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 1774. _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.
[437]
[Illustration: Nº. 437]
Hydrangea Arborescens. Shrubby Hydrangea.
_Class and Order._
Decandria Digynia.
_Generic Character._
_Caps._ 2-locularis, 2-rostris, infera, foramine inter stylos
dehiscens.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HYDRANGEA _arborescens_ caule arboreo. _Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13._
_Gmel. Syst. Veget. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 410._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p.
76._
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. 79._ _Mill.
Icon. t. 251._ _Duham. Arb. 1. t. 3._
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 1736, 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.
[438]
[Illustration: Nº. 438]
Hydrangea Hortensis. Garden Hydrangea.
HYDRANGEA _hortensis_ foliis ellipticis serratis glaberrimis
staminibus æqualibus. _Smith icon. rar. t. 12._