[Illustration: N^o. 319]
In Italy and Spain, where this plant grows spontaneously, it is an
annual, producing seed in abundance; with us (as far at least as we have
observed) it produces no seed, but like the _Senecio elegans_, and some
other annuals, is renewed, and rendered perennial by cuttings, which
strike freely, and by which the plant requires to be renovated once or
twice in a season; though described as growing with an upright stem, it
requires to be tied up to a stick; and if this be neatly and dexterously
done, its brilliant azure flowers springing from every side of the stem,
render it a charming ornament for the greenhouse or window: it flowers
during most of the year.
Clusius called it _Anagallis Monnelli_, the first knowledge he had of
the plant being from his friend Johannes Monnellus.
On the same plant we find the leaves grow two, three, or four together,
with flowers corresponding.
[320]
Lobelia Cardinalis. Scarlet Lobelia, or Cardinal's Flower.
_Class and Order._
Syngenesia Monogamia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Cor._ 1-petala, irregularis. _Caps._ infera 2, s.
3-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
LOBELIA _cardinalis_ caule erecto, foliis lato-lanceolatis
serratis, racemo terminali secundo. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14._
_Murr. p. 801._ _Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 284._
RAPUNTIUM galeatum virginianum, coccineo flore majore. _Moris.
Hist. 2. p. 466. s. 5. t. 5. f. 54._
TRACHELIUM Americarum flore ruberrimo, sive Planta Cardinalis. The
rich crimson Cardinal's Flower. _Park. Parad. p. 356. t. 355._
[Illustration: N^o. 320]
This species of _Lobelia_, so eminently distinguished for the richness
of its scarlet blossoms, is a native of the colder as well as warmer
parts of North-America. Parkinson, who cultivated it in 1629, informs us
that he received plants of it from France for his garden, and that "it
groweth neere the river of Canada, where the French plantation in
America is seated."
It is a hardy herbaceous plant, growing in favourable situations to the
height of three or four feet; the main spike of flowers which terminates
the stalk, is often a foot in length; by the time that most of its
flowers are blown, side branches shoot out, and flower; so that the
plant continues in bloom six weeks or two months: if the Autumn prove
favourable, the plant with us produces plenty of seed in the open
ground; to insure its ripening, some place pots of it, when blowing, in
the greenhouse or stove.
Beautiful and hardy as this plant is, and long as it has been introduced
to this country, we do not find it generally in gardens; we attribute
this to its having, in a greater degree than many other plants, a
partiality for a particular soil; in certain districts, where the soil
is stiff and moist, it grows as freely as any weed, in other soils it is
perpetually going off: it is also one of those plants whose roots
require to be often parted; if this be done every Autumn, and they be
planted in a stiff loam, the situation somewhat moist and shady, this
very desirable plant may be had to grow and blossom in perfection.
It flowers from the latter end of July to October.
Is increased by parting its roots, by cuttings of the stalk and from
seed.
[321]
Cotyledon Orbiculata. Round-Leaved Navel-Wort.
_Class and Order._
Decandria Pentagynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Cor._ 1-petala. _Squamae_ nectariferae 5 ad basin
germinis. _Caps._ 5.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
COTYLEDON _orbiculata_ foliis orbiculatis carnosis planis
integerrimis, caule fruticoso. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14._ _Murr. p.
428._ _Ait. Kew. var. [delta] v. 2. p. 106._
COTYLEDON africanum frutescens incanum orbiculatis foliis. _Herm.
Lugd. 349. t. 551._ _Moris. Hist. 3. p. 474. s. 12. t. 7 f. 39._
[Illustration: N^o. 321]
The _Cotyledon orbiculata_ is one of our oldest succulents, being
introduced as long since as 1690, by Mr. Bentick[C]: it still retains a
place in most collections, deservedly indeed, for it has every claim to
our notice; its appearance is magnificent, the glaucous colour of its
foliage highly pleasing, its flowers large and of long duration; it
blows freely, grows rapidly, is easily increased by cuttings, and will
succeed in a house or window, with the common treatment of an African
Geranium.
When suffered to grow, it will become a shrub of considerable size; but
this is not necessary for its flowering, as young and small plants are
disposed to throw out blossoms, which is not the case with a plant
extremely similar to, and often confounded with it, viz. the _Crassula
Cotyledon_, whose foliage indeed scarcely differs from our plant but in
being finely dotted.
It is a native of the Cape, and flowers from June or July to September.
In the _Hort. Kew._ of Mr. Aiton, four varieties are enumerated,
differing chiefly in the form of their foliage.
[Footnote C: Ait. Kew.]
[322]
Manulea Tomentosa. Woolly Manulea.
_Class and Order._
Didynamia Angiospermia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-partitus. _Cor._ limbo 5-partito, subulato: laciniis
superioribus 4 magis connexis. _Caps._ 2-locularis, polysperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
MANULEA _tomentosa_ foliis tomentosis, caulibus foliosis,
pedunculis multifloris. _Linn. Mant. 420. Syst. Veget. ed. 14._
_Murr. p. 569._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 356._
SELAGO _tomentosa_ foliis obovatis crenatis, caule prostrato,
racemis ramosis. _Linn. Amoen. Acad. v. 6. p. 90._ _Sp. Pl. ed. 3.
p. 877._