are very slender, but shrubby, and arise to the height of two or three
feet. The flowers are terminal, large, showy, and posses a beautiful
colour of the deepest blue.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXVII.
CROTOLARIA PULCHELLA.
_Ternate Larger-flowered Crotolaria._
CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.
_DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Two Brotherhoods. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
LEGUMEN turgidum, inflatum, pedicellatum. Filamenta connata
cum fissura dorsali.
POD turgid, inflated, pedicelled. Chives conjoined with a
dorsal fissure.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
CROTOLARIA, frutescens, ramulis teretibus sericeis,
foliis ternatis, foliolis lineari-lanceolatis acutis petiolis
sesquilongioribus, subtus subpilosis.
CROTOLARIA, shrubby, with cylindrical silky branches,
and ternate leaves, with the leaflets linear-lanced acute-once,
and-an-half the length of the foot-stalks, and somewhat hairy beneath.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. The standard.
3. One of the wings.
4. The keel.
5. The chives.
6. The seed-bud and pointal.
The species of Crotolaria here represented, may perhaps be the “C.
(pilosa) foliis ternatis pilosis, foliolis mucronatis, floribus
terminalibus,” of Thunberg’s Prodromus: but from so insufficient a
character we have not ventured to determine it to be that plant; having
rather chosen to give it as a new species by the name of Pulchella;
which it well deserves.
It is a green-house plant, a native we understand of the Cape; and
arises with a straight, but little branched, woody stem, to the
height of about 3 feet: the branches are cylindrical and silky: the
leaves alternate and ternate, inclining to hoary, with pubescent
and channelled foot-stalks: the leaflets are lance-shaped, or
linear-lanced, once and an half, or sometimes twice the length of their
common foot-stalk, and furnished beneath with minute, close-pressed
hairs: the flowers are in a terminal racemus, large, yellow, and showy;
and are produced in the month of July.
Hitherto we have seen this plant only at the Nursery of Messrs.
Colvill, in the King’s Road, where our drawing was made. In favourable
seasons the plant will probably ripen its seeds in this country: and
at other times we have no doubt of its being capable of propagation by
cuttings in the usual way; although we do not know that this has yet
actually been done.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXVIII.
GENTIANA CATESBÆI.
_Catesby’s Gentian._
CLASS V. ORDER II.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
COROLLA monopetala. Capsula bivalvis, unilocularis;
receptaculis duobus longitudinalibus.
BLOSSOM one-petalled. Capsule two-valved, one-celled; with
two longitudinal receptacles.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
GENTIANA, foliis remotis oppositis ternatisque, corollis
verticillatis ventricosis decemfidis, laciniis alternis inæqualiter
bifidis lacerisque; calycibus minute ciliatis.
GENTIAN, with remote opposite and ternate leaves, whorled
ten-cleft bellied flowers, with their alternate segments unequally
bifid and torn; and minutely ciliated empalements.
GENTIANA (_Catesbæi_), corollis campanulatis ventricosis
extus cæruleis, foliis lanceolatis remotis. _Walt. Fl. Carolin. 109._
GENTIANA (_Saponaria_), corollis quinquefidis campanulatis
ventricosis verticillatis, foliis ovato-lanceolatis trinerviis.
_Willd. Sp. Pl. 1. 1338._
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. The blossom spread open.
3. The pointal.
The beautiful species of Gentiana here represented, does not appear to
be noticed either in Willdenow’s edition of Species Plantarum, or the
Hortus Kewensis of Mr. Aiton; except by the former of these authors,
as being synonymous with G. Saponaria; from which as a species we
conceive it distinct: neither do we find it enumerated in Mr. Donn’s
Hortus Cantabrigiensis: but it is described by Walter in his Flora
Caroliniana, under the name of Catesbæi; and is known in several of the
principal gardens in the neighbourhood of London by that appellation;
which we have therefore thought it more eligible to adopt, than run any
risk of occasioning confusion by applying a new one.
The plant is perennial and herbaceous, a native of Carolina, and
is propagated by parting its roots in autumn, or early spring; but
requires a moist sheltered situation, and peat earth in the open air,
to make it flourish.
It rises with several stems to the height of a foot or upwards: the
leaves are opposite, or in threes, remote, lanceolate, stem-clasping,
and obscurely three-nerved, with scabrous margins, occasioned by
minute, upwardly-directed serrulations, which at the base of the leaf
are decurrent, and form four or six roughened lines on the stem: the
flowers are irregularly whorled; but the uppermost whorl is by much the
largest; each blossom is of a rich deep purple colour, ventricose, and
opens very little at the mouth, where it is divided into ten incurving
segments, every other of which is of a much paler colour than the rest,
broader, unequally bifid, and minutely lacerated: the empalement is
five-cleft, and its segments are linear-lance-shaped, with minutely
ciliated edges, after the manner of the edges of the leaves.
The living specimen from which our figures were made, was obligingly
communicated to us by the Hon. Mr. Irby, of Farnham Royal, Bucks.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXIX.
GENISTA LUSITANICA.
_Portugal Genista._
CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.
_DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Two Brotherhoods. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX bilabiatus: 2-3 dentibus, binis superioribus
brevissimis. Vexillum oblongum a pistillo staminibusque deorsum
reflexum.
EMPALEMENT two-lipped: with 2-3 teeth, the two uppermost very
short. The standard oblong, and reflexed downwards from the chives and
pointal.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
GENISTA, caule aphyllo, spinis decussatis. _Willd. Sp. Pl. 2.
946._--_Ait. Hort. Kew. 2. 16._
GENISTA, with a leafless stem, and decussated spines.
SCORPIUS secundus. _Clus. Hist. 1. p. 107._
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. The standard.
3. One of the wings.
4. The keel.
5. The chives.
6. The seed-bud and pointal.
7. The same magnified.
The Portugal Genista is a very spiny, and almost leafless shrub,
of bushy growth; and although very well known to most of the old
Botanists, does not appear to have been cultivated in the British
gardens until the year 1771; when, according to Mr. Aiton’s Hortus
Kewensis, it was introduced by Mrs. Primmet. It is a native of Portugal
and Spain, but is sufficiently hardy to resist the cold of our ordinary
winters, if planted in a sheltered situation: yet is extremely liable
to be injured, or even destroyed, in those which take place with rigour
and severity: but as it very frequently produces good seeds, a supply
of it is not difficult to be kept up that way. The best time of sowing
them is spring, and they will require some slight protection from frost
while young.
The plant blooms freely from March till May, and when decorated
with its golden flowers, makes a very ornamental appearance in the
shrubbery; in which, although it has been so long in cultivation, we
cannot help regretting that it but seldom occurs: and we venture to
recommend it along with G. germanica (a closely allied species) to the
further attention of our cultivating friends.
Like many other shrubby leguminous plants, this Genista is averse to
being frequently transplanted; and never suffers the operation of
removal with impunity. Let that business therefore, when necessary, be
performed with all possible diligence and care. Our figure was taken
from plants in the Clapham collection.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXX.
GERANIUM FLORIBUNDUM.
_Tuberous Many-flowered Geranium._
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus pentacoccus.
ONE POINTAL. Five summits. Fruit beaked, five berries.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
GERANIUM, tuberosum, pinnis foliorum oppositis
bipartitis, laciniis ellipticis; scapis numerosis ramosis, petalis
clavato-linearibus.
GERANIUM, tuberous, with the pinnæ of the leaves opposite
and two-parted, with their segments elliptical; numerous branched
flower-stalks, and clavatedly-linear petals.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. The seed-bud, chives, and pointal.
3. The chives spread open.
4. The seed-bud and pointal.
5. The same magnified.
Geranium floribundum appears to be not only a nondescript species of
the Erodium family of this extensive tribe of plants; but at the same
time, a new and brilliant one. Few in number are the species which
equal it in beauty: and still more rare are those which can be allowed
to surpass it.
It is of extremely humble growth, and its roots are tuberous: from
the crowns of which it throws up, in the early part of summer, a
considerable number of flowering stems, each adorned with many flowers;
whence our specific name of floribundum.
It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and prospers with the same
treatment as the other dwarf Geraniums; and is propagated like them, by
carefully dividing the tubers of its roots.
Our figure was made from the Clapham collection, which it is well known
abounds more in this description of plants, than any other existing in
this country.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXXI.
RENEALMIA CALCARATA.
_Upright-flowering Renealmia._
CLASS I. ORDER I.
_MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ One Chive. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX superus, monophyllus, in 2 sive 3 dentes irregulares
rumpens. Corolla trifida. Nectarium oblongum. Anthera sessilis,
nectario opposita. Bacca carnosa, trilocularis, profunde sulcata,
et hirta. Semina plurima, alte truncata, arillo membranaceo niveo
adpresso.
EMPALEMENT above the fruit, one-leafed, breaking into 2 or
3 irregular teeth. Blossom trifid. Nectary oblong. Chive sessile,
opposite to the nectary. Berry fleshy, three-celled, profoundly
sulcated, and hairy. Seeds many, deeply truncated, and furnished with
a membranous, close-pressed, snow-coloured exterior skin.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
RENEALMIA foliis lanceolato-ensiformibus, racemo terminali
erecto.
RENEALMIA with lance-sword-shaped leaves, and an erect
terminal racemus of flowers.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The spathe.
2. A blossom divested of the chive and honey-cup.
3. The honey-cup.
4. The sheath which crowns the seed-bud.
5. The chive, pointal, and seed-bud.
6. The same without its chive.
7. A transverse section of the seed-bud magnified.
The new and elegant plant here figured was obligingly communicated to
us in September last by A. B. Lambert, Esq. who informs us that it had
grown vigorously to the height of about three feet in the bark-bed of
his hot-house, without showing flowers; but that, on being removed
from the tan and placed upon the flue, it soon produced those which
we have here delineated; whence it is probable that the check to its
growth, occasioned by the mere change of situation, was the cause of
its blooming, as in other collections it has not hitherto done it.
Mr. L. likewise informs us that its native country is Coromandel, and
that it is intended for publication by Dr. Roxburgh under the name of
Amomum calcaratum; and showed us a drawing of it, so named, copied
from one that was made in the East Indies from a native specimen, and
which represents the plant somewhat slenderer and less upright than the
individual we have here depicted.
Whoever will carefully investigate and compare our dissected figures
of this plant with those which are given with Renealmia nutans on
our 360th plate, will not only find that they precisely agree with
each other (as much as two distinct species of plants can do), but
that both of them very sufficiently correspond with the essential
characters of the genus Renealmia: yet both are, no doubt, specifically
distinct from Renealmia exaltata; wherefore we have not hesitated
to withdraw the present plant from the genus Amomum, from which,
independent of its widely different mode of flowering, we believe it
to be generically distinct. Neither are the above-mentioned all the
species of Renealmia we have a knowledge of; for even in the British
gardens (exclusive of those which have not yet been introduced to us
alive) we are already acquainted with at least three more. But how
far some of these plants are distinct from the four diandrous Globbæ
enumerated by Willdenow, and from Schrader’s Zerumbet speciosum, which
is a true Renealmia, we are not at present prepared to determine; yet
cannot help remarking that the last-mentioned plant should seem to
resemble the Globba Japonica of Thunberg;--that our present subject
may resemble G. Marantina;--that G. nutans greatly resembles Renealmia
nutans; and that at least one of the figures cited by Willdenow for the
former in Rumphius, is absolutely the same as R. nutans:--and, lastly,
that R. exaltata of Linn. Supp. Pl. possesses, in a very striking and
remarkable manner, the extraordinary habit of the remaining Globba
uviformis.
As to culture, these are all stove plants, and in this country require
the assistance of the tan-bed to make them flourish. Rich earth and
great plenty of pot-room are likewise requisite, and also a large
portion of water when they are vegetating briskly, but less when they
are almost at a stand,--which is sometimes the case,--although they
are never perfectly quiescent, as is common in the neighbouring genus
Amomum. They are propagated easily by parting their perennial roots.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXXII.
CROTOLARIA JUNCEA.
_Rushy-stalked Crotolaria._
CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.
_DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Two Brotherhoods. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
LEGUMEN turgidum, inflatum, pedicellatum. Filamenta connata,
cum fissura dorsali.
POD turgid, inflated, pedicelled. Chives conjoined, with a
dorsal fissure.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
CROTOLARIA, foliis simplicibus lanceolatis subsessilibus,
leguminibus glabris, racemo terminali, caule sulcato. _Willd. Sp. Pl.
3. 974._--_Curt. Bot. Mag. 490._
CROTOLARIA, with simple lanceolate somewhat sessile leaves,
smooth pods, a terminal bunch of flowers, and a furrowed stem.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. The standard.
3. One of the wings.
4. The keel.
5. The chives.
6. The same spread open.
7. The seed-bud and pointal.
The species of Crotolaria here represented is a native of Malabar
and the coast of Coromandel. It was obligingly sent us in bloom last
August by the Hon. Mr. Irby, of Farnham Royal, Bucks, and was raised
by him from East Indian seeds. Its root is annual; and the plant, in
consequence of it, admits of increase by seeds only, which should be
sown early on a hot-bed, with the most tender annuals, and the young
plants when large enough should be transplanted into separate pots of
rich earth; and after they have sufficiently recovered the effects of
removal, they should be taken into the hot-house, the assistance of
which is requisite to bring them to maturity. They rise with slender
and rather rushy stems, which are but slightly branched, to the height
of two or three feet, and make a fine appearance when in flower; but
they are, like many other tender leguminous plants, very subject to the
annoyance of insects, and more especially to that almost indestructible
pest of stoves, the red spider; the best mode of destroying which is
that of steaming the plants; that is, keeping them well watered, and in
a hot and humid air.
Some of our friends conceive this plant to differ from that which is
figured in the Botanical Magazine, No. 490. It is true, I found the
seed-bud quite silky; and if the full grown pod (which I never saw[F])
should likewise be so, it would certainly be worthy distinguishing
from that plant, which is said to have smooth, and therefore, in all
probability, naked pods.
[F] Neither have I yet seen the pod of the Crotolaria figured in the
last number, which, if it should prove cylindrical and not turgid,
would refer that plant to the genus Lebeckia, with which in habit it
very well accords.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXXIII.
GERANIUM LUTEUM.
_Dwarf Yellow-flowered Geranium._
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus pentacoccus.
ONE POINTAL. Five summits. Fruit beaked, five berries.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
GERANIUM, tuberosum, pinnis foliorum oppositis subovatis
acutis inciso-bifidis seu trifidis integrisve, scapis simplicibus,
petalis clavato-linearibus.
GERANIUM, tuberous, with the pinnæ of the leaves somewhat
ovate acute gash-bifid or trifid or entire, simple flower-stalks, and
clavatedly-linear petals.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement cut open.
2. The chives and pointal.
3. The chives spread open.
4. The seed-bud and pointal.
We have here the pleasure of adding another tuberous-rooted Geranium,
not enumerated by Willdenow, to the great variety of that description
already given in this work. As a species it appears sufficiently
distinct from any of them, although pretty closely allied to that which
is delineated in our last number; and also to G. fissifolium of our
378th plate. Its flowers are yellow marked with red, as is frequently
the case amongst the tuberous species of this extensive tribe of
plants, but of very rare occurrence in the other departments of it.
From the Clapham collection, incomparably rich in this description of
plants, our figure was derived, so long since as the summer of the year
1803.
Like its congeners, it is a native of the Cape; requires the treatment
of a green-house plant; and is increased, but very slowly, by carefully
dividing the tubers of its roots, when quiescent; taking especial care
that no moisture comes in contact with the wounded parts, until nature
has healed them by drying, and formed what the gardeners call a callus;
that is, a dry and hardened external skin.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXXIV.
POLYGALA MICRANTHA.
_Small-flowered Milkwort._
CLASS XVII. ORDER III.
_DIADELPHIA OCTANDRIA._ Two Brotherhoods. Eight Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX 5-phyllus, foliolis duobus alæformibus, coloratis.
Legumen obcordatum, biloculare.
EMPALEMENT 5-leaved, with two of the leaves like wings,
coloured. Pod inversely heart-shaped, two-celled.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
POLYGALA, virgata, floribus imberbibus axillari-sessilibus
solitariis subdistantibus folio brevioribus, foliis alternis
subremotis internodio longioribus subulatisque.
MILKWORT, twiggy, with beardless axillary-sessile solitary
rather distant flowers which are shorter than the leaf, and alternate
remotish awl-shaped leaves, longer than the space they are distant
from each other.
POLYGALA (micrantha) floribus imberbibus axillari-sessilibus,
foliis linearibus mucronatis. _Thunb. Prod. 121._--_Willd. Sp. Pl. 3.
892._
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. The same magnified.
3. The keel magnified.
4. One of the wings.
5. The same magnified.
6. The chives.
7. The same magnified.
8. The pointal.
9. The same magnified.
There is an elegance and a grace in the habit and appearance of this
Polygala, which in a great measure compensates for its trifling
flowers. It forms a small, and but little branched, twiggy shrub; is a
native of the Cape of Good Hope; and belongs to the Heisteria division
of the genus. We do not know that it has ever been figured before; but,
notwithstanding the short character given by Thunberg, have little
doubt of its being the plant he intended for P. micrantha. The honour
of introducing it, and also some other shrubby Polygalæ, into this
country, is due to G. Hibbert, Esq., from whose choice collection at
Clapham our figure was taken.
Polygala micrantha continues flowering the greatest part of the year,
winter as well as summer, is a very hardy green-house plant, and is
propagated by cuttings in the usual way.
If we were to consider the flowers as resupinate, and perhaps they
really are so, what we have called the keel would become the standard,
and the small appendage which is a part of it below would answer as
its keel. The expanded flowers of this species, and also those of
P. stipulacea of our 363d plate, viewed in front, very remarkably
resemble in outline, and almost in size, the insects which I have
named Tineæ Bombyciformes; but the wings of the flower, which answer
to the pectinated horns of the insects, appear rather too large.
P. alopecuroides of our 371st plate possesses this extraordinary
resemblance still more completely; inasmuch as the ciliæ of its keel
correspond exactly to the fringes of the insects’ wings! A more perfect
similitude between objects in reality so remote and so different, I
have very rarely, or never, beheld.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXXV.
MANGIFERA INDICA.
_Indian Mango Tree._
CLASS V. ORDER I.
_PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
FLORES pentapetali, inferi. Drupa reniformis. Corolla petalis
lanceolatis. Nux lanuginosa.
FLOWERS 5-petalled, beneath the fruit. Drupe kidney-shaped.
Blossom with lanceolate petals. Nut woolly.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
MANGIFERA, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, floribus submonandris,
drupa maxima reniformi. _Willd. Sp. Pl. 1. 1150._
MANGO, with oblong-lanceolate leaves, somewhat monandrous
flowers, and a large kidney-shaped drupe.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A front view of a detached flower magnified.
2. A back view of the same.
The Mango tree very seldom produces its flowers, and, we believe, never
perfects its fruit, or, as Miller calls it, its plum, in Europe. In
India this tree acquires considerable size, with a rough bark, and
luxuriant foliage, and its fruit is held in great esteem. For the sake
of its fine leaves alone it is worthy cultivation in our hot-houses,
where, according to Miller, it prospers better out of, than in the tan;
yet I believe most of the horticulturists of the present day prefer the
bark-bed for their Mangoes, planting them in rich earth and large pots.
They are propagated by layers or cuttings, seldom by seeds, because
these will not keep long after they are mature, and therefore perish
before they reach this country and can be sown in it. The flowers are
extremely trifling, but they are curious in their conformation, and
remarkable in constantly having four out of their five chives abortive,
imperfect, and destitute of anthers; wherefore the plant is monandrous.
Our figure was taken at Whitley and Brames’s in the month of December
last.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCCXXVI.
LIMODORUM TANKERVILLIÆ.
_Chinese Limodorum._
CLASS XX. ORDER I.
_GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA._ Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
NECTARIUM monophyllum, concavum, pedicellatum, intra petalum
infimum.
NECTARY one-leafed, concave, on a pedicel, upon the lower
petal.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
LIMODORUM, floribus racemosis imberbibus. _Ait. Hort. Kew. 3.
302._--_Gmel. Syst. Nat. tom. 2. p. 60._
LIMODORUM, with beardless racemose flowers.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A miniature figure of the plant.
2. The spathe.
3. The honey-cup.
4. The parts of fructification as they stand in the plant. The upper
part of the same with its lid elevated, and one chive detached and
magnified.