U. amplexifolia.
-- lanceolata.
-- perfoliata.
-- sessilifolia.
Pl. 12.
[Illustration: _Plate 13._ _Gentiana Verna._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
GENTIANA verna.
_Spring Gentian._
_Class and Order._--PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA.
Syn. Gentiana verna. _Eng. Bot._ _pl._ 493.
-- Gentiana verna. _Curt. Bot. Mag._ _pl._ 491.
Root fibrous, creeping--stem procumbent, leafy,--leaves sessile, oval,
acute, opposite, clustered near the root--flowers terminal--calyx
five cleft, acute--corolla brilliant blue, monopetalous, tube long,
limb spreading, divided into five segments, obtuse, undulate, fringed
between the segments--stamens five, enclosed in the tube of the
corolla--style simple, stigmas two, so closely situated as to give the
appearance of a small white circle in the centre of the flower.
This beautiful little plant is well ascertained to be a native of
England and Ireland. According to English Botany, p. 49--it was first
gathered in Teesdale Forest, Durham, where it is still obtained for
the purposes of sale in London, and other places;--it is also a native
of the Alps of Switzerland, where we are told the large patches of it
produce a brilliant and striking effect:--it is perfectly hardy, but
requires a pure air, and succeeds best in bog-soil--from its low growth
and general habit, it is well adapted to ornament rock work, and from
the shelter there afforded, it will begin to flower as early as March,
and continue in beauty some time--it may be increased by parting the
roots early in the Autumn:--the Gentiana lutea, is celebrated for its
medicinal properties, and is a handsome herbaceous plant; the other
desirable species are
G. crinita.
-- asclepedia.
-- saponaria.
-- alpina.
purpurea.
septemfida.
acaulis.
pneunomanthe.
Pl. 13.
[Illustration: _Plate 14._ _Soldanella Clusii._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
SOLDANELLA Clusii.
_Clusius's Soldanella._
_Class and Order._--PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Syn. Soldanella Clusii. _Curt. Bot. Mag._ _pl._ 2163.
-- Soldanella montana? _Sweet's B. F. G._ _vol._ 1. _p._ 11.
Root fibrous--leaves radical, on long petioles, orbicular, cordate,
slightly crenate, of a dark green, paler underneath--stem radical,
erect, three or four inches high--segments of the involucrum
linear--flowers terminal, drooping,--calyx five, segments linear,
spreading--corolla purple, monopetalous, campanulate, margin deeply
laciniated--stamens five, anthers two lobed--style very long, germen
inferior.
The beautiful genus Soldanella is peculiarly adapted to rock work, to
which it is a great ornament; the different species are all hardy,
but like many alpine plants, require shelter from severe frosts, as
a substitute for the snow of their native mountains; this species is
found on the mountains of Bohemia, and on the Austrian and Styrian
Alps, and was introduced into this country about the year 1816.
It grows best in a mixture of peat and sandy loam, and is readily
increased by seeds, or by parting the roots; the genus is by no means
common, perhaps, from their requiring a very pure air to grow them in
perfection; it is the safest plan to keep all alpine plants in a frame
during winter, or to cover them with _dry_ saw dust, over which may
be placed a hand-glass or garden-pot. This species is called after
Clusius a celebrated Botanist, it being (according to the Bot. Mag. p.
211.) first described and figured by him. There are two other beautiful
species, with smaller flowers, S. alpina, S. minima.
Pl. 14.
[Illustration: _Plate 15._ _Viola Palmata._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
VIOLA palmata.
_Palmate leaved Violet._
_Class and Order._ PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Syn. Viola palmata. _Pursh Flo. N. A._ _vol._ i. _p._ 172.
-- Viola palmata. _Nuttall's Gen. N. A._ _vol._ i. _p._ 147.
Root tuberous--leaves radical, on very long petioles, palmate,
lobes deeply dentate--peduncles one flowered, radical, tinged with
purple--calyx five segments linear acute--corolla blue lilac, paler
on the under side, petals five, broad, obtuse, pencilled at the base
with a darker shade, lower part of the middle petal terminating in a
spur--stamens five, anthers obtuse--style slender, stigma globose.
The genus Viola is a very numerous one, and can boast of many
ornamental species--endless varieties are constantly raised from seed,
chiefly of Viola tricolor, though these may at first vary, there is
little dependance to be placed on them, as they frequently return to
the original species; the number of distinct species, however, is very
considerable, amongst which is the one figured; a desirable plant
for the front of the borders where it will remain in beauty for a
long time--it is a native of North America, and according to the Bot.
Cab. p. 1471, grows on dry hills from New England to Virginia. Prof.
Nuttall says in his genera of North American plants, vol. i. p. 147,
"the genus Viola within its proper limits, is almost equally divided
betwixt Europe and the temperate parts of North America." This species
was first brought into this country in 1739, though still a scarce
plant in our gardens:--the Violas are all well adapted for rock work,
and flourish most in a light rich soil and shady situation. They may be
increased either by parting the roots, by cuttings, or by seeds; the
latter of which are produced in great abundance, and are dispersed by
the peculiar elasticity of the capsule, which as soon as its contents
are matured, ejects them with considerable force, sometimes to a great
distance. Some of the most beautiful species are
V. pedata.
-- altaica.
-- hederacea.
-- lutea.
-- blanda.
-- uniflora.
-- odorata.
-- cornuta.
præmorsa.
flabelliflora.
primulifolia.
grandiflora.
lanceolata.
Nuttallii.
Pl. 15.
[Illustration: _Plate 16._ _Trillium Grandiflorum._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
TRILLIUM Grandiflorum.
_Large flowered Trillium._
_Class and Order._--HEXANDRIA TRIGYNIA.
Syn. Trillium Grandiflorum. _Salisbury Par. Lon._ _pl._ 35.
-- Trillium Grandiflorum. _Hort. Kew._ _Vol._ 2. _p._ 329
-- Trillium Grandiflorum. _Nuttall's gen. N. A._ _Vol._ 1. _p._ 239.
Root tuberous, stem radical, simple, eight to ten inches high,--leaves
three, sessile, large, spreading, oval shaped, obtuse, margins
undulate--peduncle short--flower terminal, drooping--calyx three
segments, lanceolate, acute--corolla white--petals three, spreading,
ovate, obtuse, nerved--stamens six, filaments short, anthers oblong,
styles three, stigmas recurved.
This is the most desirable species of the genus and a very handsome
herbaceous plant, the beautiful white flowers forming a pleasing
contrast to the dark green leaves by which they are surrounded. It is a
native of Upper Canada, and according to Nuttall, is found generally in
umbrageous forests.--a peat soil, and shady situation are essential to
its favorable cultivation, and as these are afforded, the flower varies
accordingly in size--it is a plant of slow growth, not hearing frequent
removal, and is therefore not common, though it has been known in this
country since the year 1799--flowers about April, and is increased by
parting the roots. The other species are not particularly desirable,
except in extensive herbaceous collections.
T. sessile.
-- cernuum.
erectum.
stylosum.
Pl. 16.
[Illustration: _Plate 25._ _Salpiglossis picta._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]
SALPIGLOSSIS Picta.
_Painted Salpiglossis._
_Class and Order._--DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.
Syn. Salpiglossis Picta. _Sweets B. F. G._ _vol._ 3. _p._ 258.
Root fibrous, stem erect, branching, lower leaves broadly lanceolate,
margins deeply serrate--cauline leaves sessile, linear, acute,
margins slightly undulate, becoming smaller as they approach the
flower--peduncles long, leafy, flowers terminal--calyx five segments,
acute--corolla beautifully pencilled with yellow and purple, funnel
shaped, tube long, limb spreading, five segments, emarginate--stamens
four, two long and two short--anthers large, yellow--style longer than
the stamens--stigma obtuse, whole plant villous.
The genus Salpiglossis is one of late introduction into this country,
none of the species being known here before the year 1826, when
seeds were sent from Chili by Mr. Cruikshanks to the Botanic Gardens
of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The species figured is perhaps the most
beautiful, and promises to be a great acquisition to our collection of
new herbaceous plants, it may be raised from seeds or cuttings, likes
a light soil, and a sheltered situation, and will continue in flower
for a considerable time. It has hitherto been treated chiefly as a
green-house plant, but it will grow much stronger, and the colours
finer, in the open border; it would, however, be desirable to keep some
plants in a green-house or frame during the winter, as it is doubtful
how it may bear the severe frosts. There are only two other species,
S. straminea.
-- atro-purpurea.
Pl. 25.
[Illustration: _Plate 26._ _Iris variegata._
_Drawn from Nature by M.R._ _Engraved by R. Havell Jun^{r.}_]