_Winter Aconite._
_Class and Order._--POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA.
Syn. Eranthis hyemalis. _Salisbury_, _Lin. Soc. Trans._ _Vol._ 8. _p._
303.
Helleborus hyemalis. _Curt. Bot. Mag._ _Vol._ 1. _p._ 3.
Root tuberous--leaves radical, on long petioles, radiated, palmate,
lobes generally trifid--scape radical, one flowered--involucrum
sessile, lobed, becoming larger when the flower decays--corolla
yellow--petals six, or sometimes more, obovate, nectaries tubular,
stamens from twenty to thirty--anthers compressed--styles many.
The genus Eranthis, which was established by Salisbury, differs from
Helleborus in the number of its petals and stamens, the latter in
Eranthis are from twenty to thirty, in Helleborus, from thirty to
sixty; the seed in the former genus being in one series, the latter
in two series, the difference of habit, &c., altogether forming good
grounds for making them separate genera. This pretty species which
flowers about January is a native of France, Switzerland, and Austria,
and was cultivated in our gardens as long since as 1596;--it grows best
in a light loam mixed with bog, and is propagated by offsets. There is
another species Eranthis Siberica.
Pl. 53.
[Illustration: _Plate 54._ _Erica carnea._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
ERICA carnea.
_Flesh colored, early Flowering Heath._
_Class and Order._--OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Syn. Erica carnea. _Jacquin's Flo. Austr._ _Vol._ 1. _tab._ 32.
Erica carnea. _Loddige's Bot. Cab._ _p._ 1452.
Erica herbacea. _Curt. Bot. Mag._ _pl._ 11.
Root fibrous--stem branching upon the ground, leaves small, linear,
sessile--flowers pendulous, on very short peduncles--calyx four
segments, linear acute--corolla campanulate, pale pink, margin
four cleft--stamens eight fixed to the receptacle, anthers bifid,
projecting, dark purple--style declining, longer than the stamens.
This pretty little plant would be acceptable to us at any season of the
year, but is peculiarly so in the dreary one in which its beautiful
pink blossoms appear, frequently peeping above the snow. The flowers
are formed in the autumn, but do not come to maturity until the
following December or January, when (if planted in a bog border with a
south aspect) it will make a beautiful appearance for a length of time.
It is a native of the Alps and mountainous parts of Germany, and was
introduced into this country about the year 1763; the general method
of increasing this plant is by cuttings or layers,--there are other
species of hardy heaths which are well worth cultivating. The three
last mentioned are natives of Britain.
E. Mediterranea.
-- ciliaris.
-- carnea var.
-- Australis.
-- tetralia.
-- vagans.
-- stricta.
Pl. 54.
[Illustration: _Plate 55._ _Galanthus Nivalis._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
GALANTHUS nivalis.
_Common Snowdrop._
_Class and Order._--HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Syn. Galanthus nivalis. _English Bot._ _pl._ 19.
Root bulbous.--Scape from three to five inches high, one flowered.
Leaves two, broadly linear, obtuse, glaucous green, sheathing the
lower part of the stem.--Flower drooping, bursting from a sheath,
lanceolate.--Corolla white, petals three, oblong, obtuse--nectaries
three emarginate, beautifully tipped with green--stamens six, anthers
subulate--style one, stigma simple.
This beautiful flower so well known, and so peculiarly interesting from
its modest simplicity, hardly requires a description of its treatment
or mode of growth. It is a native of England, having been found in
many places remote from cultivation, and will grow in any soil or
situation.--A double var. is frequently met with in our gardens, there
is also another species G. plicatus, a native of Caucasus.
Pl. 55.
[Illustration: _Plate 9._ _Cyclamen Coum._
_Drawn from nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
CYCLAMEN Coum.
_Round leaved Cyclamen._
_Class and Order._--PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Syn. Cyclamen Coum. _Cur. Bot. Mag._ _pl._ 4.
-- Cyclamen Coum. _Hor. Kew._ 1 _vol._ _p._ 311.
Root bulbous, orbicular, compressed. Leaves radical, on rather long
purplish petioles, orbicular, cordate, upper side dark green, red
underneath--stem radical, three or four inches high, flower terminal,
drooping--calyx five segments acute--petals five, reflexed, ovate,
margins undulate, dark pink, marked with red at the base, which is
shaded off to a pure white, stamens five enclosed in the tube of the
corolla, style longer than the stamens, stigma acute.
This pretty plant which is one of the earliest of our Spring bulbs,
is a native of the south of Europe, and has been known since the year
1596, when it was cultivated by Mr. John Gerard. It is very hardy,
though generally treated as a green-house or frame plant, and if grown
in a sheltered situation in a mixture of bog earth, and rich loam, it
will flower abundantly, and make a beautiful appearance about February,
particularly if covered with a hand-glass to protect the flowers from
the inclemency of the weather.
This plant is easily raised from seed, which is produced in abundance.
After the petals decay the germen becomes enlarged, and the foot stalk
enclosing it in the centre, twists in the form of a screw, until it
reaches the ground, when the seed-vessel bursts and deposits the seed,
a beautiful provision of nature for propagating the species--the seeds
thus sown, will require a little more soil, and the protection of a
hand-glass during the Winter, when if not destroyed by frost, the
plants will generally flower the following Summer--the other hardy
species are
C. hederæfolium.
---- var.
-- europæum.
Pl. 9.
[Illustration: _Plate 10._ _Hyoscyamus Orientalis._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
HYOSCYAMUS Orientalis.
_Oriental Hyoscyamus._
_Class and Order._--PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Syn. Hyoscyamus Orientalis. _Beburstein Fl. Taur. Cauc._ _vol._ 1. _p._
164.
-- Hyoscyamus Orientalis. _Curt. Bot. Mag._ _pl._ 2414.
Root tuberous--stem erect, growing to the height of one foot or
more--leaves on rather long petioles, broadly lanceolate, spreading,
margins undulate, of a dull green, strongly veined with red--under
side reddish in the young leaves--flowers thyrsiform--on short
pedicels--calyx campanulate, margin five cleft, segments acute,
tinged with purple--corolla lilac, funnel shaped, limb spreading,
five cleft--stamens five, inclined, shorter than the style--stigma
clavate--whole plant covered with a whitish pubescence which it nearly
loses in more advanced growth.
The genus Hyoscyamus is, perhaps, more remarkable for its medicinal
properties than for its beauty, though this species is certainly a
handsome plant and as yet rarely met with:--it is of later introduction
than Hyoscyamus Physaloides, which has a darker flower, the leaves
perfectly smooth, and the plant altogether is of smaller growth. H.
Orientalis is a native of Iberia, a country between the Black and
Caspian Seas, and was first introduced into this country from seeds
sent to Mr. John Hunneman, about the year 1821; it is perfectly hardy,
likes a rich soil, and may be increased by parting the roots or by
seed; flowers as early as March. There is only another species besides
the two mentioned, deserving of cultivation in a flower garden, which
is H. Scopoli.
Pl. 10.
[Illustration: _Plate 11._ _Orobus Vernus._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
OROBUS Vernus.
_Spring Orobus._
_Class and Order._--DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
Syn. Orobus Vernus. _Car. Bot. Mag._ _pl._ 521.
-- Orobus Vernus. _Hor. Kew._ _vol._ 3. _p._ 38.
Root fibrous--stem erect, branching, one foot or more in
height--stipules large, sagittate, auriculate--leaves
pinnate--leaflets ovate, acute--peduncles long, axillary--pedicels
very short--calyx five cleft, base obtuse, tinted with red--flower
papilionaceous--vexillum pink, broadly ovate, margin undulate--alæ
blue, obtuse; carina white--stamens ten, united by their filaments
into two parcels, nine in one set, with a single one separate--style
one.
The Orobus vernus is a most valuable Spring flower, and is one of the
earliest of our herbaceous plants;--it is a native of the middle and
south of Europe, and was first introduced into this country about the
year 1629;--a light soil suits it best, though being very hardy it will
flourish in any situation, and considering the facility with which it
is cultivated, it is surprizing it is not more common;--it flowers in
March, and is increased by dividing the roots or by seed--some of the
most desirable species are
O. niger.
-- varius.
-- lathyroides.
-- luteus.
albus.
tuberosus.
variegatus.
ochroleucus.
Pl. 11.
[Illustration: _Plate 12._ _Uvularia Grandiflora._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
UVULARIA Grandiflora.
_Large flowered Uvularia._
_Class and Order._--HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Syn. Uvularia Grandiflora. _Exotic Botany_, _Tab._ 51.
-- Uvularia Grandiflora. _Pursh Flo. N. A._ _Vol._ 1. _p._ 231.
-- Uvularia Grandiflora. _Hortus Kewensis_, 2. _Vol._ _p._ 247.
Root tuberous--stem a foot or more in height, radical, erect, sheathed
at the base, branching towards the summit--petioles flexuose--leaves
perfoliate, broadly lanceolate, undulate--peduncles axillary--flowers
pendulous--calyx none--corolla yellow, petals six, linear,
tortuose--stamens six, filaments short--anthers oblong, linear--germen
obovate--style one, stigma divided into three parts--nectary a cavity
at the base of each petal.
The genus Uvularia is neither a numerous, nor a showy one, though the
species figured (which is the finest) is a very elegant plant, and if
placed in the front of a bog border, the soil of which is peculiarly
adapted to it, will add much to the beauty of the flower garden about
April. In 1802, Messrs. Lee and Kennedy received this species from
North America, and according to Pursh, it is found on shady hills in
fertile soils, and among the rocks from Canada to Carolina;--it is
perfectly hardy, and may be increased by parting the roots early in the
Autumn.