[Illustration: 65]
The _Clematis integrifolia_ is not an uncommon plant in the nurseries
about London, and is deserving a place in gardens, if not for the beauty
of its flowers, at least for their singularity.
It is a native of Germany, flowers in July, and is one of those hardy
perennials which suit most people, requiring little more than an
introduction.
Is propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.
[66]
~Passiflora alata. Winged Passion-Flower.~
_Class and Order._
~Gynandria Pentandria.~
_Generic Character._
Trigyna. _Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5. _Nectarium_ corona. _Bacca_
pedicellata.
_Specific Character._
PASSIFLORA _alata_ foliis indivisis cordatis integerrimis, petiolis
quadriglandulosis, cauli membranaceo tetragono.
[Illustration: 66]
This species of Passion-flower is one of those which have been
introduced into the English gardens since the time of MILLER;
if it does not equal the _coerulea_ in elegance, it excels it in
magnificence, in brilliancy of colour, and in fragrance, the blossoms
being highly odoriferous: as yet, it is by no means so general in this
country, as its extraordinary beauty merits, we have seen it flower this
year, both summer and autumn, in great perfection in the stove of our
very worthy friend JAMES VERE, Esq. Kensington-Gore; at the
Physic Garden, Chelsea; and at Mr. MALCOM's, Kennington; at
Chelsea, in particular, it afforded the richest assemblage of foliage
and flowers we ever saw.
It appears to the greatest advantage, when trained up an upright pole,
nearly to the height of the back of the stove, and then suffered to run
along horizontally.
By some it has been considered as a variety only of the _Passiflora
quadrangularis_, others, with whom we agree in opinion, have no doubt of
its being a very distinct species; it differs from the _quadrangularis_,
in having leaves more perfectly heart-shaped, and less veiny; in having
four glands on the foot-stalks of the leaves, instead of six; and in not
producing fruit with us, which the _quadrangularis_ has been known
frequently to do.
The Nursery-men report, that this species was first raised in this
country, by a gentleman in Hertfordshire, from West-India seeds.
The usual mode of propogating it here, is by cuttings.
[67]
~Mesembryanthemum pinnatifidum. Jagged-Leaved Fig-Marigold.~
_Class and Order._
~Icosandria Pentagynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Petala_ numerosa linearia. _Caps._ carnosa infera
polysperma.
_Specific Character._
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _pinnatifidum_ foliis pinnatifidis. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. p. 470. Suppl. p. 260._
[Illustration: 67]
This species of _Mesembryanthemum_, so different in the shape of its
foliage from all the others hitherto introduced into this country, is
first described in the _Supplementum Plantarum_ of the younger
LINNAEUS, from which we learn that it grew in the Upsal Garden,
into which it was most probably introduced by professor
THUNBERG, as on his authority it is mentioned as a native of
the Cape of Good Hope.
Mr. ZIER, Apothecary, of Castle-Street, was so obliging as to
present me this summer with the seeds of this curious plant, I sowed
them in a pot of earth, plunged in a tan pit, whose heat was nearly
exhausted; they quickly vegetated, and though the summer was far
advanced, they proceeded rapidly into flower, and bid fair to produce
ripe seeds, as the Capsules have long since been formed.
The whole plant is sprinkled over with glittering particles like the ice
plant, to which it bears some affinity in its duration, being an annual
and requiring the same treatment.
The blossoms are small and yellow, and if the weather be fine, open
about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, the stalks are of a bright
red colour, and the foliage yellowish green.
[68]
~Sempervivum arachnoideum. Cobweb Houseleek.~
_Class and Order._
~Dodecandria Dodecagynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 12-partitus. _Petala_ 12. _Caps._ 12. polyspermae.
_Specific Character._
SEMPERVIVUM _arachnoideum_ foliis pilis intertextis, propaginibus
globosis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 456._