appearing as if truncated, or cut off at the extremity; they vary
greatly in the division of their lobes, the flowers differ from those of
the tulip in having a calyx, but agree as to the number of petals, which
is six; and so they are described in the sixth edition of the _Gen. Pl._
of LINN. but in _Professor_ MURRAY'S _Syst. Veg. Ait. H. K. Linn. Syst.
Nat. ed. 13_, by GMELIN, 9 are given, this in the first instance must be
a mere typographical error arising from the inversion of the 6.
This tree is found to flourish most in a soil moderately stiff and
moist, is usually raised from seeds, the process of which is amply
described by MILLER in his Dictionary.
[Illustration: No 276]
[276]
BLITUM VIRGATUM. STRAWBERRY BLITE.
_Class and Order._
MONANDRIA DIGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Col._ 3-fidus. _Petala_ O. _Sem._ 1. calyce baccato.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
BLITUM _virgatum_ capitellis sparsis lateralibus. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 53._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 7._
ATRIPLEX sylvestris mori fructu. _Bauh. Pin. p. 519._
ATRIPLEX sylvestris baccifera. _Clus. Hist. cxxxv._
This plant, not unfrequently met with in gardens, is known to most
cultivators by the name of _Strawberry Spinach_; the leaves somewhat
resembling those of the latter, and the fruit that of the former: C.
BAUHINE likens its berries to those of the Mulberry, to which they
certainly bear a greater resemblance: in most of the species of this
genus the calyx exhibits a very singular phenomenon, when the flowering
is over, it increases in size, becomes fleshy, and finally pulpy,
containing the ripe seed, which however it does not wholly envelope;
thus from each cluster of flowers growing in the alæ of the leaves are
produced so many berries, of a charming red colour, to which the plant
owes its beauty altogether, for the flowers are small, herbaceous, and
not distinctly visible to the naked eye; they can boast however of being
of the first class in the Linnean system _Monandria_, to which few
belong.
Strawberry Blite is a hardy annual, growing spontaneously in some parts
of France, Spain, and Tartary; is not a very old inhabitant of our
gardens, Mr. AITON mentioning it as being first cultivated by Mr. MILLER
in 1759. Its berries are produced from June to September; in their taste
they have nothing to recommend them, though not pleasant they are
harmless.
CLUSIUS we believe to be the first author who gives a figure and
description of it.
It affects a dry soil, and open situation; in such there is no necessity
to give any particular directions for its cultivation, as it comes up
readily from seed spontaneously scattered, so much so as sometimes to
prove a troublesome weed.
[277]
MAHERNIA PINNATA. WINGED MAHERNIA.
_Class and Order._
PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-dentatus. _Petala_ 5. _Nectaria_ 5 obcordata, filamentis
supposita. _Caps._ 5-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
MAHERNIA _pinnata_, foliis tripartito pinnatifidis. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 308._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 398._
HERMANNIA foliis tripartitis, media pinnatifida. _Linn. Sp. Pl. ed.
3. p. 943._
HERMANNIA frutescens, folio multifido tenui, caule rubro. _Boerh.
Lugd. 1. p. 273._
LINNÆUS, in his _Spec. Pl._ regarded this plant as a species of
_Hermannia_; finding afterwards that it differed materially in its
fructification from that genus, he made a new one of it in his
_Mantissa_, by the name of _Mahernia_; still, however, the two genera
are very nearly related: one principal difference consists in the
nectaria of the _Mahernia_, which are very remarkable.
This species was introduced from the Cape, where it is a native, by Mr.
MASSON, in 1774, and is now very generally met with in our green-houses.
It produces its little bells, of a lively red when they first open, from
June to August, or September; is a small delicate plant, and easily
raised from cuttings.
[Illustration: No 277]
[Illustration: No 278]
[278]
LILIUM CANDIDUM. WHITE LILY.
_Class and Order._
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ 6-petala, campanulata: linea longitudinali nectarifera.
_Caps._ valvulis pilo cancellato connexis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
LILIUM _candidum_ foliis sparsis, corollis campanulatis, intus
glabris. _Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 433._ _Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._
_Murr. p. 324._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 429._
LILIUM album flore erecto et vulgare. _Bauh. Pin. 76._
LILIUM album vulgare. The ordinary White Lily. _Park. Parad. p. 39.
t. 37. f. 4._
We may rank the White Lily among the very oldest inhabitants of the
flower-garden; in the time of GERARD it was very generally cultivated,
and doubtless at a much earlier period; a plant of such stateliness, so
shewy, so fragrant, and at the same time so much disposed to increase,
would of course soon be found very generally in gardens, into which its
introduction would be accelerated on another account; it was regarded as
a plant of great efficacy; among other extraordinary powers attributed
to it, we are gravely told that it taketh away the wrinkles of the face.
LINNÆUS makes it a native of Palestine and Syria; Mr. AITON of the
Levant.
Its blossoms, which open early in July, continue about three weeks, and
when they go off leave the flower-garden greatly thinned of its
inhabitants.
Of the White Lily there are three principal varieties:
1. With double flowers.
2. With flowers blotched with purple.
3. With striped leaves, or leaves edged with yellow.
The two first of these are to be esteemed merely as curiosities; in the
third the plant acquires an accession of beauty which it has not
originally; though many persons object to variegated leaves, as
conveying an idea of fickliness, that complaint cannot be urged against
the foliage of the striped Lily, to which the borders of the
flower-garden are indebted for one of their chief ornaments during the
autumnal and winter months; early in September these begin to emerge,
and towards spring another set rises up in their centre, of more upright
growth, and which announce the rising of the flowering stem.
Besides these varieties, LINNÆUS has considered the _Lilium album
floribus dependentibus s. peregrinum_ of C. BAUHINE, the _Sultan
Zambach_ of CLUSIUS, and the _Hortus Eystettensis_, as one of its
varieties also: MILLER regards this plant as a distinct species, and
those who have attentively examined the figures and descriptions of
CLUSIUS and the _Hort. Eyst._ will be of the same opinion.
The Lily increases most abundantly by offsets, hence it becomes
necessary that the bulbs should be taken up, and reduced every second or
third year; but the striped leaved variety increasing much more slowly,
should remain unmolested for a greater length of time.
There is scarcely a soil or situation in which the Lily will not grow,
it will thrive most in a soil moderately stiff and moist; though a
native of a warm climate no severity of weather affects it with us: we
may learn from this, not to regulate the culture of plants invariably by
the climate in which they grow spontaneously.
The best time for removing the bulbs of this plant is about the middle
of August, before they shoot forth their leaves; but they may be
transplanted any time from September to spring.
[Illustration: No 279]
[279]
PLUMERIA RUBRA. RED PLUMERIA.
_Class and Order._
PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
Contorta. _Folliculi_ 2. reflexi. _Semina_ membranæ propriæ
inserta.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
PLUMERIA _rubra_ foliis ovato-oblongis, petiolis biglandulosis.
_Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 254._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p.
298._
PLUMERIA flore roseo odoratissimo. _Tourn. Inst. 659._ _Trew.
Ehret. Tab. xli._
_Plumeria_ is a genus of plants named by TOURNEFORT in honour of his
countryman the celebrated PLUMIER, it comes near to Nerium or Oleander,
and contains several species, all natives of warm climates.
The present plant is a native of Jamaica, where it is known by the name
of Red Jasmine, from whence seeds and large cuttings are often sent to
this country; here they require the stove to bring them to flower:
seed-vessels they are never known to produce.
The flowers, which are very odoriferous, are produced in July and August
in large bunches, on the summits of the branches, from whence the leaves
also proceed; the stems, which grow to a considerable height as well as
thickness, are naked, and the whole plant loses its foliage from the
middle of winter till about the beginning of May; the branches and other
parts of the plant, when broken off, give forth a milky juice, the
leaves are handsome, and the veins remarkable.
Being too tender to bear the open air of this climate, it is kept in the
stove even during summer, in hot weather it must have plenty of air, and
in cold seasons be sparingly watered.
Is propagated by seeds, but more frequently by cuttings, which MILLER
recommends to be put by for two months or ten weeks, previous to their
being committed to the earth.
[Illustration: No 280]
[280]
APOCYNUM ANDROSÆMIFOLIUM. TUTSAN-LEAV'D, or FLY-CATCHING DOGSBANE.
_Class and Order._
PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ campanulata. _Glandulæ_ 5 cum staminibus alternæ.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
APOCYNUM _androsæmifolium_ caule rectiuseulo herbaceo, foliis
ovatis utrinque glabris, cymis terminalibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab.
ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 258._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 303._
APOCYNUM canadense; foliis androsæmi majoris. _Bocc. sicc. 35. t.
16. f. 3._ _Moris. Hist. 3. p. 609. s. 15. t. 3. f. 16._
In addition to the powerful recommendations of beauty and fragrance, the
Tutsan-leav'd Dogsbane interests us on account of the curious structure
of its flowers, and their singular property of catching flies.
This species is a native of different parts of North-America; Mr. W.
HALE, of Alton, Hants, who resided at Halifax in Nova-Scotia several
years, brought me some seeds of it gathered in that neighbourhood, which
vegetated, and produced flowering plants: it is not new to this country,
being known to MORISON who figures it, and to MILLER, who cultivated it
in 1731.
It is a hardy perennial plant, growing to about the height of a foot and
a half, or two feet, and flowering from the beginning of July, to
September; it has a creeping root, thereby it increases greatly in light
dry soils, and warm situations, so as even to be troublesome; it will
not thrive in a wet soil; with us it produces seed-vessels but rarely;
is propagated by parting its roots in Autumn or Spring; MILLER
recommends March as the most proper season, or it may be raised from
seeds, which in certain situations and seasons ripen here.
The flowers of this Apocynum have a sweet honey-like fragrance, which
perfumes the air to a considerable distance, and no doubt operates
powerfully in attracting insects; when a plant of this sort is fully
blown, one may always find flies caught in its blossoms, usually by the
trunk, very rarely by the leg; sometimes four, or even five, which is
the greatest possible number, are found in one flower, some dead, others
endeavouring to disentangle themselves, in which they are now and then
so fortunate as to succeed; these flies are of different species, the
_musca pipiens_, a slender variegated fly with thick thighs, is a very
common victim, the _musca domestica_, or house fly, we have never
observed among the captives.
Previous to our explaining the manner in which it appears to us that
these insects are caught, it will be necessary that we should describe,
in as plain a manner as possible, those parts of the flower which more
particularly constitute this fatal fly trap.
On looking into the flower we perceive five Stamina, the Antheræ of
which are large, of a yellow colour, and converge into a kind of cone;
each of these Antheræ is arrow-shaped, towards the top of the cone their
sides touch but do not adhere, below they separate a little, so as to
leave a very narrow opening or slit between each, they are placed on
very short filaments, which stand so far apart that a considerable
opening is left between them, which openings, however, are closed up by
processes of the corolla, nicely adapted to, and projecting into them;
at the bottom of, and in the very centre of the flower, we perceive two
germina, or seed-buds, the rudiments of future seed-vessels, surrounded
by glandular substances, secreting a sweet liquid; on the summit of
these germina, and betwixt the two, stands the stigma, in the form of a
little urn, the middle of which is encircled by a glandular ring, which
secretes a viscid honey-like substance, to this part of the stigma the
Antheræ interiorly adhere most tenaciously, so as to prevent their
separation unless considerable force be applied; it is, as we apprehend,
the sweet viscid substance thus secreted by the stigma, within the
Antheræ, which the fly endeavours to obtain, and to this end insinuates
its trunk first into the lowermost and widest part of the slit, betwixt
each of the Antheræ above described, pushing it of necessity upwards:
when gratified, not having the sense to place itself in the same
position as that in which it stood when it inserted its trunk, and to
draw it out in the same direction downwards, unfortunately for it, it
varies its position, and pulling its trunk upwards, draws it into the
narrow part of the slit, where it becomes closely wedged in, and the
more it pulls the more securely it is caught, and thus this heedless
insect, as THOMSON calls it, terminates its existence in captivity most
miserable.
In the incomparable poem of Dr. DARWIN, entitled the _Botanic Garden_,
there is a figure given of this plant; and in the Supplement we have the
following account written by Mr. DARWIN, of Elston.
"In the Apocynum Androsæmifolium the Anthers converge over the
nectaries, which consist of five glandular oval corpuscles, surrounding
the germ, and at the same time admit air to the nectaries at the
interstice between each anther; but when a fly inserts its proboscis
between these anthers to plunder the honey, they converge closer, and
with such violence as to detain the fly, which thus generally perishes."
This explanation of a phænomenon entitled to much attention, is widely
different from ours; which of the two is most consonant to truth and
nature, we shall leave to the determination of future observers.
In explaining the preceding appearances, to prevent confusion we called
those parts which form the cone in the middle of the flower Antheræ, but
strictly speaking they are not such, the true Antheræ being situated on
the inside of their summits, where they will be found to be ten in
number, making in fact the Apocynum a decandrous plant.
[281]
TURNERA ANGUSTIFOLIA. NARROW-LEAV'D TURNERA.
_Class and Order._
PENTANDRIA TRIGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-fidus, infundibuliformis, exterior 2-phyllus. _Petala_ 5
calyci inserta. _Stigmata_ multifida. _Caps._ 1-locularis,
3-valvis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
TURNERA _angustifolia_ floribus sessilibus petiolaribus, foliis
lanceolatis rugosis acuminatis. _Mill. Dict. ed. 6. 4to._
TURNERA frutescens folio longiore et mucronato. _Mart. Cent. 49. t.
49._
This plant here represented is generally known to the Nurserymen about
London as the _Turnera ulmifolia_, or _Elm-leav'd Turnera_, its foliage
however does not answer to the name, nor to the figures of the plant as
given by MARTYN in his _Cent. Pl._ and LINNÆUS in his _Hortus
Cliffortianus_, which figures indeed are so similar that they look like
copies of each other, these represent the true elm leaf; on the same
plate of _Martyn's Cent._ there is given a very excellent figure of what
he considers as another species of Turnera, vide Synon. and which
MILLER, who cultivated it about the year 1773, also describes as a
distinct species, under the name of _angustifolia_, asserting, from the
experience of thirty years, that plants raised from its seeds have
constantly differed from those of the _ulmifolia_; this is our plant,
which on his authority we have given as a species, though LINNÆUS
regards it as a variety.
PLUMIER gave to this genus the name of _Turnera_, in honour of Dr.
WILLIAM TURNER, a celebrated English Botanist and Physician, who
published an Herbal, black letter, folio, in 1568.
The present species is a native of the West-Indies, and is commonly
cultivated in our stoves, where it rises with a semi-shrubby stalk, to
the height of several feet, seldom continuing more than two or three
years; young plants generally come up in plenty from seeds spontaneously
scattered, so that a succession is easily obtained.
It flowers from June to August.
Its foliage has a disagreeable smell when bruised; its flowers are
shewy, but of short duration, and are remarkable for growing out of the
footstalk of the leaf.
[Illustration: No 281]
[Illustration: No 282]
[282]
HEDYSARUM OBSCURUM. CREEPING-ROOTED HEDYSARUM.
_Class and Order._
DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ carina transverse obtusa. _Legumen_ articulis 1-spermis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HEDYSARUM _obscurum_ foliis pinnatis, stipulis vaginalibus, caule
erecto flexuoso, floribus pendulis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._
_Murr. p. 676._ _Mant. 447._ _Jacq. Fl. Austr. v. 2. t. 168._
HEDYSARUM caule recto, ramoso; foliis ovatis; siliquis pendulis,
lævissimis, venosis. _Hall. Hist. Helv. n. 395._
ONOBRYCHIS semine clypeato lævi. _Bauh. Pin. 350._
Prof. JACQUIN, in the second volume of the _Flora austriaca_, gives an
excellent figure and accurate description of our plant, a native of the
Alps of Germany and Switzerland, and points out the characters in which
it differs from the _alpinum_, for which it has sometimes been mistaken.
It is a hardy perennial, rarely exceeding a foot in height, produces its
spikes of pendulous flowers, which are of a most beautiful purple
colour, in July and August; hitherto these have not been succeeded by
seed-vessels with us; though we have cultivated the plant for several
years.
Its size renders it a suitable plant for rock-work, on which it will
grow readily, increasing by its roots, which are of the creeping kind.
HALLER mentions a variety of it with white flowers.
[283]
MIMULUS RINGENS. NARROW-LEAVED MONKEY-FLOWER.
_Class and Order._
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 4-dentatus, prismaticus. _Cor._ ringens; labio superiore
lateribus replicato. _Caps._ 2-locularis, polysperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
MIMULUS _ringens_ erectus, foliis oblongis linearibus sessilibus.
_Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 575._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p.
361._
EUPHRASIA floridana lysimachiæ glabræ siliquosæ foliis, quadrato
caule ramosior. _Pluk. Amalth. 83. t. 393. f. 3._
LYSIMACHIA galericulata s. Gratiola elatior non ramosa, &c. _Gron.
Fl. Virg. p. 97._
DIGITALIS perfoliata glabra flore violaceo minore. _Moris. Hist. 2.
p. 479. s. 5. t. 8. f. 6._
CLAYTON, in the _Fl. Virg._ published by GRONOVIUS, describes this plant
as a native of Virginia, and says of it, "maddidis gaudet locis," it
delights in wet places: LINNÆUS makes it a native of Canada also.
It is a hardy, perennial, herbaceous plant, growing with us to the
height of about two feet, and producing its flowers, which are of a pale
violet colour, in July and August; these are frequently succeeded by
capsules containing perfect seeds, by which the plant may be propagated,
as also by parting its roots in Autumn; MILLER recommends the seeds to
be sown as soon as ripe.
The plant succeeds best in a moist and somewhat shady situation, with a
loamy soil.
A perusal of the synonyms will shew to what a variety of genera this
plant has been referred by different authors; LINNÆUS first gave to it
the name of _Mimulus_, of which term we find in his _Philosophia
Botanica_ the following concise explanation:--"MIMULUS mimus
personatus;" in plain English, a masked mimick: MIMMULUS is a classical
word for the Pedicularis, or Lousewort; the English term Monkey flower
has probably been given it, from an idea that _mimulus_ originated from
[Greek: mimô] a monkey, as in _mimusops_ monkey face.
[Illustration: No 283]
[284]
ROSA SEMPERFLORENS. EVER-BLOWING ROSE.
_Class and Order._
ICOSANDRIA POLYGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Petala_ 5. _Cal._ urceolatus, 5-fidus, carnosus, collo coarctatus,
demum baccatus, coloratus. _Antrum_ duplicatum, 1-loculare, superne
apertum, pericarpiis osseis intus nidulantibus.
_Specific Character._
ROSA _semperflorens_ caule aculeato, foliis subternis, pedunculis
subunifloris aculeato-hispidis, calycis laciniis integris.
We are induced to consider the rose here represented, as one of the most
desirable plants in point of ornament ever introduced to this country;
its flowers, large in proportion to the plant, are semi-double, and with
great richness of colour unite a most delightful fragrance; they blossom
during the whole of the year, more sparingly indeed in the winter
months; the shrub itself is more hardy than most greenhouse plants, and
will grow in so small a compass of earth, that it may be reared almost
in a coffee cup; is kept with the least possible trouble, and propagated
without difficulty by cuttings or suckers.
For this invaluable acquisition, our country is indebted to the late
GILBERT SLATER, Esq. of Knots-Green, near Laytonstone, whose untimely
death every person must deplore, who is a friend to improvements in
ornamental gardening: in procuring the rarer plants from abroad, more
particularly from the East-Indies, Mr. SLATER was indefatigable, nor was
he less anxious to have them in the greatest perfection this country
will admit; to gain this point there was no contrivance that ingenuity
could suggest, no labour, no expence withheld; such exertions must soon
have insured him the first collection of the plants of India: it is now
about three years since he obtained this rose from China; as he readily
imparted his most valuable acquisitions to those who were most likely to
increase them, this plant soon became conspicuous in the collections of
the principal Nurserymen near town, and in the course of a few years
will, no doubt, decorate the window of every amateur.
The largest plants we have seen have not exceeded three feet, it may no
doubt be trained to a much greater height; a variety of it much more
robust, having usually several flowers on a footstalk, of a pale red
colour, and semi-double also, has more lately been introduced, and as
far as we can learn from the same source.
[Illustration: No 284]
[Illustration: No 285]
[285]
JASMINUM ODORATISSIMUM. SWEETEST JASMINE.
_Class and Order._
DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Corolla_ hypocrateriformis. _Bacca_ dicocca. _Semina_ solitaria,
arillata.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
JASMINUM _odoratissimum_ foliis alternis obtusiusculis ternatis
pinnatisque, ramis teretibus, laciniis calycinis brevissimis. _Ait.
Hort. H. v. 1. p. 10._ _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 56._
JASMINUM flavum odoratum. _Barr. Ic. 62._
The flowers of most of the species of Jasmine are odoriferous, trivial
names therefore expressive of this quality are ineligible, as wanting
character; the present name is peculiarly objectionable, inasmuch as
several other species are greatly superior to this in point of
fragrance; a lesson for Botanists to abstain from trivial names of the
superlative degree, such as _odoratissimum_, _foetidissimum_,
_maximum_, _minimum_, &c.
The present species, according to Mr. AITON, is a native of Madeira, and
was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1730; it is now a plant common in most
greenhouses: it will form a shrub of considerable size, which requires
no support; its leaves are glossy, inclining to yellow, growing for the
most part three together, sometimes pinnated; its blossoms, which are
yellow, make their appearance from May to November: in point of
hardiness it is superior to many greenhouse plants, and may be
propagated without difficulty by cuttings.
[286]
PORTLANDIA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWERED PORTLANDIA.
_Class and Order._
PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._