[Illustration: N^o. 298]
By the name of Dittany of Crete, the species of Origanum here figured,
has long been known in this country as a medicinal plant; to the
purposes of physic it still indeed continues to be applied, as imported
in a dried state from the Levant: when bruised, the whole plant gives
forth an aromatic fragrance, highly grateful; as an ornamental plant, it
has also been long, and is now, very generally cultivated in this
country. Turner, whose Herbal was printed in 1568, writes thus
concerning it, "I have sene it growynge in England in Maister Riches
gardin naturally, but it groweth no where ellis that I know of, saving
only in Candy." As at this period no idea was entertained of a
greenhouse, the plant must have been cultivated in the open ground,
where it would doubtless grow readily, if secured from the severity of
the weather, it being more hardy than many plants usually kept in
greenhouses.
This plant is at all times ornamental, but more particularly so when in
flower, in which state it appears during most of the summer and autumnal
months.
It is usually increased by cuttings, which strike readily.
[299]
Hermannia Alnifolia. Alder-Leaved Hermannia.
_Class and Order._
Monadelphia Pentandria.
_Generic Character._
Pentagyna. _Caps._ 5-locularis. _Petala_ basi semitubulata,
obliqua.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HERMANNIA _alnifolia_ foliis cuneiformibus lineatis plicatis
crenato-emarginatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 610._
_Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 412._
ARBUSCULA africana tricapsularis ononidis vernae singulari folio.
_Pluk. Mant. 14. t. 239. f. 1._
[Illustration: N^o. 299]
_Hermannia_ is a genus of plants named in honour of Dr. Paul Herman, a
Dutch Botanist of great celebrity, author of the _Paradisus Batavus_,
and other valuable works: twenty-six species are enumerated in the 13th
edition of the _Syst. Naturae_ of Linnaeus by Prof. Gmelin, and eight in
the _Hortus Kewensis_ of Mr. Aiton; most of those in the latter work are
cultivated in the nurseries near town: they form a set of the more hardy
greenhouse plants, grow readily, and flower freely; their blossoms are
for the most part yellow, and have a considerable affinity with those of
the _Mahernia_.
The present species flowers very early in the spring, from February to
May, producing a great profusion of bloom during that period; is a
native of the Cape, and was cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 1728.
It rarely ripens its seeds with us, but is readily increased by
cuttings.
The nurserymen near town regard this plant as the _grossularifolia_ of
Linnaeus, calling another, equally common species, with longer and
narrower leaves, _alnifolia_, and which does not appear to be described
by Linnaeus or mentioned by Mr. Aiton; our plant accords exactly with the
Linnaean description of _alnifolia_, and there is we think no doubt of
its being the _alnifolia_ of the _Hortus Kewensis_, and Mr. Miller's
_Dictionary_.
[300]
Gnaphalium Eximium. Giant Cudweed.
_Class and Order._
Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua.
_Generic Character._
_Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ plumosus vel capillaris. _Cal._
imbricatus, squamis marginalibus rotundatis, scariosis, coloratis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
GNAPHALIUM _eximium_ foliis sessilibus ovatis confertis erectis
tomentosis, corymbo sessili. _Linn. Mant. Pl. p. 573._ _Syst. Nat.
ed. 13. Gmel._
ELYCHRYSUM africanum foliis lanceolatis integris tomentosis
decurrentibus, capitulus congestis ex rubello aureis. _Edw. Av. t.
183._
[Illustration: N^o. 300]
In the summer of 1794, towards the end of July, the Gnaphalium here
figured, the most magnificent and shewy of all the species hitherto
introduced to this country, flowered in great perfection at Messrs. Lee
and Kennedy's, Hammersmith: Mr. Lee informs me, that he raised it from
seeds given him by Capt. William Paterson, author of a Narrative of four
journeys into the country of the Hottentots, and Caffraria, and who has
most laudably exerted himself in introducing many new and interesting
plants to this country; this gentleman assured Mr. Lee, that the plant
was found in a wild state, five hundred miles from the Cape, on the
borders of the Caffre country, from whence the natives bring bundles of
the dried plant to the Cape as presents; in the state the plant has long
since been imported from that fertile coast: if we mistake not, a
specimen of this sort is figured in Petiver's works, and a coloured
representation is given of it in Edwards's History of Birds, taken from
a dried plant, brought from the Cape, by Capt. Isaac Worth, in 1749.
The plants we saw were about a foot and a half high, the stalks shrubby,
and but little branched; the foliage and flowers as represented on the
plate.
Several of the Gnaphaliums it is well known are liable to be killed by
moisture, especially in the winter season; during that time, this plant
in particular, should be kept as dry as possible, and, if convenient, on
a shelf, separate from the other plants of the greenhouse; when it is
necessary to give it water, it should never come in contact with the
foliage or flowers: with these precautions it may be kept very well in a
good greenhouse, in which it should remain, even during summer.
It may be raised from seeds, and also from cuttings.
[301]
Melianthus Minor. Small Melianthus, or Honey-Flower.
_Class and Order._
Didynamia Angiospermia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus: folio inferiore gibbo. _Petala_ 4: nectario infra
infima. _Caps._ 4-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
MELIANTHUS _minor_ stipulis geminis distinctis. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 581._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 368._