Part 7

_Fúchsias_, Ladies' ear drop. About twelve species. Several of them elegant and handsome shrubs. _F. virgáta_ and _F. cònica_ are the most splendid of deciduous Green-house shrubs; the nerves of the leaves and young wood of the former are tinged with purplish red; the large pendant flowers which are produced from the axils of the leaves of the young wood continue during the growing season. _F. cònica_ grows strong, foliage green, flowers pendant, corolla more spreading than the other, and when in flower is a complete mass of scarlet blossoms. It flowers all summer. _F. coccínea_ is a common and celebrated plant, and deservedly so. _F. microphylla_ is a neat glowing, small flowering species. _F. arbórea_, has very large foliage, and rose coloured flowers; a scarce species, but very desirable. _F. gràcilis_ and _F. thymifòlia_, are both fine; most of the flowers are a bright scarlet, the stamens are encircled with a petal of bright purple, and are of very curious construction; they bear a dark purple berry, and are of the easiest cultivation, but during summer they must be carefully kept in the shade.

_Gelsèmium nìtidum_, Carolina jessamine, a most beautiful climbing evergreen, flowering shrub. In the months of April and May, it produces many large yellow trumpet-like blossoms of delicious fragrance. If much fostered in growth, it will not flower so freely.

_Gnaphàlium_, everlasting. This genus has got all the beautiful Cape species taken out of it, and given to _Astélma_ and _Helichrysum_. Of _Astélma_ there are above ten species, most of them very splendid, everlasting flowers. _A. exímia_ has brilliant red flowers. _A. spiràlis_, _A. speciosíssima_, _A. frùticans_, and _A. imbricàtum_, are all very fine; pots must be well drained.

_Helychrysums_, above forty species, chiefly belonging to the Green-house, all everlasting flowers. _H. grandiflòrum_, _H. arbòreum_, _H. orientàle_, _H. fràgrans_, _H. adoratìssimum_, _H. frùticans_, and _H. fúlgidum_, are all very esteemed species, mostly soft white foliage. The pots should be well drained, and the plants kept in an airy situation, as they suffer from the least damp. If the flowers are cut off before they fade, they will retain for many years all the splendour of their beauty; but if allowed to decay on the plant, they will soon become musty, and all their colour fade.

_Gompholòbiums_, a genus of very pretty delicate plants, all papilionaceous; flowers generally yellow with a little red; foliage very variable. G. _barbígerum_, G. _polimórfum_, G. _latifòlium_, G. _grandiflòrum_, and G. _venústum_, are fine, the pots must be well drained, and care taken that they are not over watered; they grow freely.

_Genístas_: a few of these are very pretty free flowering shrubs. G. _canariénsis_, G. _tricuspidáta_, G. _cuspidòsa_, and G. _umbellàta_, are the finest Green-house species. All of them have yellow leguminose flowers in great abundance; leaves small, lanceolate.

_Gnídias_, about ten species of pretty Green-house shrubs. G. _símplex_, G. _serícea_, G. _imbérbis_, and G. _pinifòlia_, flower the most freely; flowers straw colour, tubular, and corymbose. G. _símplex_ is sweet-scented, leaves small; the pots must be well drained, and care taken that they do not get either too wet or too dry, for the roots are very delicate. The plants must be kept near the glass, or they will be drawn weak.

_Goodènia_, a genus of about twelve species, with cordate, serate, alternate foliage. G. _stellígera_, and G. _suáveolens_ are sweet-scented; G. _ovàta_ and G. _grandiflòra_ are the best. They are principally small shrubs, with terminale or axillary flowers, and flower during summer.

_Gortèria personàta_ is the only species that belongs to this genus, and is an annual. There are several plants in our collections known as _Gortèrias_, but which properly are _Gazània_, of which there are five species. G. _rìngens_, when the flowers are fully expanded, (which will only be while exposed to the sun, closing at night, and opening again with the influence of the sun's rays,) is a great beauty. The rays of the flowers are bright orange, and the centre dark purple. _G. pavónia_ has handsome foliage; flower similar to _G. rìngens_, except the centre of the flower being spotted, and is thought to be the finest, but does not flower so freely. _G. heterophylla_ is of the same character, except the foliage, which is variable, the colour orange and vermilion. They are half shrubby dwarf growing plants, and during the months of July, August, and September, are liable to damp off at the surface of the earth, from the action of heat, and too much water. Pots must be well drained, and the plants kept partially in the shade. Their flowers are syngenesious, and about two inches in diameter.

_Grevílleas_, about thirty species. A few of them very handsome in flower and foliage, among which are _G. punícea_; _G. acanthifòlia_, (beautiful foliage); _G. concínna_, very pretty straw and rose-coloured flowers; _G. juniperìna_, green and straw-coloured; _G. lineàris_, white flowers. The flowers of the whole are curious, though not very attractive. Some carry their flowers in racemose spikes, others on flowering branches, which are recurved; the petals are very small and rugged; the stile longer than the appendage. They grow freely, flower and ripen seeds; all evergreen dwarf shrubs.

_Hàkeas_, about forty species, not generally so interesting or attractive as the last genus; flowers all white; construction similar to _Grevíllea_, but the foliage more varied. _H. gibbòsa_, _H. nítida_, _H. salígna_, _H. suavèolens_, sweet-scented, _H. conculàta_, and _H. lambérti_, are the best, and afford a curious variety of foliage; flower in June. Drain the pots well.

_Hemerocállis_, Day Lily. Only _H. speciòsa_ of this genus belongs to the Green-house; the flower is spacious, and of copper colour. A native of Jamaica. It has not found its way into our collections. It is herbaceous, and while growing requires much water. The plant known with us as _H. japónica_ is now _Fúnkia álba_, (and justly, for the most superficial observer could have distinguished it as not belonging to _Hemerocállis_.) It requires to be much fostered to flower well, and plenty of water. If properly treated, it is a magnificent flower, and continues flowering from July to September. We doubt not it may prove a hardy herbaceous plant, (the same as _F. cærùlea_,) if protected during the first winter.

_Hermánnias_, a genus of about forty species, all natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and not worth cultivating. They have yellow cup-like flowers, and are of the easiest cultivation. Several species are in our collections.

_Hibbértias_, about ten species. Three of them are very fine climbing evergreen shrubs, viz. _H. glossulariæfòlia_; _H. dentàta_; _H. volùbilis_, if closely approached has a disagreeable smell; _H. fasciculàta_, _H. salígna_, and H. _pedunculàta_, are evergreen shrubs; they have pure yellow flowers of five petals, blooming from May to September.

_Habránthus_, about ten species of small South American bulbs, nearly allied to _Amaryllis_. H. _Andersónii_, H. _versícolor_, and H. _robústa_ are the finest; they are in colour yellow, blue, and lilac. We have very little doubt but these bulbs will do to plant out in the garden in April, and be lifted in October. Keep them from frost. Thus treated, they are very desirable bulbs.

_Hòveas_, about eight species, pretty plants of New South Wales, blue pea-flowering evergreen shrubs; the finest are H. _lineàris_, H. _rosmarinifòlia_, H. _longifòlia_, and H. _Célsii_, which is the most superb, and flowers in abundance. They grow and flower freely; the pots should be drained.

_Hydrángea horténsis_ is a well known plant, and much esteemed for its great profusion of very elegant, though monstrous, flowers. They are naturally of a rose colour, but under certain circumstances of culture they become blue. If grown in brown loam with a little sand, they will preserve their original colour; but if grown in swamp earth with a little mould of decayed leaves, they will become blue. The swamp earth and vegetable mould being more combined with aluminous salt than brown loam, is the cause of the change; and, when first found out, (which was merely by chance,) was thought a great wonder. It must have a very plentiful supply of water when in flower, which is produced on the shoots of the previous year. They will neither grow nor flower well if they are not kept constantly in the shade. When kept in the sun, the foliage is very brown; and by being neglected in watering, we have seen the flowers completely scourged. Being tolerably hardy, when the winters are mild, by a little protection in the open air, they will flower profusely; the flowers will be very large, and in bloom from June to October. They are deciduous, soft wooded shrubs.

_Hypéricums_, St. John's wort, about twenty species. A few of them are very showy, and with few exceptions have yellow flowers. _H. monógynum_, H. _balearicum_, H. _floribúndum_, H. _canariénse_, H. _ægyptìacum_, and H. _cochinchinense_, which has scarlet flowers, are amongst the best, and all of them flower freely; five petals, filaments many in three or five parcels. They are all of very easy cultivation, and bloom generally from April to September.

_Ilex_, Holly, of _I. aquifòlium_. There are above one hundred species of them in cultivation in Europe, differing in variegation, margin, shape, and size of the leaves; some are only prickly on the margin of the foliage, others prickly over all the surface. In Europe they are all hardy, but with us few or none of the varieties are so. If they become acclimated, they will be a great ornament to our gardens, being all low evergreen shrubs. The most common and conspicuous varieties are the _hedgehog_, _striped hedgehog_, _white edged_, _gold edged_, and _painted_; the flowers are white and small, berries yellow or red; they do not agree with exposure to the sun. _J. Cassíne_ and _J. vomitòria_ have very bitter leaves, and, though natives of Carolina, we have to give them the protection of a Green-house. It is said that at certain seasons of the year the Indians make a strong decoction of the leaves, which makes them vomit freely, and after drinking and vomiting for a few days, they consider themselves sufficiently purified.

_Illíciums_, Aniseed-tree, three species. _I. floridànum_, has very sweet-scented, double purple flowers, and the plant grows freely and systematically if properly treated, and deserves the attention of the admirers of flowers. _I. parviflòrum_ has small yellow flowers; _I. anisàtum_ is so very like _I. parviflòrum_ in every respect, as to make us conclude they are the same, were _I. anisátum_ not a native of China, and the other two natives of Florida. When the leaves and capsules of either of them are rubbed, they have a very strong smell of anise;--they grow very freely.

_Indigófera_; Indigo-tree, about twenty species, belong to the Green-house, and are chiefly pretty free flowering shrubs. _I. denudàta_, _I. amæna_, _I. austràlis_, _I. angulàta_, _I. càndicans_, and _I. filifòlia_, are very fine; flowers papilionaceous, in long panicles; colour various, red, blue, yellow, and pink.

_Isopògons_, about ten species of _Pròtea_-like plants, all natives of New Holland. They are very stiff shrubs, with leaves very much divided, and cone-like flowers at the extremity of the shoots. _I. formòsus_, _I. anemonifòlius_, _I. attenuàtis_, and _I. polycéphalis_, are the finest; flowers are straw, lilac, white, and yellow coloured; the pots must be well drained, and the plants not over-crowded.

_Justícias._ Only a few of these belong to the Green-house, and are very simple looking flowers. The most beautiful of them belong to the Hot-house. _J. nìgricans_, small striped flower; _J. orchioídes_ and _J. Adhátoda_, Malanut, are the only ones that are worth observation, and are very easily cultivated. _J. Adhátoda_ has good looking foliage, but does not flower until the plant becomes large; colour white and light purple.

_Jacksònias._ A genus consisting of five species. The foliage is varied, and all natives of New South Wales. _J. scopària_ is similar to a plant in our collections, called _Vimenària denudata_. _J. hórrida_, and _J. reticulàta_, are the finest; the small flowers come out of the young shoots, are yellow and papilionaceous; the pots should be well drained.

_Kennèdias_, about nine species, all evergreen climbers, of the easiest culture, and flower abundantly. _K. monophylla_, blue flowered, and _K. rubicúnda_, crimson flowered, are common in our collections. _K. prostràta_, (once _Glycine coccínea_) one-flowered scarlet, and _K. coccínea_, many flowered scarlet, are very pretty. _K. Comptoniàna_ has splendid purple flowers, and _K. inophylla_ is thought the most superb. It is very rare, and we have not seen it flower. They are large purple. The pots should be well drained; and if the plants are much fostered, they will not flower so well; flowers are either in racemose spikes, or solitary, which is rather too much distinction for the same genus.

_Lambértias_, four species of very fine plants, natives of New Holland. L. _formòsa_ is the finest of the genus that we have seen; flowers large and of a splendid rose colour. L. _echinàta_ is said to be finer, but has not flowered in cultivation. L. _uniflòra_ has single red flowers, and L. _inérmis_ orange coloured. They are rare plants in the collections on this side of the Atlantic. Drain the pots well; the foliage is narrow, and of a hard dry nature.

_Lasiopètalums_, only two species. There were a few more, but they are now _Thomàsias_, plants of no merit whatever, in regard to flower; foliage three lobed, small, rough, and rusty-like. _Thomàsia solanàcea_ and _T. quereifòlia_, are the best species; foliage of the former is large, cordate, and deep indented; they are all of the easiest culture.

_Lavándulas_, Lavender, about seven species belong to the Green-house, and a few of them very pretty soft-wooded, half shrubby plants, and if touched, are highly scented. L. _dentàta_ has narrow serrated foliage, very neat. _L. formòsa_ and _L. pinnàta_ are desirable; blue flowers on a long spike; should be kept near the glass; they are of the easiest culture.

_Laúrus._ A few species are Green-house plants. This genus has been divided to _Cinnamòmum_; still there are a few celebrated plants in the original. L. _nòbilis_, sweet bay, though hardy, is kept under protection. It will bear the winter with a little straw covering, notwithstanding there should be a plant kept in the house in case of accident by frost or otherwise; there is a variegated variety of it. _L. índica_, royal bay, _L. f[oe]tens_, _L. aggregàta_, and _L. glúaca_, are favourites. There is a species known in our collections as _L. scábra_. The Camphire tree, known as _L. camphòra_, is _Cinnamòmum camphòra_; the wood, leaves, and roots of this tree have a very strong odour of camphire. It is obtained by distillation from the roots and small branches, which are cut into chips, and put into a net suspended within an iron pot, the bottom of which is covered with water, having an earthen head fitted in it; heat is then applied, and the steam of the boiling water acting upon the contents of the net, elevates the camphire into the capital, where it concretes on the straws, with which this part of the apparatus is lined. They are all fine evergreens, (which the name denotes,) and easily cultivated,

_Lìnums_, Flax, two or three species are very fine, and flower freely. _L. trigynum_ has large yellow flowers in clusters, and _L. ascyrifôlium_, whose flowers are large, blue, and white, and in long spikes. The shape of them is very like the flower vulgarly called Morning-glory.

_Lobèlias._ Several of them when well treated, form most magnificent flowering plants; they are principally herbaceous. L. _Tùpa_ has the largest foliage, and fine scarlet flowers. L. _speciôsa_, flowers light purple; L. _fúlgens_, crimson flowers; L. _spléndens_, scarlet flowers. The three last are of the same habit; the colours brilliant; and to grow them well, they should be divided, (if there are several shoots arising,) when they begin to grow, putting them first into four inch pots, and shifting them frequently, having them to flower in those of nine or ten inches, which will be about the end of June, or first of July, and they will continue until October. The pots must be always kept in pans or saucers filled with water; likewise give plenty to the surface of the earth, which is to be done during their time of growth and flowering. If this is attended to, they will produce flower stalks from four to six feet in height, and covered with branches and spikes of flowers from bottom to top. The corolla is pentapetalous, three down and two up; they require a little shade. The genus consists of about eighty species; seventy of them are exotics; many of them natives of the Cape of Good Hope, with little flowers of brilliant colours. L. _cærùlea_, L. _Thunbérgii_, L. _corymbôsa_, L. _pyramidàlis_, and L. _ilicifòlia_, are very fine species, of weak growth, but flower freely.

_Lomàtias_, about six species; flowers are white or straw colour, and similar to _Grevíllea_, but the foliage more handsome.

_Lophospérmum scándens._ This is a magnificent new climbing soft wooded shrub, with purple, campanulate flowers, which are produced from the axils on the young wood; they bloom from May to September; leaves large, cordate, and tomentose; grows rapidly, and flowers abundantly.

_Lachnæas_, about five species, remarkable for their downy heads of white flowers; leaves small, ovate, lanceolate. L. _glaùca_, L. _conglomeràta_, and L. _eriocéphala_, are the best species. The pots must be well drained, and in summer the plants protected from the sun.

_Leonòtis_, Lion's-ear, four species. They have very fine scarlet tubular flowers, orifice-toothed. They come out in large whorls, and look elegant; but neither plant nor foliage has an agreeable appearance. They are of the easiest culture. L. _intermédia_, and L. _Leonùrus_, are the best flowering species.

_Leucospérmums_, about eighteen species, of Proteacious plants, chiefly low growing, and are mostly downy or hairy; flowers yellow, in terminale heads. L. _formósum_, L. _grandiflòrum_, L. _tomentósum_, and L. _candicans_, rose-scented. These are fine species. For treatment, see _Pròteas_.

_Lipàrias_, about five species, much esteemed for their beauty of foliage; leaves ovate, lanceolate, downy or woolly; flowers yellow, leguminose, and capitate. L. _sphærica_, L. _tomentósa_, L. _villósa_, and L. _serícea_, are the finest. L. _vistìta_ and L. _villósa_ are the same, although put in many catalogues as different species. None of them ought to be much watered over the foliage, as it adheres to the down, and causes the young shoots to damp off. Drain the pots well, and keep the plants in an airy situation.

_Lysinèmas_, four species, closely allied to _Epácris_. In every respect treatment the same. L. _pentapítalum_, L. _conspicum_, and L. _ròseum_, are the best; the flowers of the two former are white. L. _silaifòlia_ has leaves bipinnatifid and smooth, segments wedge-shaped and cut. L. _dentàta_ and L. _ilicifòlia_ are the finest; the pots should be drained.

_Lonícera japónica._ There is a plant in our collections known by that name, which is now _Nintooa longiflàra_; flowers of a straw colour, but come out white. It has been known to withstand the winter, but does not flower, and is frequently killed entirely.

_Lychnis coroàta_, is an esteemed Chinese plant; flowers-in abundance, pentapetalous, large, and a little indented at the edges; colour a red-like orange; flowers terminale and axillary. The roots must be divided every spring, or they will dwindle away to nothing. Perhaps a good method of treatment would be to divide the roots, and plant them in the garden; they would flower well, and could be lifted in the fall, and put under protection. We have no doubt that it may become acclimated. If not done so, plant them in four inch pots, and repot them into those of six inch in May. Do not expose them while in flower to the mid-day sun, for it will deteriorate the fine colour.

_Leptospérmums_, about thirty species, all pretty New Holland evergreen dwarf shrubs, with small white flowers. L. _baccàtum_, L. _péndulum_, L. _juníperinum_, L. _ovátum_, L. _stellàtum_, L. _grandiflórum_, and L. _scopàrium_, are the best of the species. The latter was used as tea by Capt. Cook's ship's crew. It is an agreeable bitter, with a pleasant flavour, when fresh. When young plants are growing, they ought to be frequently topped to make them bushy, and kept in an airy situation, or they will be drawn and unsightly. They are of very easy culture.

_Leucadéndrons_, Silver tree, above forty species, all natives of Cape of Good Hope. They are evergreens with handsome, silvery-like foliage. L. _argentéum_ (once _Pròtea argentéa_) is a great beauty; foliage white, lanceolate, and silky. It is a plant that has been long in cultivation, greatly admired, and much sought for, and is the finest of the genus. L. _squarròsum_, L. _stellàtum_, (once _Pròtea stellaris_) L. _tórtum_, L. _servíceum_, L. _margìnàtum_, and L. _plumôsum_ (once _P. parviflòra_) are all fine species. The pots must be well drained, and the plants never over-watered. They are very desirable in collections for their beauty of foliage; flowers similar to _Pròtea_.

_Magnòlias._ There are four species that require the protection of our Green-houses; all the others are hardy. M. _fuscàta_, and M. _annonæfòlia_, are very similar in foliage and flower: the young branches and leaves of M. _fuscàta_ is covered with a brown, rusty-like down; the other by some is considered merely a variety; flowers small, brown, and very sweet-scented. M. _pùmila_ is very dwarf growing; leaves large and netted; flowers semi-double, white, pendant, and fragrant. They are natives of China. We have several others from the east, but being deciduous are perfectly hardy. M. _odoratíssima_, now _Talàuma Candólii_, a native of the Island of Java, and said to be very odoriferous, but is very rare even in Europe; said to have a straw coloured flower. M. _conspícua_ is desirable to have in the Green-house, if enarched on a stock of M. _purpùrea_, which will always keep it dwarf, and it will flower magnificently in February and March.

_Melalèucas_, above thirty species, and a beautiful genus of New Holland plants, of easy culture; flowers come out of the wood like fringes. M. _elíptica_, M. _fúlgens_, scarlet, M. _decussàta_, M. _hypericifòlia_, M. _squarròsa_, M. _linarifòlia_, M. _incana_, M. _tetragònia_, M. _thymifòlia_, are all very fine species, and flower freely if they have been grown from cuttings; the singularity of flower and diversity of foliage make them generally thought of.

_Maurándias_, three species, of very pretty climbing Green-house plants, flowering from March to October. M. _Barclàyana_ has splendid flowers, large, light blue, campanulate, and very abundant. M. _semperflòrens_ has rose coloured flowers, of the same character. They will flower best if planted in the ground.

_Myrsínes_, Cape Myrtle, dwarf cape evergreen shrubs covered with small flowers from March to May. M. _retùsa_ has green and purple flowers; M. _rotundifòlia_, flowers white and purple. They will grow in any situation, and are of easy culture.