SYALITA Malabaris. _Rheede Hort. Malab. tom. iii. p. 39. t. 38.
39._
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.
[450]
[Illustration: Nº. 450]
Gladiolus Watsonius. Watson's Corn-Flag.
_Class and Order._
Triandria Monogynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ 6-partita, tubulosa, ringens. _Stamina_ adscendentia.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
GLADIOLUS _Watsonius_ corollis infundibuliformibus, limbi laciniis
subæqualibus, foliis linearibus ad oras revolutis. _Jacq. Icon.
rar. 2. t. 233. Collect. 3. p. 257._ _Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. Wilden. p.
214._
GLADIOLUS _Watsonius_ monostachyus corollis cernuis, tubo duplici,
limbi laciniis oblongis, foliis linearibus glabris. _Thunb. Prod.
p. 8._
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.
[451]
[Illustration: Nº. 451]
Blakea Trinervia. Three-Ribbed Blakea.
_Class and Order._
Dodecandria Monogynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ inferus, 6-phyllus, superus, integer. _Petala 6._ _Capsula_
6-locularis, polysperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
BLAKEA _trinervia_ bicalyculata, foliis enerviis transversim
subtilissime striatis. _Linn. Suppl. p. 246._ _Syst. Veg. ed. 14._
_Murr. p. 442._
BLAKEA foliis ellipticis trinerviis nitidis, floribus lateralibus.
_Brown. Jam. 323. t. 35._ 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 1799; 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.
[452]
[Illustration: Nº. 452]
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. 14._ _Murr. p. 593._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 387._