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 2, 1798.
[442]
[Illustration: Nº. 442]
Genista Linifolia. Flax-Leaved Broom.
_Class and Order._
Diadelphia Decandria.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 2-labiatus 2/3. _Vexillum_ oblongum, a pistillo
staminibusque deorsum reflexum.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
GENISTA _linifolia_ foliis ternatis sessilibus linearibus subtus
sericeis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 645._ _Ait. Kew.
v. 3. p. 14._
CYTISUS _argenteus_ linifolius insularum stæchadum. _Tourn. Inst.
648._
The _Genista linifolia_ is a native of Spain, and was introduced to the
royal garden at Kew, by Sir Francis Drake, in the year 1786. _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.
[443]
[Illustration: Nº. 443]
Erica Physodes. Sticky-Flowered 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 _physodes_ antheris cristatis, corollis ovatis inflatis,
stylo incluso, foliis quaternis, floribus subsolitariis. _Linn.
Syst. Vegetab. Murr. p. 366._ _Berg. Cup. 108._
ERICA _physodes_ cristata, foliis quaternis linearibus, floribus
umbellatis viscosis, calyce ovato brevi. _Thunb. Prodr. p. 74._
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.
[444]
[Illustration: Nº. 444]
Canarina Campanula. Canary Bell-Flower.
_Class and Order._
Hexandria Monogynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 6-phyllus. _Cor._ 6-fida, campanulata. _Stigmata 6._ _Caps._
infera, 6-locularis, polysperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
CANARINA _Campanula_ caule erecto, foliis hastatis ternis
oppositisve. _Martyn Mill. Dict. Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14._ _Murr.
p. 344._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 480._ _Linn. Mant. p. 225._
CAMPANULA _canariensis_ capsulis quinquelocularibus, foliis
hastatis dentatis oppositis petiolatis. _Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p.
238._
CAMPANULA _canariensis_ regia _s._ medium radice tuberosa, foliis
sinuatis cæsiis atriplicis æmulis ternis circum caulem ambientibus,
flore amplo pendulo colore flammeo rutilante. _Pluk. Alm. 76. t.
276. f. 1._
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 1696[4], 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.