[Illustration: 71]
That this singular species of _Statice_ was long since an inhabitant of
our gardens, appears from PARKINSON, who in his _Garden of
Pleasant Flowers_, gives an accurate description of it, accompanied with
an expressive figure; since his time it appears to have been confined to
few gardens: the nurserymen have lately considered it as a
newly-introduced species, and sold it accordingly.
It is one of those few plants whose calyx is of a more beautiful colour
than the corolla (and which it does not lose in drying); it therefore
affords an excellent example of the _calyx coloratus_, as also of
_scariosus_, it being sonorous to the touch.
Being a native of Sicily, Palestine, and Africa, it is of course liable
to be killed with us in severe seasons, the common practice is therefore
to treat it as a green-house plant, and indeed it appears to the
greatest advantage in a pot; it is much disposed to throw up new
flowering stems; hence, by having several pots of it, some plants will
be in blossom throughout the summer; the dried flowers are a pretty
ornament for the mantle-piece in winter.
Though a kind of biennial, it is often increased by parting its roots,
but more advantageously by seed; the latter, however, are but sparingly
produced with us, probably for the want, as PARKINSON expresses
it, "of sufficient heate of the Sunne."
[72]
~Helleborus lividus. Livid or Purple Hellebore.~
_Class and Order._
~Polyandria Polygynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ nullus. _Petala_-5. sive plura. _Nectaria_ bilabiata, tubulata.
_Caps._ polyspermae, erectiusculae.
_Specific Character._
HELLEBORUS _lividus_ caule multifloro folioso, foliis ternatis. _Ait.
Hort. Kew. ined. 2. p. 272._
[Illustration: 72]
It is not a little extraordinary that this plant which has for many
years been cultivated in this country, should have escaped the notice of
LINNAEUS; it is equally wonderful that we should at this moment
be strangers to its place of growth.
Having three leaves growing together, it has been considered by many as
the _trifoliatus_ of LINNAEUS but his _trifoliatus_ is a very
different plant, a native of Canada, producing small yellow flowers.
It has been usual to treat this species as a green-house plant, or at
least to shelter it under a frame in the winter; probably it is more
hardy than we imagine.
It is propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and by seeds, though
few of the latter in general ripen, nor do the roots make much
increase--to these causes we must doubtless attribute its present
comparative scarcity.
It flowers as early as February; on which account, as well as that of
its singularity, it is a very desirable plant in collections.