[304]
Hermannia Lavendulifolia. Lavender-Leaved Hermannia.
_Class and Order._
Monadelphia Pentandria.
_Generic Character._
Pentagyna. _Caps._ 5-locularis. _Petala_ basi semitubulata,
obliqua.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HERMANNIA _lavendulifolia_ foliis lanceolatis obtusis integerrimis.
_Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 611._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p.
413._
HERMANNIA frutescens folio Lavendulae latiore et obtuso flore parvo
aureo Boerh. _Dill. Hort. Elth. t. 147._
[Illustration: N^o. 304]
The _Hermannia_ here figured is a plant of humble growth, forming a
small bushy shrub, a foot or a foot and a half in height, and producing
numerous flowers thinly scattered over the branches, the greatest part
of the summer; it is this disposition which it has of flowering so
freely, that renders it a desirable plant for the greenhouse, in which
it is commonly kept, and of which it is an old inhabitant.
Dillenius has figured it in his admirable work the _Hortus Elthamensis_,
published in 1732; hence we learn that it was cultivated in Mr.
Sherard's celebrated garden at Eltham prior to that date.
It is a native of the Cape, and is readily increased by cuttings.
[305]
Amaryllis Equestris. Barbadoes Amaryllis, or Lily.
_Class and Order._
Hexandria Monogynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ hexapetaloidea, irregularis. _Filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta,
declinata, inaequalia proportione vel directione. _Linn. fil._
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
AMARYLLIS _equestris_ spatha subbiflora, pedicellis erectis spatha
brevioribus, tubo siliformi horizontali, limbo oblique patulo
sursum curvo, fauce, pilosa. _Linn. fil. Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 417._
AMARYLLIS dubia _Linn. Am. Ac. 8. p. 254_.
LILIUM americanum puniceo flore Belladonna dictum. _Herm. Par. Bat.
p. 194. cum fig._
[Illustration: N^o. 305]
Mr. Aiton, in his _Hortus Kewensis_, has inserted this species of
Amaryllis, as named and described by the younger Linnaeus; he informs us,
that it is a native of the West-Indies, and was introduced by Dr.
William Pitcairn, in 1778: as its time of flowering is not mentioned, we
may presume, that it had not blossomed in the royal garden when the
publication before mentioned first made its appearance; it no doubt has
since, as we have seen it in that state in the collections of several
Nurserymen, particularly those of Mr. Grimwood and Mr. Colvill.
It flowers towards the end of April.
The flowering stem rises above the foliage, to the height of about a
foot or more, produces from one to three flowers, similar to, but not
quite so large as those of the Mexican Amaryllis, to which it is nearly
related; it differs however from that plant essentially in this, that
the lower part of the flower projects further than the upper, which
gives to its mouth that obliquity which Linnaeus describes.
The spatha is composed of two leaves, which standing up at a certain
period of the plant's flowering like ears, give to the whole flower a
fancied resemblance of a horse's head; whether Linnaeus derived his name
of _equestris_ from this circumstance or not, he does not condescend to
inform us.
Mr. Aiton regards it as a greenhouse plant; like those of many of the
Ixias, however, the bulbs are of the more tender kind.
It is propagated by offsets, but not very readily.
[306]
Othonna Pectinata. Wormwood-Leaved Othonna.
_Class and Order._
Syngenesia Polygamia Necessaria.
_Generic Character._
_Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ subnullus, _Cal._ 1-phyllus multifidus
subcylindricus.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
OTHONNA _pectinata_ foliis pinnatifidis: laciniis linearibus
parallelis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 793._ _Ait.
Kew. v. 3. p. 276._
JACOBAEA africana frutescens, foliis absinthii umbelliferi incanis.
_Comm. hort. 2. p. 137. t. 69._
[Illustration: N^o. 306]
The _Othonna pectinata_ is a native of Africa, a long-established and
common plant in greenhouses, having been cultivated by Mr. Miller, in
1731; it recommends itself chiefly on account of its foliage, which
forms a pleasing contrast to the darker greens of other plants.
It flowers in May and June, is moderately hardy, and readily increased
by cuttings.
In many collections we meet with old plants of it three or four feet
high; formerly, when greenhouse plants were few in numbers and the
houses large, it might be proper to keep such; but now there is not that
necessity, especially since the vast accession of plants from the Cape
and New-Holland, made within these few years.
[307]
Hermannia Althaeifolia. Marsh-Mallow-Leaved Hermannia.
_Class and Order._
Monadelphia Pentandria.
_Generic Character._
Pentagyna. _Caps._ 5-locularis. _Petala_ basi semitubulata,
obliqua.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HERMANNIA _althaeifolia_ foliis ovatis crenatis plicatis tomentosis,
calycibus florentibus campanulatis angulatis, stipulis oblongis
foliaceis. _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 411._
HERMANNIA _althaeifolia_ foliis ovatis plicatis crenatis tomentosis.
_Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 610._