[Illustration: N^o. 322]
Linnaeus describes this plant in the _Amoenitates Academicae_ under the
name of _Selago tomentosa_, by which name he continues to call it in the
third edition of the _Spec. Pl._ in his _Mantissa_ he describes it more
minutely, and changes it to the Genus _Manulea_, first established by
him in the said work; he observes, that in this species the corolla is
more regular than in the others.
Mr. Aiton regards it as a biennial, its stalk is a foot or a foot and a
half high, and woolly, its branches are opposite, not alternate as
Linnaeus describes them; in this perhaps they may vary; leaves opposite,
sessile, obovate, narrowing to the base, toothed on the edge, edge
rolled back a little in the young leaves, flowers grow in a long
thyrsus, from two to five proceed from one common short peduncle; they
are at first lemon-coloured, or greenish yellow, finally deep orange;
Linnaeus says the whole of the plant except the corolla is woolly, the
tube of that even is hairy, the segments are smooth, with their edges
rolled back, the upper part of the tube in which the stamina are
included is dilated somewhat, as is also the lower part, so that it is
narrowest in the middle. The flowers which make their appearance from
May to November are usually succeeded by seeds, by which the plant is
propagated.
It is a native of the Cape, and, according to Mr. Aiton, was introduced
by Mr. Masson, in 1774.
The blossoms have a singular but unpleasant smell, not perceivable at a
distance.
The variety of pleasant colours so conspicuous in the flowers, renders
this rare plant desirable to such as aim at a general collection.
[323]
Rubus Odoratus. Flowering Raspberry.
_Class and Order._
Icosandria Polygynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Petala_ 5. _Bacca_ composita acinis monospermis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
RUBUS _odoratus_ foliis simplicibus palmatis, caule inermi
multifolio multifloro. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 475._
_Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 210._