[Illustration: N^o. 308]
It has fallen to the lot of this plant to have an unusual degree of
attention bestowed on it by various botanists, and after being regarded
as a distinct genus by several, to be finally classed with the
_Verbena_; in the _Supplementum Plantarum_ of the younger Linnaeus it is
minutely described.
We learn from the _Hortus Kewensis_ of Mr. Aiton that it is a native of
North-America, introduced by Mons. Richard in 1774, and that it flowers
in June and July.
The extreme brilliancy of its colours renders it a very ornamental
greenhouse plant, it seldom grows above the height of two feet; in
favourable seasons ripens its seeds readily, by which it is usually
propagated, being a biennial.
[309]
Pelargonium Echinatum. Prickly-Stalked Geranium.
_Class and Order._
Monadelphia Heptandria.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem
nectariferum secus pendunculum decurrentem. _Cor._ 5 petala
irregularis. _Filamenta_ 10, inaequalia, quorum 3 raro 5 castrata.
_Fructus_ 5 coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ spiralia, introrsum
barbata.
_Specific Character._
PERLARGONIUM _echinatum_ caule carnoso, stipulis spinescentibus,
foliis cordato-subrotundis 3-5 lobis, floribus umbellatis, umbellis
subseptemfloris.
[Illustration: N^o. 309]
This singular and most beautiful species of Pelargonium, recently
introduced to this country, this Summer flowered with Mr. Colvill,
Nurseryman, in the King's-Road, Chelsea, from one of whose plants our
figure and description have been taken.
Stalk green, surface smooth and somewhat glossy, fleshy, beset with
spines which bend back and terminate in brownish somewhat weak points;
these appear to have been primarily the stipulae, which become thus
fleshy and rigid, and from this circumstance not altogether peculiar to
this species, it takes the name of _echinatum_; the leaves stand on long
footstalks, are somewhat heart-shaped, mostly roundish, divided into
three or five lobes, veiny, soft, and downy, especially on the under
side, which is of a much lighter colour than the upper, the flowering
stem proceeds from the summit of the stalk, and is a foot or more in
height; as it advances it throws out its branches, or peduncles,
ultimately about five in number, each of which has a leaf at its base,
similar to the other leaves of the plant, but smaller, and terminates in
an umbel of seven or eight flowers; as the umbels blossom in succession,
a period of several months usually intervenes betwixt the blowing of the
first and the last; when the flower is expanded, the hindmost leaf of
the calyx continues upright, the others are reflexed as in other species
of this genus, they are all beset with fine long hairs; the three
lowermost petals are pure white, with a little gibbosity at the base of
each, the two uppermost are marked each with three irregular spots, of a
rich purple colour, inclining to carmine, the two lowermost spots
narrowest and of the deepest colour; of the stamina there are six
filaments which have antherae, and four of which have none; stigma red,
divided into five parts, and a little longer than the fertile filaments.
In its habit this plant resembles somewhat the _Pelargonium
cordifolium_, is a native of the Cape, flowers from May to September, in
favourable seasons has produced seeds here, but is more usually
increased by cuttings.
Varies with petals of a rich purple colour, in which the spots are
similar, though not so conspicuous.
[310]
Erinus Alpinus. Alpine Erinus.
_Class and Order._
Didynamia Angiospermia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Cor._ Limbus 5-fidus aequalis. _Caps._
2-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ERINUS _alpinus_ floribus racemosis, foliis spathulatis. _Linn.
Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 570._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 357._