Chapter 2

The present species of _Narcissus_ is considered by the Nursery-men near London as the _triandrus_ of LINNAEUS, which it no doubt is, though it does not accord in every particular with his description: his _triandrus_ is white, ours is pale yellow, but colour is not in the least to be depended on, for it is found to vary in this as in all the other species; his _triandrus_ he describes as having in general only three stamina, whence the name he has given it; ours, so far as we have observed, has constantly six, three of which reach no further than the mouth of the tube, a circumstance so unusual, that LINNAEUS might overlook it without any great impeachment of his discernment; he says, indeed, that it has sometimes six: perhaps, the three lowermost ones may, in some instances, be elongated so as to equal the others; if he had observed the great inequality of their length, he would certainly have mentioned it.

This species is found wild on the Pyrenean mountains; was an inhabitant of our gardens in the time of PARKINSON (who has very accurately described it, noticing even its three stamina) to which, however, it has been a stranger for many years: it has lately been re-introduced, but is as yet very scarce. Our figure was taken from a specimen which flowered in Mr. LEE's Nursery at Hammersmith.

It grows with as much readiness as any of the others of the genus, and flowers in March and April.

[49]

~Soldanella alpina. Alpine Soldanella.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ campanulata, lacero-multifida. _Caps._ 1-locularis, apice multidentata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SOLDANELLA _alpina._ _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 194._

SOLDANELLA alpina rotundifolia. _Bauh. Pin. 295._

Of this genus there is at present only one known species, the _alpina_ here figured, which is a native of Germany, and, as its name imports, an alpine plant.

Its blossoms are bell-shaped, of a delicate blue colour, sometimes white, and strikingly fringed on the edge.

It flowers usually in March, in the open ground; requires, as most alpine plants do, shade and moisture in the summer, and the shelter of a frame, in lieu of its more natural covering snow, in the winter; hence it is found to succeed best in a northern aspect: will thrive in an open border, but is more commonly kept in pots.

May be increased by parting its roots early in autumn.

[50]

~Iris sibirica. Siberian Iris.~

_Class and Order._

~Triandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-petala, inaequalis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _Stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _Thunb. Diss. de Iride._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IRIS _sibirica_ imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti, germinibus trigonis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab._ _p._ 91.

IRIS pratensis angustifolia, non foetida altior. _Bauh. Pin. 32._

IRIS _bicolor._ _Miller's Dict. ed. 6, 4to._

The greater blue Flower-de-luce with narrow leaves. _Parkins. Parad. p. 185. fig. 2._

This species of Iris is a native of Germany and Siberia, and is distinguished from those usually cultivated in our gardens by the superior height of its stems, and the narrowness of its leaves; from which last character it is often, by mistake, called _graminea_; but the true _graminea_ is a very different plant.

The _Iris sibirica_ is a hardy perennial, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; but grows most luxuriantly in a moist one, and flowers in June.

Is propagated most readily, by parting its roots in autumn.

[51]

~Narcissus major. Great Daffodil.~

_Class and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Petala_ 6 aequalia: _Nectario_ infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. _Stamina_ intra nectarium.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

NARCISSUS _major_ foliis subtortuosis, spatha uniflora, nectario campanulato patulo crispo aequante petala.

NARCISSUS _major_ totus luteus calyce praelongo. _Bauhin Pin. 52._

NARCISSI sylvestris alia icon. _Dodon. Stirp. p. 227._

The great yellow Spanish Bastard Daffodil. _Parkins. Parad. t. 101. fig. 1._

The present species of Daffodil is the largest of the genus, and bears the most magnificent flowers, but, though it has long been known in this country, it is confined rather to the gardens of the curious.

It is a native of Spain, and flowers with us in April. As its roots produce plenty of offsets, it is readily propagated.

It approaches in its general appearance very near to the _Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus_, but differs in being a much taller plant, having its leaves more twisted, as well as more glaucous, its flowers (but especially its Nectary) much larger, and its petals more spreading; and these characters are not altered by culture.

It answers to the _bicolor_ of LINNAEUS in every respect but colour, and we should have adopted that name, had not the flowers with us been always of a fine deep yellow; we have therefore taken BAUHIN's name as the most expressive.

It varies with double flowers.

[52]

~Gentiana acaulis. Large-Flowered Gentian, or Gentianella.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Digynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ monopetala. _Capsula_ bivalvis, 1-locularis. _Receptaculis_ 2-longitudinalibus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GENTIANA _acaulis_ corolla quinquefida campanulata caulem excedente. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 267._

GENTIANA alpina latifolia magno flore. _Bauh. Pin. 187._

Small Gentian of the Spring. _Park. Par. p. 352. t. 351. f. 3._

Plants growing in mountainous situations, where they are constantly exposed to strong-blowing winds, are always dwarfish; in such situations, the present plant has no stalk, whence its name _acaulis_, but cultivated in gardens it acquires one.

Most of the plants of this family are beautiful, and, cultivated in gardens, in brilliancy of colour none exceed the present species.

As most Alpine plants do, this loves a pure air, an elevated situation, and a loamy soil, moderately moist; it is however somewhat capricious, thriving without the least care in some gardens, and not succeeding in others; at any rate it will not prosper very near London.

It flowers usually in May, and sometimes in the autumn.

Is propagated by parting its roots at the close of summer; but MILLER says, the strongest and best plants are produced from seed.

[53]

~Cineraria lanata. Woolly Cineraria.~

_Class and Order._

~Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua.~

_Generic Character._

_Receptaculum_ nudum. _Pappus_ simplex. _Calyx_ simplex, polyphyllus, aequalis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CINERARIA _lanata_ caule suffruticoso, foliis subquinquelobis, subtus tomentosis; foliolis ad pedunculos lanatis.

In the beauty of its blossoms, this species of _Cineraria_, lately introduced from Africa, by far eclipses all the others cultivated in our gardens; its petals exteriorly are of a most vivid purple, interiorly white; this change of colour adds much to the brilliancy of the flower.

What renders this plant a more valuable acquisition to the green-house, is its hardiness, its readiness to flower, and the facility with which it may be propagated.

It flowers early in the spring, and, by proper management, may be made to flower the whole year through; it is sometimes kept in the stove, and may be made to flower earlier by that means; but it succeeds better in a common green-house, with no more heat than is just necessary to keep out the frost, indeed it may be preserved in a common hot-bed frame through the winter, unless the weather prove very severe.

Certain plants are particularly liable to be infested with _Aphides_, or, in the vulgar phrase, to become lousy, this is one: the only way to have handsome, healthy, strong-flowering plants, is to procure a constant succession by cuttings, for there is no plant strikes more readily; these should be placed in a pot, and plunged into a bed of tan.

[54]

~Anemone sylvestris, Snowdrop Anemony.~

_Class and Order._

~Polyandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ nullus. _Petala_ 6-9. _Semina_ plura.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ANEMONE _sylvestris_ pedunculo nudo, feminibus subrotundis, hirsutis, muticis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 510._

ANEMONE sylvestris alba major. _Bauh. Pin. p. 176._

The white wild broad-leafed Wind-Flower. _Park. Par. 202._

PARKINSON very accurately notices the striking characters of this species of Anemone, which are its creeping roots, its large white flowers standing on the tops of the flower-stalks, which sometimes grow two together, but most commonly singly; the leaves on the stalk, he observes, are more finely divided than those of the root, and its seeds are woolly.

MILLER describes it as having little beauty, and therefore but seldom planted in gardens; it is true, it does not recommend itself by the gaudiness of its colours, but there is in the flowers, especially before they expand, a simple elegance, somewhat like that of the Snowdrop, and which affords a pleasing contrast to the more shewy flowers of the garden.

It flowers in May, and ripens its seeds in June.

It will grow in almost any soil or situation, is propagated by offsets from the root, which it puts out most plentifully, so as indeed sometimes to be troublesome. Is a native of Germany.

[55]

~Geranium striatum. Striped Geranium.~

_Class and Order._

~Monadelphia Decandria.~

_Generic Character._

Monogynia. _Stigmata_ 5. _Fructus_ rostratus 5-coccus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GERANIUM _striatum_ pedunculis bifloris, foliis quinquelobis: lobis medio dilatatis, petalis bilobis venosoreticulatus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 616._

GERANIUM _striatum_ pedunculis bifloris, foliis caulinis trilobis, obtuse crenatis. _Miller's Dict._

GERANIUM Romanum versicolor sive striatum.

The variable striped Cranesbill. _Park. Parad. p. 229._

This species is distinguished by having white petals, finely reticulated with red veins, and the corners of the divisions of the leaves marked with a spot of a purplish brown colour, which PARKINSON has long since noticed.

Is said by LINNAEUS to be a native of Italy, is a very hardy plant, flowers in May and June, and may be propagated by parting its roots in Autumn, or by seed; prefers a loamy soil and shady situation.

[56]

~Geranium lanceolatum. Spear-Leaved Geranium.~

_Class and Order._

~Monadelphia Decandria.~

_Generic Character._

Monogyna. _Stigmata_ 5. _Fructus_ rostratus 5-coccus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GERANIUM _glaucum_ calycibus monophyllis, foliis lanceolatis integerrimis glaucis, caule erecto suffruticoso. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 614. Supp. Pl. p. 306._

This elegant and very singular species of _Geranium_ appears to have been first cultivated in this country; its introduction was attended with circumstances rather unusual. Mr. LEE, Nurseryman of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, in looking over some dried specimens in the Possession of Sir JOSEPH BANKS, which he had recently received from the Cape of Good Hope, was struck with the singular appearance of this Geranium, no species having before been seen in this country with spear-shaped leaves; on examining the specimens attentively, he perceived a few ripe seeds in one of them, those he solicited, and obtained; and to his success in making them vegetate, we are indebted for the present species.

The shape of the leaf readily suggested the name of _lanceolatum_, an epithet by which it has been generally distinguished in this country, and which, from its extreme fitness, we have continued, notwithstanding young Professor LINNAEUS has given it that of _glaucum_, though, at the same time, his illustrious father had distinguished another species by the synonymous term of _glaucophyllum_.

This species rarely ripens its seeds with us, and is therefore to be raised from cuttings, which however are not very free to strike.

It has been usual to keep it in the stove, but we have found by experience, that it succeeds much better in a common green-house, in which it will flower during the whole of the summer. Small young plants of this, as well as most other Geraniums, make the best appearance, and are therefore to be frequently obtained by cuttings.

[57]

~Papaver orientale. Eastern Poppy.~

_Class and Order._

~Polyandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 4-petala. _Cal._ 2-phyllus. _Capsula,_ 1-locularis sub stigmate persistente poris dehiscens.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PAPAVER _orientale_ capsulis glabris, caulibus unifloris scabris foliosis pinnatis serratis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 490._

Papaver orientale hirsutissimum, magno flore. _Tournes. cor. 17. itin. 3. p. 127. t. 127._

Most of the plants of this tribe are distinguished by the splendour of their colours, most of them also are annuals, in gaiety of colour none exceed the present species; but it differs in the latter character, in having not only a perennial root, but one of the creeping kind, whereby it increases very much, and by which it is most readily propagated.

Though a native of the East, as its name imports, it bears the severity of our climate without injury, flowers in May, and as its blossoms are extremely shewy, it gives great brilliancy to the flower-garden or plantation; prefers a dry soil.

[58]

~Iris spuria. Spurious Iris.~

_Class and Order._

~Triandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ 6-petala, inaequalis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _Stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _Conf. Thunb._ _Diss. de Iride._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IRIS _spuria_ imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti, germinibus hexagonis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 91._ _Jacq. Fl. austr. tab. 4._

IRIS pratensis angustifolia, folio foetido. _Bauh. Pin. 32._

The greater blue Flower-de-luce with narrow leaves. _Park. Parad. p. 184._

Some plants afford so little diversity of character, that an expressive name can scarcely be assigned them; such is the present plant, or LINNAEUS would not have given it the inexpressive name of _spuria_, nor we have adopted it.

This species is distinguished by the narrowness of its leaves, which emit a disagreeable smell when bruised, by the colour of its flowers, which are of a fine rich purple inclining to blue, and by its hexangular germen.

It is a native of Germany, where, as Professor JACQUIN informs us, it grows in wet meadows; is a hardy perennial, thrives in our gardens in almost any soil or situation, flowers in June, and is propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.

[59]

~Mesembryanthemum bicolorum. Two-Coloured Fig-Marigold.~

_Class and Order._

~Icosandria Pentagynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Petala_ numerosa, linearia. _Caps._ carnosa, infera, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _bicolorum_ foliis subulatis punctatis laevibus distinctis, caule frutescente, corollis bicoloribus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 470._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM tenuifolium fruticescens, flore croceo. _Dill. Elth. 267. t. 202. f. 258._

Contrary to the _Mesembryanthemum dolabriforme_, lately figured in this work, this species expands its flowers in the day-time, and that only when the sun shines powerfully on them; on such occasions, the blossoms on the top of the branches being very numerous, exhibit a most splendid appearance.

It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, flowers in July, and is most readily propagated by cuttings.

Like most of the Cape plants, it requires the shelter of a green-house during the winter.

[60]

~Lathyrus odoratus. Sweet Pea, or Vetchling.~

_Class and Order._

~Diadelphia Decandria.~

_Generic Character._

_Stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior. _Cal._ laciniae superiores 2-breviores.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LATHYRUS _odoratus_ pedunculis bifloris, cirrhis diphyllis, foliolis ovato-oblongis, leguminibus hirsutis, _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 663._

LATHYRUS distoplatyphyllos hirsutus mollis, magno et peramaeno flore odoro. _Comm. hort. 2. p. 219. t. 80._

There is scarcely a plant more generally cultivated than the _Sweet Pea_, and no wonder, since with the most delicate blossoms it unites an agreeable fragrance.

Several varieties of this plant are enumerated by authors, but general cultivation extends to two only, the one with blossoms perfectly white, the other white and rose-coloured, commonly called the _Painted Lady Pea_.

The Sweet Pea is described as a native of Sicily, the Painted Lady Variety as an inhabitant of Ceylon; they have both been introduced since the time of PARKINSON and EVELYN.

It is an annual, and not a very tender one; seedling plants sown in Autumn frequently surviving our winters.

As it is desirable to have this plant in flower for as great a length of time as possible, to have them early, we must sow them in the Autumn, either in pots or in the open border; if sown in pots, they can the more readily be secured from any severe weather, by placing them in a hot-bed frame, a common practice with gardeners who raise them for the London markets, in which they are in great request: others again should be sown early in the spring, and the sowings repeated every month; they grow readily in almost any soil or situation, and by this means may be had to flower most of the year through.

If sown in pots, care must be taken to water them frequently.

[61]

~Iris ochroleuca. Tall Iris.~

_Class and Order._

~Triandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ 6-petala, inaequalis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. _Stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _Thunb. Diss. de Iride._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IRIS _ochroleuca_ imberbis foliis ensiformibus, scapo subtereti germinibus hexagonis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 90._

Of the several species of Iris cultivated in our gardens, this excels in point of height; we have taken our English name therefore from this character, and not from the term _ochroleuca_, which, if translated, would be too expressive of the colour of the blossoms of the _Iris Pseudacorus_, with which the _ochroleuca_ has some affinity in point of size as well as colour.

Notwithstanding Mr. MILLER's description of his _orientalis_ accords very badly with that of LINNAEUS's _ochroleuca_, they have been generally considered in this country as one and the same plant, distinguished by the name of POCOCKE's Iris, Dr. POCOCKE being the person who, according to MILLER, in his time first introduced it from _Carniola_ (by inadvertence spelt _Carolina_, in the 6th 4to edition of the Dictionary). There are grounds, however, for suspecting some error in the habitat of this plant, for had it grown spontaneously in Carniola, it is not probable that SCOPOLI would have omitted it in his _Flora Carniolica_.

Leaving its place of growth to be more accurately ascertained hereafter, we shall observe, that it appears perfectly naturalized to this country, growing luxuriantly in a moist rich soil, and increasing, like most of the genus, very fast by its roots. It flowers later than most of the others.

[62]

~Centaurea glastifolia. Woad-Leaved Centaurea.~

_Class and Order._

~SyngenesiA Polygamia Superflua.~

_Generic Character._

_Receptaculum_ setosum. _Pappus_ simplex. _Corollae_ radii infundibuliformes, longiores, irregulares.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CENTAUREA _glastifolia_ calycibus scariosis, foliis indivisis integerrimis decurrentibus. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 787._ _Gmelin Sib. 2. p. 83._

CENTAURIUM majus orientale erectum, glasti folio, flore luteo. _Comm. rar. 39. t. 39._

Assumes the name of _glastifolia_ from the similitude which the leaves bear to those of the _Isatis tinctoria_, or _Woad_, _Glastum_ of the old Botanists.

In this plant we have an excellent example of the _Folium decurrens_ and _Calyx scariosus_ of LINNAEUS, the leaves also exhibit a curious phenomenon, having veins prominent on both their sides; the scales of the calyx are moreover distinguished by a beautiful silvery appearance, which it is difficult to represent in colours.

It is a native of the East, as well as of Siberia; flowers with us in July, in the open border, and is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, which are of the creeping kind: requires no particular treatment.

MILLER, in the last 4to edition of his Dictionary, enumerates a _Cent. glastifolia_; but his description in detail, by no means accords with the plant.

[63]

~Fragaria monophylla. One-Leaved Strawberry, or Strawberry of Versailles.~

_Class and Order._

~Icosandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 10-fidus. _Petala_ 5. _Receptaculum_ feminum ovatum, baccatum, deciduum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

FRAGARIA _monophylla_ foliis simplicibus. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 476._ _Le Fraisier de Versailles. Duchesne Hist. nat. des Frais, p. 124._

The first mention made of this Strawberry, we find in DUCHESNE'S _Histoire naturelle des Fraisiers_, where we have its complete history, and from which we learn, that it was originally raised by him at Versailles, in the Year 1761, from seeds of the Wood Strawberry.

From France this plant has been conveyed to most parts of Europe; how it has happened we know not, but it is certainly very little known in this country: in the 14th edit of the _Syst. Veg._ of LINNAEUS, it appears as a species under the name of _monophylla_, originally imposed on it by DUCHESNE; LINNAEUS, however, has his doubts as to its being a species distinct from the _vesca_, and, in our humble opinion, not without reason; for it can certainly be regarded as a very singular variety only; its origin indeed is a proof of this; in addition to which we may observe, that plants raised from the runners will sometimes, though very rarely indeed, have three leaves instead of one: and it is observed by the very intelligent author of the _Hist. nat._ abovementioned, that seedling plants sometimes produced leaves with three divisions, like those of the Wood Strawberry. Besides the remarkable difference in the number of the leaves in this plant, the leaves themselves are observed to be much smaller in the winter season, and their ribs less branched; the runners also are slenderer and more productive, and the fruit in general more oblong or pyramidal. As an object of curiosity, this plant is deserving a place in every garden of any extent; nor is its singularity its only recommendation, its fruit being equal to that of the finest Wood Strawberry, with which it agrees in the time of its flowering, fruiting, and mode of treatment.

[64]

~Hemerocallis fulva. Tawny Day-Lily.~

_Class and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ campanulata: tubo cylindrico. _Stamina_ declinata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

HEMEROCALLIS _fulva_ foliis lineari-subulatis carinatis, corollis fulvis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 339._

LILIUM rubrum asphodeli radice. _Bauh. Pin. 80._

The gold red Day-Lily. _Park. Parad. p. 148. t. 149. f. 5._

According to LINNAEUS, this species is a native of China.