[1] _Habitat_ et ob pulchritudinem colitur Cantone Sinarum, _Loureir.
Coch. Chin. v. 1. p. 104._ Crescit in sylvis variis, inter Miaco et
Jedo, etiam cultum, _Thunb. Fl. Jap. p. 123_, who refers to Kæmpfer,
whose plant is certainly ours; yet it must be acknowledged that
Thunberg's description does not well accord with it.
[2] 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 1796.
[3] Pericarpium abortit, quod ex dissecto germine et per microscopium
viso apparet polyspermum.
[439]
[Illustration: Nº. 439]
Illicium Floridanum. Red-flowered Illicium, or Aniseed-Tree.
_Class and Order._
Polyandria Polygynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 6-phyllus. _Petala 27._ _Caps._ plures, in orbem digestæ,
bivalves, monospermæ.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ILLICIUM _floridanum_ floribus rubris. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed.
14. Murr. p. 507._ _Ellis Act. Angl. 1770. (v. 60.) p. 524. t. 12._
_Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 250._
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 1776; 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 1771, 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.
[440]
[Illustration: Nº. 440]
Erica Albens. Pallid Heath.
_Class and Order._
Octandria Monogynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 4-phyllus. _Cor._ 4-fida. _Filamenta_ receptaculo inserta.
_Antheræ_ apice bifidæ, pertusæ. _Caps._ 4-locularis, 4-valvis,
polysperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ERICA _albens_ antheris muticis inclusis, corollis ovatis oblongis
acutis, foliis ternis, racemis secundis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab.
Murr. ed. 14. p. 367._ _Mant. 233._
ERICA _albens_ mutica, foliis ternis trigonis pilosis, floribus
lateralibus, calyce villoso. _Thunb. Prodr. p. 70._
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.
[441]
[Illustration: Nº. 441]
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. 14. Murr. p. 87._ _Ait. Kew.
v. 1. p. 67._
WATSONIA _humilis_ foliis lineari-ensiformibus, tubo floris
longissimo. _Mill. ic. 198. t. 297. f. 2._
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_.