Chapter 3

This genus, of which there is only one known species, has been named by the younger LINNÆUS, in honour of Mr. WILLIAM AITON, author of the _Hortus Kewensis_, and Botanic Gardener to his Majesty. The great length of time[5], Mr. AITON has been engaged in the cultivation of plants, the immense numbers which have been the constant objects of his care through every period of their growth, joined to his superior discernment, give him a decided superiority in the _prima facie_ knowledge of living plants over most Botanists the present day; his abilities in the other line of his profession, are displayed in the eulogies of all who have seen the royal collection at Kew, which he has the honour to superintend.

The Aitonia is a native of the Cape, and was introduced by Mr. MASSON, in the year 1774.

It is a greenhouse shrub of slow growth, seldom exceeding three feet in height; producing, when of sufficient age, flowers and fruit through most of the year; the fruit is a large dry angular berry, of a fine red colour.

Our drawing was made from a very fine plant, formerly Dr. FOTHERGILL'S, now in the collection of Messrs. GRIMWOOD and Co. Kensington.

It is only to be raised from seeds, which are sparingly produced in this country.

[174]

BUDDLEA GLOBOSA. ROUND-HEADED BUDDLEA.

_Class and Order._

TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 4-fidus. _Cor._ 4-fida. _Stamina_ ex incifuris. _Caps._ 2-fulca, 2-locularis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

BUDDLEA _globosa_ foliis lanceolatis, capitulis solitariis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 150. V. 1._

BUDLEJA _globosa_. _Hope in Act. Harlem, V. 20. part. 2. p. 417. t. 11._

PALQUIN _Feuil. it. 3. p. 51. t. 38._

Mr. ADAM BUDDLE, in honour of whom the present genus has been originally named by Dr. HOUSTON, was an ingenious English Botanist, cotemporary with, and the friend of PETIVER; his name is often mentioned in the _Synopsis_ of Mr. RAY and his _Hortus Siccus_, or dried collection of British plants, preserved in the British Museum, still resorted to in doubtful cases.

The present species not enumerated either by LINNÆUS or MILLER, is a native of Chili, and according to the _Hort. Kew._ was introduced by Messrs. KENNEDY and LEE, in 1774.

It has been customary, in consideration of its native place of growth, to treat it here as a greenhouse plant, for which situation it soon becomes unfit from its magnitude; some have ventured to plant it in the open borders in warm sheltered situations, where it has been found to succeed very well, producing its beautiful yellow blossoms in abundance; care must be taken, however, to guard it carefully from severe frosts, which are apt to destroy it.

It flowers in May and June, and is usually propagated by cuttings or layers.

[175]

KALMIA LATIFOLIA. BROAD-LEAV'D KALMIA.

_Class and Order._

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-partitus. _Cor._ hypocrateriformis: limbo subtus quinquecorni. _Caps._ 5-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

KALMIA _latifolia_ foliis ovato-ellipticis ternis sparsisque, corymbis terminalibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 64. ed. 14. Murr._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. p. 64._

ANDROMEDA foliis ovatis obtusis, corollis corymbosis infundibuliformis, genitalibus declinatis. _Fl. Virg. 160._

CHAMÆDAPHNE foliis tini, floribus bullatis. _Catesb. Car. 11. t. 98._

CISTUS chamærhododendros Mariana laurifolia, floribus expansis, summo ramulo in umbellam plurimis. _Pluk. mant. 49. t. 379. s. 6._ The common Laurel, vulgarly called Ivy.

Professor KALM (in honour of whom LINNÆUS, as before has been observed, named this genus of plants) in his travels into North-America, published in English by Mr. FORSTER, relates that he found this species in various provinces of that extensive continent, as Pensylvania, New-Jersey, and New-York, growing most commonly on the sides of hills, sometimes in woods; that it flourished most on the northern sides of the hills, especially where they were intersected by rivulets; he observes, that when all the other trees had lost their ornaments, this enlivened the woods by the verdure of its foliage, and that about the month of May, it was covered with a profusion of blossoms of unrivalled beauty.

[176]

CYTISUS LABURNUM. COMMON LABURNUM.

_Class and Order._

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 2-labiatus: 2/3. _Legumen_ basi attenuatum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CYTISUS _Laburnum_ racemis simplicibus pendulis, foliolis ovato-oblongis. _Linn. Syst. Veg. p. 666. ed. 14. Murr._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. p. 49._

LABURNUM arbor trifolia anagyridi similis. _Bauh. hist. 2. p. 361._

LABURNUM. Beane Trefoile. _Park. Parad. p. 438._

Of the Laburnum, our nurseries afford two principal varieties, the broad and narrow-leav'd; the latter (which is the one here figured) Mr. MILLER was induced to make a species of under the name of _alpinum_; it certainly differs very materially from the broad-leav'd one, yet is most probably only a seminal variety; the Laburnum figured in its wild state by Professor JACQUIN, in his _Flora Austriaca_, has much broader leaves than ours, no mention is made by him of its being subject to vary.

Both MILLER and HANBURY recommend the Laburnum to be cultivated not only as an ornamental but as a timber tree, the wood having a very close grain, a good colour, and bearing a high polish;[6] they urge in its favour, that it is very hardy, a quick grower, and one that will thrive in almost any soil; the latter says, it will become a timber tree of more than a yard in girt: whatever success may attend its cultivation for the more useful purposes, as a hardy, deciduous, ornamental tree, it has long been the pride of our shrubberies and plantations.

It blossoms in May, and is usually very productive of seeds, by which it may be propagated most readily.

Hares and rabbits being fond of its bark, do great damage to plantations of Laburnum, especially in severe weather; I remember somewhere to have read, that these animals will not touch a tree if soot has been placed about it; perhaps, a circle drawn round the base of the tree with the new coal tar, which has a powerful smell of long duration, might keep off these noxious animals.

The Professor does not mention the precise height which he had observed these trees to attain in North-America, but it is evident that they acquire a considerable thickness, as the wood of the root as well as the body of the tree is manufactured into various utensils by the natives, and by the Indians into spoons in particular, whence it has obtained the name of the _Spoon Tree_.

The leaves have been found to prove poisonous to kine, horses, and sheep, but the deer are observed to brouse on them with impunity.

PETER COLLINSON, Esq. who was highly instrumental in enriching this country with the native plants of North-America, is said to have introduced this elegant species about the year 1734.

With us it succeeds best when planted with a northern aspect, well sheltered, in a soil composed of loam and bog earth, in a situation moderately moist, where the air is perfectly pure.

Being with difficulty propagated by suckers or layers, it is most commonly raised from American seeds.

[177]

KALMIA GLAUCA. GLAUCOUS KALMIA.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

KALMIA _glauca_ foliis oppositis oblongis lævigatis, subtus glaucis, margine revolutis, corymbis terminalibus, ramulis ancipitibus. _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. p. 64. tab. 8._

This species (much inferior in size to the _latifolia_, as it rarely exceeds two feet in height) is a native of Newfoundland, where it was discovered by Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart. and by him introduced to this country in the year 1767.

It is of course not described by Mr. MILLER, nor is it mentioned the in the 14th edition of LINNÆUS'S _Syst. Vegetab._ by Professor MURRAY; in the _Hort. Kew._ of Mr. AITON, it is both described and figured.

It flowers in April and May, is propagated in the same manner and requires the same treatment as the _latifolia_.

[178]

HYPERICUM CORIS. HEATH-LEAV'D. ST. JOHN'S-WORT.

_Class and Order._

POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5. _Nect._ 0. _Capsula._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

HYPERICUM _Coris_ floribus trigynis, calycibus serrato-glandulosis, foliis subverticillatis. _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 702._

CORIS lutea. _Bauh. pin. 280._

CORIS legitima, Ericæ similis. _Hon. Belli, ep. 1. ad Cluj. Clus. op. V. 1. p. 299._

CORIS. _Matthioli 939._

There is an elegance and neatness in most of this tribe, and none possess those qualities in a greater degree than the present species, which is a charming little evergreen, admirably adapted for the greenhouse, as it forms a pretty bulb, and flowers during most of the summer.

It grows spontaneously in the South of Europe, and many parts of the Levant; HONORIUS BELLUS, in his epistle CLUSIUS (_vid. Clus. op_.) describes it as growing on the hilly parts of the island of Crete.

Mr. LEE, of Hammersmith, received it about four years since from the Crimea.

It is propagated by cuttings.

[179]

FUMARIA GLAUCA. GLAUCOUS FUMITORY.

_Class and Order._

DIADELPHIA HEXANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ diphyllus. _Cor._ ringens. _Filamenta_ 2, membranacea, singula _Antheris_ 3.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

FUMARIA _sempervirens_ siliquis linearibus paniculatis, caule erecto. _Linn. Sp. Pl. V. 2. p. 984. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 837._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. p. 2._ Bastard Fumitory. _Mill. Dict. ed. 6. 4to._

FUMARIA siliquosa sempervirens. _Corn. Canad. 57. t. 57._

The term _sempervirens_ applied to this plant by LINNÆUS, originated in the description given of it by CORNUTUS; (_vid. Syn_.) the impropriety of calling an annual plant (for such it undoubtedly is with us, and must be in Canada, its native place of growth) an _evergreen_, has appeared to us too glaring to be continued; we have thought the promotion of the science required a change in the name, and have therefore altered it to that of _glauca_, as coinciding with the English name of _glaucous_, given it by Mr. AITON in his _Hortus Kewensis_; for to the delicate, pleasing, glaucous hue of its foliage, it owes its beauty, as much as to the lively colours of its blossoms.

It is a hardy annual, coming up spontaneously in the open border where it has once flowered and seeded, and sometimes reaching the height of two feet.

It flowers from June to September.

Mr. AITON informs us of its having been cultivated by Mr. JAMES SUTHERLAND in the year 1683. Strange! that it should yet be a rarity in our gardens.

[180]

AZALEA NUDIFLORA _var._ COCCINEA. SCARLET AZALEA.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ campanulata. _Stamina_ receptaculo inferta. _Caps._ 1-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

AZALEA _nudiflora_ foliis ovatis, corollis pilosis, staminibus longissimis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 198._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. p. 202._

CISTUS virginiana, periclymeni flore ampliori minus odorato. _Pluck. Mant. 49._

Whether the variety of the Azalea nudiflora here figured, was originally introduced to this country by Mrs. NORMAN of Bromley in Kent, or Mr. BEWICK of Clapham in Surrey (both celebrated for their collections of American plants) we cannot with certainty assert; true it is, the Azalea coccinea was little known here till the sale of Mr. BEWICK'S plant in 1722; a considerable number of these shrubs formed the choicest part of that collection, and sold at high prices, one of them produced twenty guineas: prior to this period, Mr. BEWICK had presented one of the same sort of shrubs to Mr. THOBURN, the fruits of whose skill and assiduous care in the cultivation of American plants are apparent in his late nursery at Brompton, now Mr. WHITLEY'S, and from the produce of which plant our figure was taken.

The original species, found abundantly in the more southern parts of North-America, was introduced, according to Mr. AITON'S account, by PETER COLLINSON, Esq. about the year 1724.

The brilliancy of colour and a happy combination of form, unite in rendering the variety here figured, one of the most beautiful plants in nature: yet it wants the fragrance of some of the varieties of the _viscosa_.

It flowers in June and continues in blossom about three weeks, requires a sheltered but not too shady a situation, more dry than moist, and a soil composed of loam and bog earth, or rotten leaves.

The usual mode of propagating it is by layers; care must be taken not to remove the offspring too soon from the mother plant.

INDEX.

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

_Pl._

173 Aitonia capensis. 159 Alyssum saxatile. 161 Amygdalus nana. 180 Azalea nudiflora _var._ coccinea. 174 Buddlea globosa. 153 Bulbocodium vernum. 166 Cheiranthus maritimus. 156 Coreopsis verticillata. 176 Cytisus Laburnum. 147 Dais continifolia. 170 Draba aizoides. 152 Epidendrum cochleatum. 179 Fumaria glauca. 158 Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis. 157 Hyacinthus botryoides. 146 Hypericum calycinum. 178 Hypericum Coris. 168 Iris pavonia. 171 Ixia chinensis. 169 Ixora coccinea. 175 Kalmia latifolia. 177 Kalmia glauca. 172 Lamium Orvala. 151 Lotus tetragonolobus. 145 Monarda fistulosa _var._ 155 Oxalis versicolor. 165 Pelargonium cordifolium. 148 Pelargonium betulinum. 163 Phlox divaricata. 160 Pumonaria virginica. 164 Ranunculus gramineus. 162 Sanguinaria canadensis. 167 Sophora tetraptera. 154 Saponaria Ocymoides. 150 Tagetes patula. 149 Zinnia multiflora.

INDEX.

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

_Pl._

173 Aitonia cape. 161 Almond dwarf. 159 Alyssum yellow. 172 Archangel balm-leav'd. 180 Azalea scarlet. 174 Buddlea round-headed. 153 Bulbocodium vernal. 148 Crane's-bill birch-leav'd. 165 Crane's-bill heart-leav'd. 164 Crowsfoot grass-leav'd. 156 Coreopsis whorled. 147 Dais continus-leav'd. 170 Draba fengreen. 152 Epidendrum two-leav'd. 179 Fumitory glaucous. 158 Hisicus china-rose. 157 Hyacinth grape. 168 Iris peacock. 171 Ixia Chinese. 169 Ixora scarlet. 175 Kalmia broad-leav'd. 177 Kalmia glaucous. 176 Laburnum common. 151 Lotus winged. 160 Lungwort Virginian. 163 Lychnidea early-flowering. 150 Marigold French. 145 Monarda crimson. 162 Puccoon Canada. 146 St. John's-wort large-flower'd. 178 St. John's-wort heath-leav'd. 154 Soap-wort basil. 167 Sophora winged-podded. 166 Stock Mediterranean. 155 Wood-sorrel striped-flower'd. 149 Zinnia many-flower'd.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES

[1] Pulcherrimos et latissimos in rupibus cespites efficit. _Haller._

[2] Delectatur solo duro, arenoso, umbroso sylvarum. _Jacquin._

[3] _Ait. Hort. Kew._

[4] Provenit sponte in America occidentali five in Virginia seu Canada, unde semen ad nos delata, quibus propagata ejus fobeles abundanter satis in hortulo suburbano Gul. Walker non longe a palatio Divi Jacobi, sito in vico ejusdem nominis Jacobeo dicto.

[5] Mr. A. was a pupil of the celebrated Mr. MILLER.

[6] MATTHIOLUS long since noticed the excellence of this wood, and speaks of it as being particularly used for making the best kind of bows; are our modern Toxopholites acquainted with this circumstance?

End of Project Gutenberg's The Botanical Magazine, Vol. V, by William Curtis