Chapter 3

It has long been inured to our climate, and few plants thrive better in any soil or situation, but a moist soil suits it best; its leaves on their first emerging from the ground, and for a considerable time afterwards, are of the most delicate green imaginable; the appearance which the plant assumes at this period of its growth is, indeed, so pleasing, that it may be said to constitute one half of its beauty; its blossoms which appear in July and August, are twice the size of those of the _flava_, of a tawny orange colour, without gloss or smell, the Petals waved on the edge, the flowers are rarely or never succeeded by ripe Capsules as in the _flava_, which is a circumstance that has been noticed by PARKINSON; when these several characters, in which the _fulva_ differs so essentially from the _flava_, are attentively considered, we shall wonder that LINNAEUS could entertain an idea of their being varieties of each other.

The _Hemerocallis fulva_, from its size, and from the great multiplication of its roots, is best adapted to large gardens and plantations.

May be propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.

[65]

~Clematis integrifolia. Entire-Leaved Clematis, or Virgins-Bower.~

_Class and Order._

~Polyandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 0. _Petala_ 4. rarius 5.--vel 6. _Sem._ caudata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CLEMATIS _integrifolia_ foliis simplicibus ovato-lanceolatis, floribus cernuis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 512._

CLEMATITIS coerulea erecta. _Bauh. Pin. 300._

CLEMATIS coerulea Pannonica. The Hungarian Climer. _Park. Parad. p. 393._

The _Clematis integrifolia_ is not an uncommon plant in the nurseries about London, and is deserving a place in gardens, if not for the beauty of its flowers, at least for their singularity.

It is a native of Germany, flowers in July, and is one of those hardy perennials which suit most people, requiring little more than an introduction.

Is propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.

[66]

~Passiflora alata. Winged Passion-Flower.~

_Class and Order._

~Gynandria Pentandria.~

_Generic Character._

Trigyna. _Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5. _Nectarium_ corona. _Bacca_ pedicellata.

_Specific Character._

PASSIFLORA _alata_ foliis indivisis cordatis integerrimis, petiolis quadriglandulosis, cauli membranaceo tetragono.

This species of Passion-flower is one of those which have been introduced into the English gardens since the time of MILLER; if it does not equal the _coerulea_ in elegance, it excels it in magnificence, in brilliancy of colour, and in fragrance, the blossoms being highly odoriferous: as yet, it is by no means so general in this country, as its extraordinary beauty merits, we have seen it flower this year, both summer and autumn, in great perfection in the stove of our very worthy friend JAMES VERE, Esq. Kensington-Gore; at the Physic Garden, Chelsea; and at Mr. MALCOM's, Kennington; at Chelsea, in particular, it afforded the richest assemblage of foliage and flowers we ever saw.

It appears to the greatest advantage, when trained up an upright pole, nearly to the height of the back of the stove, and then suffered to run along horizontally.

By some it has been considered as a variety only of the _Passiflora quadrangularis_, others, with whom we agree in opinion, have no doubt of its being a very distinct species; it differs from the _quadrangularis_, in having leaves more perfectly heart-shaped, and less veiny; in having four glands on the foot-stalks of the leaves, instead of six; and in not producing fruit with us, which the _quadrangularis_ has been known frequently to do.

The Nursery-men report, that this species was first raised in this country, by a gentleman in Hertfordshire, from West-India seeds.

The usual mode of propogating it here, is by cuttings.

[67]

~Mesembryanthemum pinnatifidum. Jagged-Leaved Fig-Marigold.~

_Class and Order._

~Icosandria Pentagynia.~

_Generic Character._

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

_Specific Character._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _pinnatifidum_ foliis pinnatifidis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 470. Suppl. p. 260._

This species of _Mesembryanthemum_, so different in the shape of its foliage from all the others hitherto introduced into this country, is first described in the _Supplementum Plantarum_ of the younger LINNAEUS, from which we learn that it grew in the Upsal Garden, into which it was most probably introduced by professor THUNBERG, as on his authority it is mentioned as a native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Mr. ZIER, Apothecary, of Castle-Street, was so obliging as to present me this summer with the seeds of this curious plant, I sowed them in a pot of earth, plunged in a tan pit, whose heat was nearly exhausted; they quickly vegetated, and though the summer was far advanced, they proceeded rapidly into flower, and bid fair to produce ripe seeds, as the Capsules have long since been formed.

The whole plant is sprinkled over with glittering particles like the ice plant, to which it bears some affinity in its duration, being an annual and requiring the same treatment.

The blossoms are small and yellow, and if the weather be fine, open about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, the stalks are of a bright red colour, and the foliage yellowish green.

[68]

~Sempervivum arachnoideum. Cobweb Houseleek.~

_Class and Order._

~Dodecandria Dodecagynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 12-partitus. _Petala_ 12. _Caps._ 12. polyspermae.

_Specific Character._

SEMPERVIVUM _arachnoideum_ foliis pilis intertextis, propaginibus globosis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 456._

SEDUM montanum tomentosum. _Bauh. Pin. 284._

By the old Botanists, this plant was considered as a _Sedum_; and to this day it is generally known in the gardens by the name of the _Cobweb Sedum_, though its habit or general appearance, independent of its fructification, loudly proclaims it a _Houseleek_.

In this species the tops of the leaves are woolly; as they expand they carry this woolly substance with them, which being thus extended, assumes the appearance of a cobweb, whence the name of the plant.

Like most of the Houseleeks it is best kept in a pot, or it will grow well and appear to great advantage on a wall or piece of rock-work; the more it is exposed to the sun, the more colour will enliven its stalks and foliage, and the more brilliant will be its flowers; the latter make their appearance in July.

It is propagated by offsets which it sends forth in abundance.

It is no uncommon practice to treat this beautiful species of Houseleek, as a native of a warm climate; under such an idea we have seen it nursed up in stoves, while the plant spontaneously braves the cold of the Switzerland Alps.

[69]

~Rosa muscosa. Moss Rose.~

_Class and Order._

~Icosandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Petala_ 5. _Cal._ urceolatus, 5-fidus, carnosus, collo coarctatus. _Sem._ plurima, hispida, calycis interiori lateri affixa.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ROSA _muscosa_ caule petiolisque aculeatis, pedunculis calycibusque pilosissimis. _Miller's Dict._

If there be any one genus of plants more universally admired than the others, it is that of the Rose--where is the Poet that has not celebrated it? where the Painter that has not made it an object of his imitative art?

In the opinion of MILLER, the Moss Rose, or Moss Province, as it is frequently called, is a perfectly distinct species; LINNAEUS considers it as a variety only of the _centifolia_: as it is found in our Nurseries in a double state only, and as we are ignorant of what country it is the produce, the decision of this matter must be left to future observation and inquiry.

Though it may not increase so fast by suckers, nor be increased so readily by layers, as the _centifolia_, there is no difficulty in propagating it either way; the latter mode is usually adopted.

[70]

~Mesembryanthemum barbatum. Bearded Fig-Marigold.~

_Class and Order._

~Icosandria Pentagynia~.

_Generic Character._

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

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _barbatum_, foliis subovatis papulosis distinctis, apice barbatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 469._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM radiatum, ramulis prolixis recumbentibus. _Dillen. Hort. Elth. 245. t. 190. f. 234._

The leaves of this species have small hairs, issuing like rays from their points, whence its name of _barbatum_; there are two others figured by DILLENIUS, whose leaves have a great similarity of structure, and which are considered by LINNAEUS as varieties of this species; our plant is the _Stellatum_ of MILLER's _Dict._ _ed._ 6. 4_to_.

Like most of this tribe it inhabits the Cape, flowers in July, and is readily propagated by cuttings.

[71]

~Statice sinuata. Purple-cup't Statice, or Thrift.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Pentagynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 1-phyllus, integer, plicatus, scariosus. _Petala_ 5. _Sem._ 1. superum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

STATICE _sinuata_ caule herbaceo, foliis radicalibus alternatim pinnato sinuatis: caulinis ternis triquetris subulatis decurrentibus. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab._ _p._ 301.

LIMONIUM peregrinum foliis asplenii. _Bauh. Pin. 192._

LIMONIUM Rauwolfii Marsh Buglosse. _Parkins. Parad. p. 250._

That this singular species of _Statice_ was long since an inhabitant of our gardens, appears from PARKINSON, who in his _Garden of Pleasant Flowers_, gives an accurate description of it, accompanied with an expressive figure; since his time it appears to have been confined to few gardens: the nurserymen have lately considered it as a newly-introduced species, and sold it accordingly.

It is one of those few plants whose calyx is of a more beautiful colour than the corolla (and which it does not lose in drying); it therefore affords an excellent example of the _calyx coloratus_, as also of _scariosus_, it being sonorous to the touch.

Being a native of Sicily, Palestine, and Africa, it is of course liable to be killed with us in severe seasons, the common practice is therefore to treat it as a green-house plant, and indeed it appears to the greatest advantage in a pot; it is much disposed to throw up new flowering stems; hence, by having several pots of it, some plants will be in blossom throughout the summer; the dried flowers are a pretty ornament for the mantle-piece in winter.

Though a kind of biennial, it is often increased by parting its roots, but more advantageously by seed; the latter, however, are but sparingly produced with us, probably for the want, as PARKINSON expresses it, "of sufficient heate of the Sunne."

[72]

~Helleborus lividus. Livid or Purple Hellebore.~

_Class and Order._

~Polyandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ nullus. _Petala_-5. sive plura. _Nectaria_ bilabiata, tubulata. _Caps._ polyspermae, erectiusculae.

_Specific Character._

HELLEBORUS _lividus_ caule multifloro folioso, foliis ternatis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. ined. 2. p. 272._

It is not a little extraordinary that this plant which has for many years been cultivated in this country, should have escaped the notice of LINNAEUS; it is equally wonderful that we should at this moment be strangers to its place of growth.

Having three leaves growing together, it has been considered by many as the _trifoliatus_ of LINNAEUS but his _trifoliatus_ is a very different plant, a native of Canada, producing small yellow flowers.

It has been usual to treat this species as a green-house plant, or at least to shelter it under a frame in the winter; probably it is more hardy than we imagine.

It is propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and by seeds, though few of the latter in general ripen, nor do the roots make much increase--to these causes we must doubtless attribute its present comparative scarcity.

It flowers as early as February; on which account, as well as that of its singularity, it is a very desirable plant in collections.

INDEX.

In which the Latin Names of the Plants contained in the _Second Volume_ are alphabetically arranged.

_Pl._

47 Amaryllis formosissima. 54 Anemone sylvestris. 41 Calceolaria pinnata. 42 Camellia japonica. 62 Centaurea glastifolia. 37 Chironia frutescens. 53 Cineraria lanata. 43 Cistus incanus. 65 Clematis integrifolia. 45 Crocus vernus. 44 Cyclamen persicum. 39 Dianthus Caryophyllus, var. 63 Fragaria monophylla. 52 Gentiana acaulis. 55 Geranium striatum. 56 ---- lanceolatum. 72 Helleborus lividus. 64 Hemerocallis fulva. 61 Iris ochroleuca. 50 ---- sibirica. 58 ---- spuria. 60 Lathyrus odoratus. 46 Leucojum vernum. 70 Mesembryanthemum barbatum. 59 ---- bicolorum. 67 ---- pinnatifidum. 51 Narcissus major. 48 ---- triandrus. 57 Papaver orientale. 66 Passiflora alata. 69 Rosa muscosa. 49 Soldanella alpina. 68 Sempervivum arachnoideum. 71 Statice sinuata. 40 Trillium sessile. 38 Viburnum Tinus.

INDEX.

In which the English Names of the Plants contained in the _Second Volume_ are alphabetically arranged.

_Pl._

47 Amaryllis Jacobean. 54 Anemony Snowdrop. 42 Camellia Rose. 43 Centaurea woad-leaved. 37 Chironia shrubby. 53 Cineraria woolly. 43 Cistus, hoary or rose. 65 Clematis, or Virgin's-bower entire-leaved. 45 Crocus spring. 44 Cyclamen Persian. 51 Daffodil great. 48 ---- reflexed. 64 Day-lily tawny. 39 Franklin's Tartar. 70 Fig-marigold bearded. 67 ---- jagged-leaved. 59 ---- two-coloured. 52 Gentian large-flowered, or Gentianella. 56 Geranium spear-leaved. 55 ---- striped. 68 Houseleek cobweb. 72 Hellebore, livid or purple. 50 Iris Siberian. 58 ---- spurious. 61 ---- tall. 38 Laurustinus common. 66 Passion-flower winged. 60 Pea, or Vetchling sweet. 57 Poppy eastern. 69 Rose moss. 41 Slipper-wort pinnated. 46 Snow-flake spring. 49 Soldanella alpine. 63 Strawberry one-leav'd. 40 Trillium sessile. 71 Thrift purple-cup't.