Chapter 2

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ALYSSUM _saxatile_ caulibus frutescentibus paniculatis, foliis lanceolatis mollissimis repandis. _Linn. Syst. Veg, ed. 14. Murr. p. 590._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 381._

ALYSSUM Creticum Saxatile, foliis undulatis incanis. _Tourn. cor. 15._

THLASPI luteum leucoji folio. _Bocc. muf. 79. t. 93._

As this plant has very generally obtained in gardens and nurseries the name of yellow Alyssum, we have retained it; for though it is not the only one of the genus which produces yellow flowers, it may still be called yellow by way of eminence, such is the extreme brilliancy and profusion of its blossoms.

It is a native of Crete, and was first cultivated in this country by Mr. MILLER, in 1731[3], at Chelsea garden.

It begins to flower about the latter end of April, and continues to blossom through great part of May; and it is not uncommon for it to flower again in autumn.

If it has a pure air and a dry situation, it will grow in almost any soil.

The usual mode of propagating it is by slips, or cuttings. As it is a small, shewy, hardy plant, and not disposed to over-run others, it is very suitable to embellish rock-work.

[160]

PULMONARIA VIRGINICA. VIRGINIA LUNGWORT.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ infundibuliformis fauce pervia. _Calyx_ prismatico-pentagonus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PULMONARIA _Virginica_ calycibus abbreviatis, foliis lanceolatis obtusiusculis. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 187._

PULMONARIA non maculosa, floribus tubulosis longis pulcherrimis cæruleis, in panicula pendula congestis, foliis teneribus glabris latis obtusis, ad margines æqualibus, pediculis dilute purpureis infidentibus, radice crassa instar symphyti. Mountain Cowslip. _Clayt. Gron. Fl. Virg. p. 25._

MILLER informs us in his Dictionary, that the _Pulmonaria Virginica_ grows naturally upon mountains in most parts of North-America, that the seeds were sent many years since by Mr. BANISTER, from Virginia; and some of the plants were raised in the garden of the Bishop of London, at Fulham, where for several years it was growing.

Though a native of Virginia, it ranks with the hardy herbaceous plants of our gardens, and flowers in the open border about the middle of April; the blossoms before their expansion are of a reddish purple colour, when fully blown they become of a light bright blue, the foliage is glaucous, or blueish green; it is said to vary with white and flesh-coloured flowers.

In favourable seasons, the Flower-Garden owes much of its gaiety to this elegant plant, and at a time when ornament is most desirable.

It requires a pure air, and a situation moderately sheltered, as the cold easterly winds which too readily prevail in April, when it is in flower, are apt to deface it.

It is usually propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and is a free grower.

[161]

AMYGDALUS NANA. DWARF ALMOND.

_Class and Order._

ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus, inferus. _Petala_ 5. Drupa nuce poris perforata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

AMYGDALUS _nana_ foliis basi attenuatis. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 162._ _Pallas. Ross. 1. p. 12. t. 6._

AMYGDALUS indica nana. _Pluk. alm. 28. t. 11. f. 3._

ARMENIACA persicæ foliis, fructu exsucco. _Amm. Ruth. 273. t. 30._

The Dwarf Almond, a native of Russia and Tartary, is justly considered as one of our most ornamental shrubs; it rarely rises above the height of three feet, and hence becomes very suitable for the shrubbery of small extent. It flowers about the middle of April, somewhat later than the common Almond.

MILLER observes, that the roots are apt to put out suckers, by which the plant may be increased in plenty; and if those are not annually taken away, they will starve the old plant.

Cultivated in 1683, by Mr. JAMES SUTHERLAND. _Ait. Hort. Kew._

[162]

SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. CANADA PUCCOON, or BLOODWORT.

_Class and Order._

POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 8-petala. _Cal._ 2-phyllus. Siliqua ovata, 1-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SANGUINARIA _Canadensis_. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 489._

CHELIDONIUM majus Canadense acaulon. _Corn. Canad. 212._

RANUNCULUS Virginiensis albus. _Park. Theat. 226._

SANGUINARIA flore simplici. _Dill. Elth. t. 252._

Though the Sanguinaria cannot be considered as a handsome shewy plant, yet we scarcely know its equal in point of delicacy and singularity; there is something in it to admire, from the time that its leaves emerge from the ground, and embosom the infant blossom, to their full expansion, and the ripening of its seed vessels.

The woods of Canada, as well as of other parts of North-America, produce this plant in abundance with us it flowers in the beginning of April: its blossoms are fugacious, and fully expand only in fine warm weather. It is a hardy perennial, and is usually propagated by parting its roots in autumn; a situation moderately shady, and a soil having a mixture of bog-earth or rotten leaves in it suits it best.

Its knobby roots, when broken asunder, pour forth a juice of a bright red or orange colour, whence its name of Sanguinaria: with this liquid the Indians are said to paint themselves.

DILLENIUS, has figured it in his admirable work, the Hortus Elthamensis, where three varieties of it are represented, viz. a large one, a small one, and one in which the petals are multiplied, but which can scarcely be called double.

It appears from MORISON[4], that the Sanguinaria was cultivated in this country in 1680, the date of his work.

[163]

PHLOX DIVARICATA. EARLY-FLOWERING LYCHNIDEA.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ hypocrateriformis. _Filamenta_ inæqualia. _Stigma_ 3-fidum. _Cal._ prismaticus. _Caps._ 3-locularis, i-sperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PHLOX _divaricata_ foliis lato-lanceolatis: superioribus alternis, caule bifido, pedunculis geminis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab, p. 199._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 206._

LYCHNIDEA virginiana, alsines aquaticæ foliis, floribus in ramulis divaricatis. _Pluk. Mant. 121?_

Most of the plants of this genus are natives of North-America, and remarkable for their beauty; they were first introduced under the name of _Lychnidea_, which, though a Latin term, is now familiarized to the English ear.

Mr. AITON has given to this species the name of early-flowering, it coming much sooner into blossom than any of the others, beginning to flower in May with the yellow Alyssum; its blossoms, however, are not of so long duration, nor so ornamental as some others of the same family.

It seldom exceeds a foot in height, and, on this account, may be regarded as a suitable rock-plant.

It rarely ripens its seeds with us, but is readily increased either by cuttings or layers; succeeds best in a pure air and a situation moderately dry.

Like most other American plants, it is of modern introduction, was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1758, and figured in his Icones.

[164]

RANUNCULUS GRAMINEUS. GRASS-LEAVED CROWFOOT.

_Class and Order._

POLYANDRIA POLYGNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5 intra ungues poro mellifero. _Semina_ nuda.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

RANUNCULUS _gramineus_ foliis lanceolato linearibus indivisis, caule erecto lævissimo paucifloro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 515._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 265._

RANUNCULUS gramineo folio bulbosus. _Bauh. Pin. 181?_

RANUNCULUS montanus folio gramineo. _Bauh. Pin. 180._

RANUNCULUS gramineus. Grasse leafed Crowfoot. _Park. Parad. p. 218. 221. f. i._

This species of Ranunculus, an inhabitant of the dry pastures South of France and Italy, and a hardy herbaceous plant of ready growth, recommends itself by the earliness of its flowering and the delicate glaucous colour of its foliage. PARKINSON figures it with double flowers, though he describes it with semi-double ones only; we have not observed either of these varieties in the gardens about London, they have most probably fallen victims to the rage for novelty, at the shrine of which many a fair and goodly flower is yearly sacrificed.

It flowers towards the end of April, and is propagated by parting its roots in autumn.

The synonyms of this and other species of Ranunculus described in GERARD'S _Fl. Gallopr._ are very inaccurately quoted in Professor MURRAY'S edition of the _Syst. Vegetab._

[165]

PELARGONIUM CORDIFOLIUM. HEART-LEAVED GERANIUM.

_Class and Order._

MONADELPHIA HEPTANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-partitus: lacinia suprema, definente in tubulum capilarem, nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _Cor._ 5-petala, irregularis. _Filam_. 10 inæqualia: quorum 3. (raro 5) castrata. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus: rostra spiralia introrsum barbata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PELARGONIUM _cordatum_ umbellis multifloris, foliis cordatis acutis dentatis, petalis inferis linearibus acutis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 427._

GERANIUM _cordifolium_. _Cavan. Diss. p. 240. t. 117. f. 3._

Our readers are here presented with the figure of another Geranium of modern introduction, not enumerated by LINNÆUS or MILLER, and which in point of beauty, duration of flowering, and facility of culture, is equal to most.

It was introduced to the Royal Garden, at Kew, from the Cape, by Mr. MASSON, in 1774.

There are several varieties of it, but the one here figured is the most beautiful.

It strikes readily from cuttings, by which it is usually propagated.

Requires the same treatment as the more common Geraniums, and flowers, from March to July.

[166]

CHEIRANTHUS MARITIMUS. MEDITERRANEAN STOCK.

_Class and Order._

TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA.

_Generic Character._

_Germen_ utrinque denticulo glandulato. _Cal._ clausus: foliolis duobus basi gibbis. _Semina_ plana.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CHEIRANTHUS _maritimus_ foliis ellipticis obtusis nudis scabriusculis, caule diffuso scabro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 597._ _Mantiss. p. 568._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 2. p. 395._

LEUCOJUM minus flore violaceo. _Barr. Ic. 1127._

LINNÆUS has described this plant minutely in his _Mantissa Plant_, so that no doubt remains of its being his _maritimus_.

With us, it has been customary for Gardeners and Nurserymen to distinguish this species by the name of Virginia Stock, a name highly improper, as it is found to be a native of the Mediterranean coast.

The blossoms which this plant first puts forth are of a lively red, in a few days they become of a blueish purple colour; to this variety of hues the plant owes its chief beauty.

Being of humble growth, and producing a profusion of bloom, which is of long duration, it is frequently used as an edging to borders, and sometimes sown in little patches with other annuals; in whatever way used, it contributes greatly to enliven the borders of the flower-garden.

It is one of those annuals whose seeds should be sown in the autumn, as it thereby comes much forwarder into bloom, and its blossoms are more lively than those arising from seeds sown in the spring; by varying the time of sowing, it may be had to flower in spring, summer, and autumn.

Small pots of it in bloom have a pretty appearance, and may be used to decorate the windows of those who reside in cities or great towns, where the pleasures of the garden are not to be enjoyed.

[167]

SOPHORA TETRAPTERA. WINGED-PODDED SOPHORA.

_Class and Order._

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-dentatus, superne gibbus. _Cor._ papilionacea: alis-longitudine vexilli. _Legumen._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SOPHORA _tetraptera_ foliis pinnatis foliolis numerosis (17--19) lanceolato-oblongis villosiusculis: leguminibus membranaceo-quadrangulis, caule arboreo. _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 43._

SOPHORA _tetraptera_. _Job. Miller ic. tab. 1._

The magnificent and highly curious species of Sophora here represented, is one of the many plants discovered by Sir JOSEPH BANKS at New-Zealand, where it forms a tree of a considerable size.

A finer sight can scarcely be imagined than a tree of this sort, extending to a great breadth on a wall with a western aspect, in the Apothecaries Garden at Chelsea, where it was planted by Mr. FORSYTH about the year 1774, and which at this moment (April 28, 1791) is thickly covered with large pendulous branches of yellow, I had almost said golden flowers; for they have a peculiar richness, which it is impossible to represent in colouring; in the winter care is taken to cover it carefully with mats, least it should suffer from any extraordinarily severe weather.

It usually produces a few seed vessels of an uncommon form, having four wings, whence its name of _tetraptera_; from some of the seeds which have ripened in this country plants have been raised, and by these the plant is found to be propagated with the most success; it may also be increased by cuttings and layers.

[168]

IRIS PAVONIA. PEACOCK IRIS.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-petala inæqualis, _Petalis_ alternis geniculato-patentibus, _Stigmata_ petaliformia; cucullato-bilabiata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IRIS _pavonia_ imberbis folio lineari glabro, scapo subunifloro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 92._

We have our doubts whether the plant here figured be the _pavonia_ of the _Systema Vegetabilium_, as it does not accord so well with the description there given, as we could wish; as such however it has been regarded by some here, and it must be allowed to answer extremely well to the name.

It is a small delicate Iris, about a foot and a half high, with very narrow leaves, bearing on the top of the stalk one or at most two flowers, three of the petals are large and white, with a brilliant blue spot at the base of each, edged on the outer side with deep purple; the delicacy of the flower, and the eye-like spot at the base of three of the petals, render at one of the most striking plants of the genus.

The figure here given was drawn from a plant which flowered with Messrs. GRIMWOOD and Co. last June, who received it from Holland, and treat it in the same way as their Cape bulbs, of which country it is said to be a native.

It is not mentioned either in Mr. MILLER'S _Gardener's Dictionary_, or the _Hortus Kewensis_.

[169]

IXORA COCCINEA. SCARLET IXORA.

_Class and Order._

TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 1-petala, infundibuliformis, longa, supera, _Stamina_ supra faucem. _Bacca_ 4-sperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IXORA _coccinea_ foliis ovalibus semiamplexicaulibus, floribus fasciculatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 148._

JASMINUM indicum, lauri folio, inodorum umbellatum, floribus coccineis. _Pluk. alm. 196. t. 59. s. 2._

CERASUS zeylanica humilis sylvestris, floribus holosericeis intense rubris umbellatim congestis, fructibus nigris. _Mus. Zeyl. p. 15._

FLAMMA SYLVARUM _Rumph. Amb. 4. p. 105. t. 46._

It will appear strange, we presume, to most of our readers, when they are informed, that the _Ixora coccinea_, a plant at present in few hands, and which a short time since was sold in some of our nurseries for five guineas, should have been known in this country a hundred years ago; and yet Mr. AITON, who has so laudably exerted himself, in ascertaining the precise period, when most of the exotics cultivated in the royal garden at Kew first made their appearance in Great-Britain, informs us on very respectable authority, that this plant was introduced by Mr. BENTICK in 1690.

There is every reason to suppose, that this splendid exotic did not long survive its introduction; on inquiry, we learn that it was reintroduced about fifteen years ago, by the late Dr. JOHN FOTHERGILL, a name, to medicine and botany ever dear, in whose rich and magnificent collection at Upton was first known to flower; about the same time, the late Mr. THOBURN, Nurseryman at Brompton, raised a few Ixoras from foreign seeds, and from these (an accident having happened to the plant which was Dr. FOTHERGILL'S) are said to have arisen the plants at present in this country.

Both RHEEDE and RUMPHIUS describe and figure this plant in their respective works, the _Hortus Malabaricus_ and _Herbarium Amboinense_; it is mentioned also by several other authors: from their various accounts we discover, that in different parts of India, where it grows wild, it forms a slender shrub, or tree, about six feet high, rising generally with a single stem; that its clusters of flowers, seen from afar are so brilliant as to resemble a burning coal, especially in a dark wood, whence its name of _Flamma Sylvarum_; that it grows in the woods, and flowers in September and October, producing a black fruit, the size of small cherries, on which the peacocks are supposed to feed, and from whence they have obtained the name of _Cerasa Pavonina_. The Chinese call it _Santanhoa_; with them it produces flowers and fruit the year through, and they hold the blossoms in such veneration, as to use them in the sacrifices they make to their idol IXORA, whence LINNÆUS has taken the name applied by him to this genus. The root is said to possess some acrimony, and to be made use of by the natives in curing the toothach.

It is customary in this country, to treat the _Ixora_ as a stove plant; perhaps it may be less tender than we are aware of; it flowers in July and August, but has not been known to produce fruit; is increased from cuttings, without much difficulty.

Our drawing was taken from a small but very healthy plant in the stove of Mr. WHITLEY (late THOBURN and WHITLEY, Brompton).

LINNÆUS describes, and some authors figure this plant with stipulæ, which our plant had not, not being arrived at an age, perhaps, to produce them.

[170]

DRABA AIZOIDES. SENGREEN DRABA, or WHITLOW-GRASS.

_Class and Order._

TETRADYNAMIA SILICULOSA.

_Generic Character._

_Silicula_ integra, ovali-oblonga: valvis planiusculis, dissepimento parallelis. _Stylus_ nullus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

DRABA _aizoides_ scapo nudo simplici, foliis ensiformibus carinatis ciliatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. Murr. p. 372._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 2. p. 372._

SEDUM alpinum hirsutum luteum. _Bauh. Pin. 284._

LEUCOJUM luteum aizoides montanum. _Col. Ecphr. 2. p. 62._

The plant here figured, a native of the German Alps, is one of those whose beauty cannot be shewn in a small detached piece of it; to be admired, it must be seen in a tuft of some considerable size, which it is much disposed to form when growing among rock-work, for which, like many other small Alpine plants, it is well suited; thus elevated above the surface of the ground, the various beauties of this humble race are more distinctly seen, and their curious structure more readily inspected.

This species is the more to be esteemed, as it flowers very early in the spring, in March, and the beginning of April, and continues in blossom about six weeks.

LINNÆUS originally confounded it with a similar plant, the _Draba alpina_, a mistake since rectified in his _Mantissa Plant. p. 91._

[171]

IXIA CHINENSIS. CHINESE IXIA.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-partita, campanulata, regularis. _Stigmata_ 3.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IXIA _chinensis_ foliis ensiformibus; floribus remotis, panicula dichotoma, floribus pedunculatis. _Linn. Sp. Pl. v. i. p. 52._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. i. p. 62._

MORÆA _chinensis_ caule compresso, foliis ensiformibus, panicula dichotoma, floribus pedunculatis. _Murr. Syst. Vegetab. p. 93._

In that elaborate and inestimable work, the _Hortus Malabaricus_, we have a good figure of the plant here exhibited, accompanied by a minute description; the author informs us that it grows spontaneously in India, attaining the height even of five or six feet, and affecting a sandy soil; the natives consider it as an antidote to poisons in general, and regard the bruised root as peculiarly efficacious in curing the bite of the serpent, called Cobra de Copella.

We raised plants of it last year from seeds imparted to us by J. IBBETTSON, Esq. of the Admiralty; this year, during the months of August and September, many of them have flowered, and capsules are forming which have every appearance of producing perfect seeds; the root of this plant is yellow, and tuberous like that of the Iris, the leaves also greatly resemble those of that tribe, it grows to the height of about three feet, and produces a considerable number of flowers in succession each of which is of short duration.

The root and radical leaves as represented on the plate are much smaller than in plants which have been long established.

Our plants stood in pots in the open ground through the winter of 1790-1 without injury, but it must be remembered, that the weather during that period was uncommonly mild; it will be safest therefore to consider it as a tender herbaceous plant.

It differs so much in its fructification from many others of the genus, that Prof. MURRAY has considered it as a _Moræa_, with which, in our humble opinion, it has scarcely any affinity.

[172]

LAMIUM ORVALA. BALM-LEAVED ARCHANGEL, or DEAD-NETTLE.

_Class and Order._

DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA.

_Generic Character._

_Corollæ_ labium superius integrum, fornicatum; lab. infer. 2-lobum; faux utrinque margine dentata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LAMIUM _Orvala_ foliis cordatis inæqualiter arguteque serratis, corollis fauce inflata, caulibus coloratis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 534._

LAMIUM maximum sylvaticum alterum. _Bauh. Pin. 231._

GALEOPSIS maxima pannonica. _Clus. hist. 2. p. 35._ Hungary Dead-Nettle, or the Dragon Flower. _Park. Parad. p. 385._

Few of the plants of this genus have been thought to possess sufficient beauty for the flower-garden, the present one excepted, the magnificence of whose blossoms justly entitles it to rank with the more curious, if not the most beautiful of the vegetable tribes.

Though not common in our gardens, it has long been introduced, having been cultivated and accurately described, though badly figured, by PARKINSON in his _Parad. terr._

It grows spontaneously in the woods of Italy and Hungary, and flowers with us about the latter end of April, at which time, if cold winds prevail, it is apt to be injured, unless placed in a sheltered part of the garden.

It may be propagated either by seeds, or by parting its roots in autumn, is a hardy plant and grows readily.

[173]

AITONIA CAPENSIS. CAPE AITONIA.

_Class and Order._

MONADELPHIA OCTANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

Monogyna. _Cal._ 4-partitus. _Cor._ 4-petala. _Bacca_ sicca, 4-angularis, 1-locularis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

AITONIA _Capensis_. _Linn. Suppl. Pl. p. 303._ _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 612._

COTYLEDON foliis linearibus, flore quadrifido, fructu subrotundo. _Burm. Afric. 53. t. 21. s. 2._