlier than plants produced in the spring. within these few years, a variety of this senecio with perfectly double flowers, equally brilliant as those of the single kind, has been introduced, and is here figured; this, from its superior beauty, is now cultivated, in preference to the single; there is double variety of it also with white flowers which being less shewy is not so much esteemed; both of these are raised, and that readily, from cuttings, which as soon as well rooted may be planted out in the open borders, where they will be highly ornamental during most of the summer; as young plants are most desirable, we should take care to have a constant succession from cuttings regularly put in, and to preserve pots of such in particular, in the green-house during winter, for early blowing the ensuing summer. the single sort was cultivated here, by charles dubois, esq. in the year . _ait. kew._ [illustration: _no _] [ ] amaryllis atamasco. atamasco lily. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ hexapetaloidea, irregularis. _filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta, declinata, inæqualia proportione vel directione. _linn. fil._ _specific character and synonyms._ amaryllis _atamasco_ spatha bifida acuta, flore pedicellato, corolla campanulata subæquali erecta basi breve tubulosa, staminibus declinatis æqualibus. _linn. fil._ _ait. kew. p. ._ amaryllis _atamasco_ spatha uniflora, corolla æquali, pistillo declinato. _linn. spec. pl. ed . p. ._ lilio-narcissus indicus pumilus monanthus albus foliis angustissimis atamasco dictus. _moris. hist. . p. . t. ._ lilio-narcissus virginiensis. _catesb. carol. . p. . t. ._ lilio-narcissus liliflorus carolinianus flore albo singulari cum rubedine diluto. _pluk. alm. . t. . f. ._ the _amaryllis atamasco_ is a native of virginia and carolina, in which countries it grows very plentifully in the fields and woods, where it makes a beautiful appearance when it is in flower, which is in the spring. the flowers of this sort are produced singly, and at their first appearance have a fine carnation colour on their outside, but this fades away to a pale or almost white before the flowers decay. this plant is so hardy as to thrive in the open air in england, provided the roots are planted[b] in a warm situation and on a dry soil; it may be propagated by offsets from the roots, which they put out pretty plentifully, especially if they are not transplanted oftner than once in three years. _miller's dict._ it is usual with the nurserymen about london to keep this plant in the greenhouse, where it flowers about the end of april. mr. charles hatton cultivated here in , _ait. kew._ on the authority of morison. [footnote b: clayton in _gronov. fl. virg._ says maddidis gaudet locis, it delights to grow in wet places.] [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] pelargonium tricolor. three-coloured crane's-bill. _class and order._ monadelphia heptandria. _generic character._ _cal._ -partitus: lacinia suprema desinente in tubulum capillarem, nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _cor._ -petala, irregularis. _filamenta_ , inæqualia: quorum (raro ) castrata, fructus -coccus, rostratus: rostra spiralia, introrsum barbata. _l'herit. geran._ _specific character and synonyms._ pelargonium _tricolor_ petalis duobus superioribus punctis prominulis lucidis ad basin scabris. the _pelargonium tricolor_, a species perfectly new, in point of beauty is thought to eclipse all that have hitherto been introduced to this country; its blossoms are certainly the most shewy, in a collection of plants they are the first to attract the eye, the two uppermost petals are of a beautiful red, having their bases nearly black, the three lowermost are white, hence its name of _tricolor_: this peculiarity of colour joined to their form, has induced some to fancy a similarity betwixt its flowers and those of the heartsease: to the blossoms of the _lathyrus articulatus_ in point of colour, they bear also a distant resemblance. in our eagerness to lay before the public this striking novelty, we may possibly omit some circumstances relative to its history and treatment, which future experience may develope, they will not, however, we trust be very material; the plants which we have had an opportunity of seeing have scarcely exceeded a foot in height, growing up with a shrubby stem, and expanding widely into numerous flowering branches, unusually disposed to produce flowers in a constant succession, so that during most of the summer the plant is loaded with a profusion of bloom; these flowers for the most part go off without being followed by any seed, and when any seed is produced, of which we have seen a few instances, there is generally one perfect and four abortive, frequently all of them fail; the blossoms vary in the number of their stamina, four are most usually apparent, three superior, and that very constantly, one inferior and often two, we have never observed seven, the proper number of fertile stamina in a _pelargonium_: the whole plant is covered with short white hairs which give to the foliage a somewhat silvery hue. instances have occurred in which one or more of the white petals have had a stripe of red in them, and we have observed that the dark colour at the base of the uppermost petals is, in a certain degree, soluble in water, for on the plants being watered the white petals have here and there become stained by the colouring matter proceeding from it, and which, in a diluted state, is of a purplish tint: as the flowers decay, this apparently black part, distinguished by the roughness of its surface, arising from prominent lucid points, and which essentially distinguish the species, is sometimes perforated with numerous small holes. mr. masson, who is employed to collect plants at the cape, for the royal garden at kew, and in which employment he so honourably acquits himself, as the _hortus kewensis_ bears ample testimony, sent hither seeds of this _pelargonium_, which flowered in that matchless collection in the year ; a few plants of it have also been raised from cape seeds, by mr. williams, nurseryman, at hammersmith, some of which flowered this spring with mr. colvill, nurseryman, kings-road. it must be several years before the lovers of plants can be generally gratified with the possession of this plant, most of its branches running out speedily into flowering stalks, form few proper for cuttings, which are struck with difficulty, and perfect seeds are sparingly produced. it appears to be equally hardy as most others of the same tribe, and to require a similar treatment. [ ] fagonia cretica. cretian fagonia. _class and order._ decandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -phyllus. _petala_ , cordata. _caps._ -locularis, -valvisi, loculis -spermis. _specific character and synonyms._ fagonia _cretica_ spinosa, foliolis lanceolatis planis lævibus. _linn. sp. pl. ed . p. ._ _mant. p. ._ _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ trifolium spinosum creticum. _clus. hist. . p. . f._ _bauh. pin. p. ._ fagonia cretica spinosa. _tourn. inst. p. ._ clusius is the first author who has described and figured this plant, he is very minute in his description of it, noticing the exact number of its stamina; it is the more surprising, therefore, that he should have so little idea of generic character, as to rank it with the trefoils merely from the form of its leaves: tournefort, born to illustrate the genera of plants, named it _fagonia_ in honour of his friend and patron, mons. fagon, privy counsellor and consulting physician to lewis xiv. this species is a native of the island of candia, and was cultivated here by mr. miller, in ; it is an annual, and as it does not perfect its seeds with us in the open air, unless in very favourable seasons, it is usually treated as a green-house plant, its seeds should be sown in the autumn, as it thereby flowers earlier, and ripe seeds are with more certainty obtained. it blossoms from june to august. the plant from which our drawing was made, flowered this season in the very rich collection of messrs. lee and kennedy, hammersmith. its branches are usually procumbent, about a foot in length, and require, if the plant be kept in a pot, to be tied up to a stick. [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] veronica decussata. cross-leav'd speedwell. _class and order._ diandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ limbo -partito: lacinia infima angustiore. _caps._ -locularis apice emarginata. _specific character and synonyms._ veronica _decussata_ spicis terminalibus paniculatis, foliis oblongis integerrimis lævigatis coriaceis, caule fruticoso. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ veronica _decussata_ floribus racemosis axillaribus, foliis ovalibus decussatis integerrimis. _moench. weissenstein. p. ._ _linn. syst. nat. tom. . ed. ._ _gmel. p. ._ the plant here represented, is a native of falkland's island, and was introduced to this country by dr. fothergill, about the year ; if permitted to grow, it will become a bushy shrub of a considerable size: it has been chiefly admired for the unusual and regular growth of its leaves, which are ever-green, and grow thickly on the branches, cross-wise, affording an excellent example of the _folia decussata_; but it is entitled to our admiration on another account, its blossoms have a most delicious fragrance (similar to that of the _olea fragrans_) not mentioned by authors, and we believe scarcely known, having never heard it spoken of by those who have cultivated the plant; its flowers, which are white, are produced on the tops of the branches, which, however, they do not strictly terminate, but usually grow out just below the summits, on short racemi; the corolla is sometimes divided into five segments, and there is a greater equality in the segments than is usually found in the flowers of the veronica, the seed-vessel differs also in its form, being longer, more oval, and scarcely emarginate; these several deviations from the structure of the veronica genus, joined to the fragrance of the blossoms of this plant, induce us to think, that it has more affinity with the _olea_ above mentioned. cultivators complain, that it does not blow freely; without any peculiarity of treatment, it flowers with us every year, about the middle of june; it is one of the more hardy greenhouse plants, which is usually and readily increased by cuttings. [illustration: _no _] [ ] argemone mexicana. mexican argemone, or prickly poppy. _class and order._ polyandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -petala. _cal._ -phyllus. _caps._ semivalvis. _specific character and synonyms._ argemone _mexicana_ capsulis sexvalvibus, foliis spinosis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ papaver spinosum. _clus. hist. . p. ._ carduus chrysanthemus peruanus. the golden thistle of peru. _ger. herb. p. ._ this species of argemone is a native of mexico, and the west-indies, where we should suppose it to be a very common and noxious weed, from the name there given it of _fico del inferno_, or the _devil's fig_: it has long been introduced to this country; gerard, who cultivated it with success, ludicrously attributes its nickname to a different source: "the golden thistle of peru, called in the west-indies, fique del inferno, a friend of mine brought it unto me from an iland there, called saint johns iland, among other seedes, what reason the inhabitants there have to call it so it is unto me unknown, unless it be bicause of his fruite, which doth much resemble a figge in shape and bignesse, but so full of sharpe and venemous prickles, that whosoever had one of them in his throte, doubtless less it would send him packing either to heaven or to hell." miller mentions it as a plant of no great use or beauty, in the latter point of view clusius, who was one of the first to figure and describe it, and gerard, thought differently; its foliage is certainly beautiful, somewhat like that of the milk thistle, its blossoms are large and shewy, though not of long duration; like the celandine, the whole plant abounds with a yellow juice, which flows out when it is wounded; it differs from the poppy, to which it is nearly related, in having a calyx of three leaves. though a native of a very warm climate, it is cultivated with as much facility as any annual whatever; in the gardens about london, where it has once grown, and scattered its seeds, it comes up spontaneously every spring, flowers in july and august, and ripens its seeds in september; these are large, somewhat round, of a black colour, with a beautiful surface; a light rich soil and warm situation suits it best. [ ] ipomoea quamoclit. winged leav'd ipomoea. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _corolla_ infundibuliformis. _stigma_ capitato-globosum. _caps._ -locularis. _specific character and synonyms._ ipomoea _quamoclit_ foliis pinnatifidis linearibus, floribus subsolitariis. _linn, syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ quamoclit _s_ jasminum americanum. _clus. posth. ._ convolvulus tenuifolius americanus. the red bellflower of america. _park. parad. p. . ._ in a former number of this work, we gave a figure of the scarlet ipomoea, which every one possessing a garden, at least in the more southern parts of this kingdom, might gratify themselves with a sight of, it being hardy enough to flower and ripen its seeds in the open border; but the present species, an annual also, and equally beautiful, with greater singularity of foliage, can be brought to perfection only in the stove of hot-house. its seeds should be sown early in the spring, two or three in a small pot; when the plants are so far advanced as to shew a disposition to climb, they should be removed with a ball of earth into a middle-sized pot, in which one, two, or three sticks, four or five feet high should be stuck, for the plants to climb up; in the months of june and july they will flower, and ripe seed will be produced in september. this elegant species, a native of both the indies, was cultivated here by parkinson, who minutely describes it in his _parad terr._ when speaking of the seed, he observes, "with us it will seldom come to flower, because our cold nights and frosts come so soone, before it cannot have comfort enough of the sun to ripen it." [illustration: _no _] [ ] teucrium latifolium. broad-leav'd shrubby germander. _class and order._ didynamia gymnospermia. _generic character._ _cor._ labium superius (nullum) ultra basin -partitum, divaricatum ubi stamina. _specific character and synonyms._ teucrium _latifolium_ foliis integerrimis rhombeis acutis villosis subtus tomentosis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ teucrium fruticans bæticum ampliore folio. _dill. elth. . t. . f. ._ the _teucrium latifolium_ as well as the _fruticans_, which is nearly related to it, is a native of spain, and was cultivated in this country in , by the duchess of beaufort, _vid. ait. kew._ it is a shrubby plant, growing to the height of seven or eight feet (it may be trained to a much greater height) now common in our greenhouses, and sometimes planted in the open border in warm situations, where it will bear about the same degree of cold as the myrtle; it flowers during most of the summer months, and is readily increased by cuttings. [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] aquilegia canadensis. canadian columbine. _class and order._ polyandria pentagynia. _generic character._ _cal._ . _petala_ . _nectaria_ corniculata, inter petala. _caps._ distinctæ. _specific character and synonyms._ aquilegia _canadensis_ nectariis rectis, staminibus corolla longioribus. _linn. syst. veg. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ aquilegia _pumila_ praæox canadensis. _corn. canad. ._ aquilegia præcox canadensis; flore externe rubicundo, medio luteo. _moris. hist. . p. . t. . f. ._ aquilegia virginiania flore rubescente præcox. the early red columbine of virginia. _park. th. p. ._ parkinson was not acquainted with this plant when he wrote his _parad. terr._ but in his larger and more general work, the _theat. pl._ published in , he describes and figures it as a plant newly introduced from virginia, by mr. john tradescant: cornutus, in his account of the plants of canada, gives us a representation and a description of this plant also; according to him, its usual height in that country is about nine inches; in the gardens here it nearly equals the common columbine, which it considerably resembles in the appearance of its foliage, but differs in the form and colour of its flowers, the horn of the nectary is straighter, and the blossom in some of its parts inclines more to orange, which renders it highly ornamental. it is a hardy perennial, and may be easily propagated by parting its roots in autumn or spring; it may also be raised from seeds, which ripen readily here; these are found to be a long time in vegetating, as are others of this genus. we have observed in some gardens, a columbine of more humble growth than the one here figured, called by the name of _canadensis_, and which most probably is a variety of our plant, its blossoms spread wider, are of a pale red colour without any orange, and hence being less beautiful, is, of course, less worthy of culture. [ ] scabiosa atropurpurea. sweet scabious. _class and order._ tetrandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ communis polyphyllus; proprius duplex, superus. _recept._ paleaceum nudum. _specific character and synonyms._ scabiosa _atropurpurea_ corollulis quinquefidis radiantibus, foliis dissectis, receptaculis florum subulatis. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. i. p. ._ scabiosa peregrina rubra capite oblongo. _bauh. pin. ._ scabiosa vi. indica. _clus. hist. . p. ._ red flowered indian scabious. _park. parad. ._ it is not a little singular that we should have no certain account of what country this species of scabious is a native; clusius who describes and figures it accurately, relates that he received seeds of it from italy, under the name of _indian scabious_; he informs us also that he received seeds of a scabious from spain, which the same year produced flowers of a similar colour, but paler; parkinson says this plant is verily thought to grow naturally in spain and italy; does he borrow this idea from what clusius has advanced? he certainly gives no authority for his supposition: linnÆus mentions it as a native of india with a note of doubt; miller does the same, omitting any doubts about it; mr. aiton leaves its place of growth unsettled. the sweet scabious has long and deservedly held a place as an ornamental plant in our gardens, the flowers are well adapted for nosegays, have a sweet musky smell, and are produced in great profusion from june to october. it is a hardy biennial, requiring yearly to be raised from seeds, these should be sown about the latter end of may, or beginning of june, on a shady border of fresh earth, thinning the plants as they advance to the distance of three or four inches; in autumn they should be removed into the border, where they are intended to flower, thus treated they will become good strong plants against winter, flower early the ensuing summer, and produce abundance of perfect seeds. the blossoms vary in colour, towards autumn the edge of the florets become paler. parkinson, deviating from his usual accuracy, describes the flowers without scent. _vid. parad._ [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] vinca rosea. madagascar periwinkle. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ contorta. _folliculi_ erecti. _semina_ nuda. _specific character and synonyms._ vinca _rosea_ caule fructescente erecto, foliis ovato oblongis, petiolis basi bidentatis, floribus geminis sessilibus. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ vinca foliis oblongo-ovatis integerrimis, tubo floris longissimo, caule ramoso fruticoso. _mill. icon. ._ the _vinca rosea_ was first cultivated in this country by mr. philip miller in , he observes that it deserves a place in the stove as much as any of the exotic plants we have in england, because the flowers are very beautiful, and there is a constant succession of them all the summer. the following account is extracted from his dictionary. "this plant grows naturally in the island of madagascar, from whence the seeds were brought to the royal garden at paris, where the plants were first raised, and produced their flowers the following summer; from these plants good seeds were obtained, which were sent me by mr. richard, gardener to the king at versailles and trianon. it rises to the height of three or four feet; the branches which when young are succulent become ligneous by age: these flowers which appear early in the summer produce ripe seeds in the autumn. "this sort is propagated by seeds or cuttings in the usual way; unless the summer proves warm these plants should not be placed abroad, for they will not thrive if they are exposed to cold or wet, therefore during the summer they should be placed in an airy glass-case, and in winter they must be removed into the stove, where the air is kept to a temperate heat, without which they will not live through the winter in england. _mill. dict._ there is a variety of this plant having white blossoms with a purple eye. the flowers do not always grow in pairs. [illustration: _no _] [ ] cineraria amelloides. blue-flowered cineraria or cape aster. _class and order._ syngenesia polygamia superfloa. _generic character._ _recept._ nullum. _pappus_ simplex. _cal._ simplex polyphyllus æqualis. _specific character and synonyms._ cineraria _amelloides_ pedunculis unifloris, foliis oppositis ovatis nudis, caule suffruticoso. _linn. syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait kew. v. . p. ._ aster africanus frutescens ramosus, floribus cæruleis, foliis oppositis minimis, caulibus et ramulis in pedunculos nudos exeuntibus. _raii suppl. ._ aster caule ramoso scabro perenni, foliis ovatis sessilibus, pedunculis nudis unifloris. _mill. icon. . f. ._ the _cineraria amelloides_ a plant common in every green-house, was introduced by mr. philip miller as long since as the year , being raised by him from cape seeds; it forms a bushy shrub, of the height of two, or three feet, produces numerous blossoms, which stand singly on long footstalks, are of a pale blue colour; they make some amends for their want of brilliancy by flowering during most of the year. the plant is easily propagated either by seeds or cuttings. [ ] myrtus tomentosa. woolly-leaved myrtle. _class and order._ icosandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cal._ -fidus, superus. _petala_ . _bacca_ . s. sperma. _specific character and synonyms._ myrtus _tomentosa_ pedunculis unifloris, foliis triplinervii, subtus tomentosis. _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ arbor sinensis canellæ folio minore, trinervi, prona parte villoso, fructu caryophylli aromatici majoris villis similiter obducto. _pluk. amalth. . t. . f. ._ in the third edition of the _species plant._ of linnÆus, published in , thirteen myrtles are described; in the th edition of the _syst. natur._ published by gmelin in , forty-one are enumerated; thus in twenty-seven years this genus has gained an accession of twenty-eight species: most of these are natives of warm climates, and few comparatively have been introduced to this country, six species only being mentioned in the _hort. kew._ of mr. aiton, in that work the _tomentosa_ here figured, not known to linnÆus or miller is specifically described, and there mr. aiton informs us that it is a native of china, and was introduced by mrs. norman about the year . since that period it has fallen into the hands of various cultivators, and flowered perhaps in greater perfection than it did originally at kew; the peduncles, in the various specimens we have seen usually supporting more than one flower. it is a shrub of great beauty, both in respect to its foliage and flowers, bearing but little similitude to the common myrtle, if suffered to grow, acquiring the height of many feet. its blossoms are produced in june and july, the buds are covered with a white down, as is also the underside of the leaves, whence its name of _tomentosa_. it has been customary to treat it as a stove plant, such it is considered in the _hort. kew._ there is great reason however to believe, that it is by no means tender, and that it may succeed as most of the chinese plants do in a good greenhouse. it is usually increased by cuttings which are struck difficulty. [illustration: _no _] [ ] allium descendens. purple-headed garlick. _class and order._ hexandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ -partita, patens. _spatha_ multiflora. _umbella_ congesta. _caps._ supera. _specific character and synonyms._ allium _descendens_ caule subteretifolio umbellifero, pedunculis exterioribus brevioribus, staminibus tricuspidatis. linn. _syst. vegetab. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ allium staminibus alterne trifidis, foliis fistulosis, capite sphærico non bulbifero atropurpureo. _hall. all. tab. . f. p. . xx. ii._ baron haller in his most admirable _monographia_ on the plants of this genus, published in his _opuscula botanica_, describes and figures this species, a hardy perennial, being a native of switzerland, and cultivated according to mr. aiton, in the garden at oxford in . it usually grows to the height of three feet, thriving in almost any soil or situation, its flowers as in many other species grow in a capitulum or little head, not an umbel, strictly speaking, as linnÆus describes it; this head is at first covered with a whitish membrane, wearing some resemblance to a night-cap, on the falling off of which the whole of the capitulum is perceived to be of a green colour, shortly the crown of it becomes of a fine reddish purple, this colour extends itself gradually downwards, presently we see the upper half of the head purple, the lower half green, in this state it has a most pleasing appearance; the purple still extending downwards, the whole head finally becomes uniformly so, and then its flowers begin to open, and emit an odour rather agreeable than otherwise; on dissecting a flower we find three of the stamina in each longer than the others, and bearing two little points, which proceed not from the antheræ, but from the top of the filaments, it is therefore one of those alliums which linnÆus describes, as having _antheræ bicornes_. this species increases readily by offsets, which should be separated and planted in autumn. we know not why linnÆus should give it the name of _descendens_, unless from its being one of those plants whose roots in process of time descend deeply into the earth. [illustration: _no _] [illustration: _no _] [ ] campanula grandiflora. great-flowered bell-flower. _class and order._ pentandria monogynia. _generic character._ _cor._ campanulata fundo clauso valvis staminiferis. _stigma_ trifidium. _caps._ insera poris lateralibus dehiscens. _specific character and synonyms._ campanula _grandiflora_ caule subunifloro, foliis sublanceolatis serratis, corolla patente. _jacq. in litt. hort. v. . t. ._ campanula _grandiflora_ foliis ternis oblongis serratis, caule unifloro, flore patulo. _linn. suppl. p. . syst. veget. ed. ._ _murr. p. ._ _ait. kew. v. . p. ._ professor jacquin is, we believe, the first author who has figured this species of campanula, which he has done in his _hortus vindebonensis_; linnÆus the son afterwards inserted it in his _suppl. pl._ assigning it the characters specified above in the synonyms, and expressing his doubts whether it was not a variety of the _campanula carpatica_, already figured in this work, _pl. _. prof. jacquin clearly demonstrates that it cannot be so, as it differs most essentially from that plant in a variety of particulars, _vid. linn. syst. veget. ed. . murr._ his specific description there given, agrees much better with the plants we have seen flower here, than that of linnÆus does, there being generally more than one flower on a stalk, and the leaves rarely growing three together. the blossoms of this plant when it grows in perfection, are very large, nearly twice the size of those of the _campanula carpatica_, whence its name of _grandiflora_; previous to their opening fully, they somewhat resemble an air balloon, from which circumstance it has been called by some the balloon plant. it is a hardy perennial, a native of siberia and tartary, and was introduced to this country by mr. john bell in the year . it flowers in july, is as yet a rare plant in this country, and likely to continue so, as it is not easily increased, multiplying but little by its roots, scarcely to be struck from cuttings, and rarely producing perfect seeds. index. in which the latin names of the plants contained in the _seventh volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ allium descendens. amaryllis atamasco. arabis alpina. argemone mexicana. aquilegia canadensis. bellis perennis var. major fl. pl. buchnera viscosa. campanula grandiflora. chironia baccifera. cineraria amelloides. disandra prostrata. erica cerinthoides. fagonia cretica. fumaria solida. ---- cava. helianthus multiflorus. ipomoea coccinea. ---- quamoclit. linum arboreum. lobelia surinamensis. lychnis coronata. michauxia campanuloides myrtus tomentosa. oxalis caprina. pelargonium tricolor. phylica ericoides. plumbago rosea primula acaulis fl. pl. carneo. scabiosa atropurpurea. senecio elegans. struthiola erecta. teucrium latifolium. trollius asiaticus vinca rosea. verbascum myconi. veronica decussata index. in which the english names of the plants contained in the _seventh volume_ are alphabetically arranged. _pl._ bell flower great-flowered. buchnera clammy. chironia berry-bearing. cineraria blue-flowered. columbine canadian. cranes-bill three-coloured daisy great double. disandra trailing. fagonia cretian. flax tree. fumitory solid-rooted. ---- hollow-rooted. garlick purple-headed germander broad-leaved shrubby. globe-flower asiatic. heath honeywort-flowered. ipomoea scarlet. ---- winged-leaved. leadwort rose-coloured. lily atamasco. lobelia shrubby. lychnis chinese. michauxia rough-leaved. mullein borage-leaved. myrtle woolly-leaved. periwinkle madagascar. phylica heath-leaved. poppy prickly. primrose lilac double. rag wort purple. scabious sweet. speedwell cross-leaved. struthiola smooth. sunflower perennial. wall-cress alpine. wood-sorrel goat's-foot.