[Illustration: N^o. 313]
This charming little shrub is a native of Switzerland and Austria:
Clusius informs us that it grows in great abundance on many of the
mountains near Vienna, so much so that women gather it when in flower
and sell it in the markets; its beautiful and fragrant blossoms come
forth in April and May, the principal season for its flowering, but it
frequently blows during most of the Summer, and even in the Autumn; it
varies with white blossoms.
It is extremely hardy, thrives remarkably well in road sand in almost
any situation; is propagated by seeds, which very rarely ripen with us,
by layers, and by grafting it on the stock of the Mezereon, whereby it
acquires an elevation superior to what it has naturally.
[314]
Genista Triquetra. Triangular-Stalk'd Genista.
_Class and Order._
Diadelphia Decandria.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 2-labiatus: 2/3. _Vexillum_ oblongum a pistillo
staminibusque deorsum reflexum.
_Specific Character._
GENISTA _triquetra_ foliis ternatis, summis simplicibus, ramis
triquetris procumbentibus. _L'Herit. Stirp. nov. t. 88._ _Ait. Kew.
v. 3. p. 14._
[Illustration: N^o. 314]
Mons. L'Heritier, author of many modern publications in Botany,
distinguished for their accuracy and elegance, was the first who
described and figured this species of Genista, a native of Corsica, and
cultivated here by John Ord, Esq. as long since as the year 1770.
It is a hardy, evergreen, trailing shrub, producing a vast profusion of
bloom; which renders it eminently conspicuous in May and June; its
flowers are rarely succeeded by seed-vessels, so that it is usually
propagated by layers.
When tied up properly, and carefully trained to stake, it may vie with
most of our ornamental shrubs: for covering a wall, or paling, where the
situation is not too shady, it probably would succeed very well, at
least it is deserving of trial.
[315]
Pelargonium Ceratophyllum. Horn-Leaved Crane's Bill.
_Class and Order._
Monadelphia Heptandria.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem,
nectariferum, secus pendunculum decurrentem. _Cor._ 5-petala,
irregularis. _Filam._ 10 inaequalia, quorum 3 raro 5 castrata.
_Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus, rostra spiralia introrsum barbata.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
PELARGONIUM _ceratophyllum_ umbellis multifloris, foliis remote
pinnatis carnosis teretibus, laciniis canaliculatis obsolete
trifidis. _L'Herit. Geran. n. 50. t. 13._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2 p. 422._
[Illustration: N^o. 315]
Mr. Aiton informs us that this species of Pelargonium, which is one of
the more fleshy kinds, is a native of the South-West Coast of Africa,
and was introduced to the Royal Garden at Kew by Mr. Anthony Hove in
1786.
It flowers during most of the Summer months, and ripens its seeds, by
which it may be increased, as also by cuttings; it is found to be more
tender than many others, and more liable to be injured by damps, and
hence it will require a treatment more applicable to a dry stove plant.
[316]
Polygala Chamaebuxus. Box-Leaved Milk-Wort.
_Class and Order._
Diadelphia Octandria.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus: foliolis 2 majoribus alaeformibus, ante
maturitatem seminis coloratis. _Caps._ obcordata, 2-locularis.
_Sem._ solitaria.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
POLYGALA _Chamaebuxus_ floribus sparsis: carinae apice subrotundo,
foliis lanceolatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 639._
_Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 4._ _Jacq. Fl. Austr. v. 3. p. 19. t. 233._