Chapter 1

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THE

BOTANICAL MAGAZINE;

OR,

Flower-Garden Displayed:

IN WHICH

The most ornamental FOREIGN PLANTS, cultivated in the Open Ground, the Green-House, and the Stove, are accurately represented in their natural Colours,

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

Their Names, Class, Order, Generic and Specific Characters, according to the celebrated LINNÆUS; their Places of Growth, and Times of Flowering:

TOGETHER WITH

THE MOST APPROVED METHODS OF CULTURE.

A WORK

Intended for the Use of such LADIES, GENTLEMEN, AND GARDENERS, as with which to become scientifically acquainted with the Plants they cultivate.

By WILLIAM CURTIS,

Author of the FLORA LONDINENSIS.

VOL. VI.

* * * * *

----"nor thou disdain To check the lawless riot of the trees, To plant the grove, or turn the barren mould Oh happy he, whom, when his years decline, (His fortune and his fame by worthy means Attain'd, and equal to his mod'rate mind; His life approv'd by all the wise and good, Even envy'd by the vain) the peaceful groves Of Epicurus, from this stormy world Hereine in rest; of all ungrateful cares Absolv'd, and sacred from the selfish crowd. Happiest of men I if the same soil invites A chosen few, companions of his youth, Once fellow-rakes perhaps now rural friends; With whom in easy commerce to pursue Nature's free charms, and vie for Sylvan fame A fair ambition; void of strife, or guile, Or jealousy, or pain to be outdone. Who plans th'enchanted garden, who directs The visto best, and best conducts the stream; Whose groves the fastest thicken, and ascend; Whom first the welcome spring salutes; who shews The earliest bloom, the sweetest proudest charms Of Flora; who best gives Pomona's juice To match the sprightly genius of Champain."

ARMSTRONG.

* * * * *

LONDON:

PRINTED BY STEPHEN COUCHMAN, For W. CURTIS, N^o 3, _St. George's-Crescent_, Black-Friars-Road; And Sold by the principal Booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland. M DCC XCIII.

* * * * *

[181]

COLUTEA FRUTESCENS. SCARLET BLADDER SENNA.

_Class and Order._

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Legumen_ inflatum, basi superiore dehiscens.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

COLUTEA _frutescens_ fruticosa, foliolis ovato-oblongis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr, p. 668._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. p. 56._ _Mill. Icon. 99._

COLUTEA æthiopica, flore purpureo. _Breyn. Cent. 70. t. 29._

Of the several species of Colutea cultivated in our garden the one here figured, is distinguished by the brilliancy of its' flowers, the largeness of its pods, and the downy appearance of the under side of its leaves.

It appears from the _Hortus Kewensis_ to have been cultivated by Mr. JAMES SUTHERLAND as long since as the year 1683 it was not however generally introduced to our gardens till the time of MILLER, who figured it in his _Icones_, it was then understood to be an Æthiopian plant; Mr. AITON since describes it as a native of the Cape also; of course, we find it more tender than most of its kindred, and hence it is usually regarded as a greenhouse plant; yet, as it is not destroyed by a small degree of frost, it will frequently, like the myrtle survive a mild winter in the open border, especially if trained to a wall: it is rarely of more than two or three years duration.

It is readily raised from seeds sown in the open ground, plants from which flower the August following, and, in favourable seasons, ripen their seeds; in order, however, that they may ripen them with more certainty, MILLER, recommends the sowing them early on a gentle hot-bed.

A dry soil suits this species best.

[182]

SALVIA AUREA. GOLDEN SAGE.

_Class And Order._

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ inæqualis. _Filamenta_ transverse pedicello affixa.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SALVIA _aurea_ foliis subrotundis integerrimis, basi truncatis dentatis. _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 71._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. p. 45._

SALVIA _Africana_ frutescens folio subrotundo glauco, flore magno aureo. _Comm. Hort. 2. 183. t. 92._

Such as are delighted with the singular rather than the beautiful appearances of plants, cannot fail of ranking the present species of sage among their favourites.

It been called _aurea_, from the colour of its flowers, _ferruginea_ would perhaps have been more expressive of them; when they first open indeed they are of a yellow colour, but they quickly and constantly become of the colour of rusty iron.

The leaves are nearly round, and have a pleasing silvery hue: a few of them only, and those chiefly at the extremities of the young shoots, are of the form described by LINNÆUS in his specific character of the plant, and hence COMMELIN'S description (_vid. Syn._) is to be preferred, as leading us with more certainty to a knowledge of the plant; the colour of the leaves, the colour and unusual magnitude of the blossoms, are indisputably the most striking features of the species, and therefore to be resorted to: for my own part, as a friend to the advancement of the science, rather than as the follower of that great man, I see no good reason why colour should not in many instances, especially where expressive characters are wanting, form a part of the specific character in plants, as well as in animals: we are told indeed of its inconstancy. I would ask--who ever saw the colour of the leaves or blossoms of the present plant to vary? and, on the contrary, who ever saw its leaves constant in their form?

The _Salvia aurea_ is a native of the Cape, and was cultivated by Mr. MILLER in 1731, it is a hardy greenhouse plant, is readily propagated by cuttings, and flowers from May to November.

If suffered to grow, it will become a shrub of the height of six or seven feet.

[183]

SYRINGA VULGARIS. COMMON LILAC.

_Class and Order._

DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 4-fida. _Capsula_ bilocularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SYRINGA _vulgaris_ foliis ovato-cordatis integris. _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 57._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. p. 15._

SYRINGA cærulea, _Bauh. Pin. 398._

LILAC sive Syringa cærulea. The blew Pipe tree. _Park. Parad. p. 407._

Few shrubs are better known in this country than the Lilac few more universally cultivated; there is scarcely a cottage it does not enliven, or a shrubbery it does not beautify.

It has long had a place in our gardens; both GERARD and PARKINSON describe two sorts, the blue and the white; to these another sort is added by more modern writers, superior in beauty to the original, as producing larger bunches of flowers, of a brighter hue, having more of the purple tint and hence called by some the purple Lilac, MILLER considers the three as different species.

The flowers of the Lilac possess a considerable degree of fragrance, but not of the most agreeable kind; our readers perhaps, will not be displeased to hear the opinion of old GERARD on this point, delivered in his own words:--"They have a pleasant sweete smell, but in my judgement they are too sweete, troubling and molesting the head in very strange manner: I once gathered the flowers, and laid them in my chamber window, which smelled more strongly after they had lien together a few howers, with such a ponticke and unacquainted savor, that they awaked me from sleepe, so that I could not take any rest until I had cast them out of my chamber."[1]

Though a native of Persia, it bears our severest winters without injury, has a pleasing appearance when in bud, flowers in May, and is readily propagated by suckers; but finer plants, in the opinion of MILLER, are raised from seeds.

It will grow in almost any soil or situation, even in London, but, to flower well, it must have a pure air.

[Footnote 1: The name, indeed, of one of our colours is taken from its blossoms.

This Quotation from Gerard referring to its Smell belongs to the Philadelphus coronarius or Mock-orange which both by him and Parkinson is called Syringa, & which led to the Mistake.]

[184]

IXIA CROCATA. SAFFRON-COLOUR'D IXIA.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

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

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IXIA _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus secundis corolia basi hyalino-fenestratis. _Thunb. Diss. de Ixia._ _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 85._

IXIA _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus alternis, tubo longitudine bractearum, corollæ laminis ovatis integerrimis basi hyalinis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 60. V. 1._

IXIA planifolia, caule multifloro spatha brevissima. _Mill. Ic. 160. t. 239. f. 2._

To the Cape of Good Hope, that never-failing source of rare and beautiful plants, we are indebted for most of our Ixias, and among others for the present species, which though not of that value, nor possessing the delicacy or fragrance of the blossoms of some others, is a very desirable plant, not only as an object of curiosity, from the transparency of the base of the corolla, but as it adds much to the brilliancy of a collection, is easily obtained, and as easily propagated.

It flowers in May and June, but its flowering may be prolonged by putting its bulbs into pots at different periods, or accelerated by artificial heat.

It produces offsets more plentifully than many of the genus.

Mr. AITON informs us that it was cultivated by Mr. MILLER in 1758, who figures it in his _Icones_.

[185]

CORONILLA VALENTINA. RUE-LEAVED CORONILLA.

_Class and Order._

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 2-labiatus: 2/3: dentibus superioribus connatis. _Vexillum_ vix alis longius. _Legumen_ isthmis interceptum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CORONILLA _valentina_ fruticosa, foliolis subnovenis, stipulis suborbiculatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 669._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. p. 58._

POLYGALA valentina. _Clus. hist. pl. rar. p. 98. fig. inf._

The _Coronilla valentina_ comes very near to the _glauca_ already figured in this work, but may be distinguished by a little attention; the _valentina_ has smaller leaves, which are more numerous, and more truly glaucous; the stipulæ, which in the _glauca_ are small, narrow, and pointed, in the _valentina_ are large, and almost round, and in the young plant are strikingly conspicuous; as the plant comes into flower, they drop off; the _valentina_ is not so much disposed to flower the year through as the _glauca_, but produces its blossoms chiefly in May, June, and July; the flowers of the _glauca_ are observed to smell more strongly in the day-time, those of the _valentina_ at all times diffuse a very powerful odour, so as even to scent a small greenhouse; we have often been amused with hearing the different opinions entertained of this smell, some speaking of it in terms of rapture, others ready to faint when they approach it: the flowers of the _valentina_ are more disposed to produce seed-vessels than those of the _glauca_, the seeds of which usually ripen well, and afford the means of increasing the plant most readily. To have a succession of small handsome bushy plants for the greenhouse, the old ones must either be frequently cut down, or young ones raised from seed, or cuttings, the stems as they grow up becoming naked at bottom.

It is a hardy greenhouse plant, and may be kept well enough through the winter in a common hot-bed frame, or planted against a south wall, and matted as myrtles usually are in such situations; we have known the _glauca_, treated in prove a charming ornament.

It is a native of Spain, growing, as CLUSIUS informs us, by road-sides, in sandy places, and on the declivities of hills.

Cultivated here in 1656, by J. TRADESCANT, jun. H. K.

[186]

SELAGO OVATA. OVAL-HEADED SELAGO.

_Class and Order._

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Cor._ tubus capillaris; limbus subæqualis, _Sem._ 1.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SELAGO _ovata_ spicis strobilinis ovatis terminalibus, foliis sparsis linearibus, caule fruticoso. _L'Herit. Stirp. nov. tom. 2. t. 33._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. p. 355._

LIPPIA _ovata_ capitulis ovatis, foliis linearibus integerrimis. _Linn. Mant. p. 89._

LINNÆUS in his _Mantissa_ has somewhat largely described this plant under the name of _Lippia ovata_, evidently from a dried specimen, which may account for the flowers being described of a dark violet colour; he recommends it to such as might have an opportunity of seeing the living plant, to observe if it was not referable to some other genus; accordingly Mons. L'HERITIER, who, when lately in England, saw it in the royal garden at Kew, joined it to the genus _Selago_, retaining the trivial name of _ovata, bractæata_ would perhaps have been a better name; for though its ovate inflorescence may be peculiar to the species, its bracteæ or floral leaves are so very singular that they constitute the most prominent feature of the plant.

Mr. AITON informs us, that it was introduced to the royal garden at Kew, from the Cape, by Mr. MASSON, in 1774.

It recommends itself not so much on account of its beauty, curious structure of its flowering spikes, and the fragrance of its blossoms.

It is a greenhouse plant, and flowers during most of the summer; its blossoms are white with a yellow spot on the two uppermost, and sometimes on all the segments of the corolla, and an orange spot at the mouth of the tube.

Is propagated by cuttings.

[187]

IRIS SAMBUCINA. ELDER-SCENTED IRIS.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

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

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IRIS _sambucina_ barbata, foliis ensiformibus glabris erectis brevioribus scapo multifloro, petalis deflexis planis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab, ed. 14. Murr._ _Thunb. loc. cit. n. 10._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 1. p. 69._

IRIS latifolia germanica, sambuci odore. _Bauh. Pin. 31._

IRIS Camerarii sive purpurea versicolor major. The greater variable coloured purple Flower-de-Luce. _Park. Par. p. 181._

This species of Iris, said to be a native of the South of Europe, derives its name from the smell of its flowers, which very much resembles that of elder in bloom.

It is one of the tallest and handsomest of the genus, in a rich moist soil acquiring the height of three feet or more; it is therefore more proper for the shrubbery than the flower-garden.

It flowers about the latter end of May, and is readily increased by parting its roots in autumn.

The Iris of PARKINSON, referred to in the synonyms, accords so exactly with our plant, in every circumstance but smell, which is not mentioned, that we have no doubt but it was cultivated in our gardens in his time.

[188]

CONVOLVULUS NIL. AZURE CONVOLVULUS.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ Campanulata, plicata. _Stigmata_ 2. _Caps._ 2-locularis: loculis dispermis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CONVOLVULUS _Nil_ foliis cordatis trilobis, corollis semiquinquefidis, pedunculis petiolo brevioribus. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 209._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 1. p. 209._

CONVOLVULUS cæruleus hederaceo anguloso folio. _Bauh. Pin. p. 295._

NIL Arab. _Gef. hor. Eyst._

CONVOLVULUS Cæruleus. Blew Bindweed. _Ger. Herb. p. 715. cum ic._

CONVOLVULUS trifolius five hederaceus purpureus. The greater purple Bindeweede or Bell-Flower with cornered leaves. _Park. Parad. Pl. 361. fig. 2._

All our writers on exotic botany treat of this plant, GERARD, one of the first, gives us the following account: "This beautiful Bindweed, which we call _Convolvulus Cæruleus_, is called of the Arabians _Nil_: of _Serapio_, _Hab al nil_, about Alepo and Tripolis in Syria, the inhabitants call it Hasmisen, the Italians _Campana azurea_, of the beautifull azured flowers and also _Fior de notte_, bicause his beautie appeereth most in the night:" he informs us, that it grew in his garden, but perished before it ripened its seeds. PARKINSON says, it thrives remarkably well in our country, if the year be any thing kindly: MILLER informs us, that it is a native of Africa and America, extols it as one of the most beautiful of the genus, observes, that it is a very distinct species from the purpurea, of which it has been considered by some as a variety; that it will grow to the height of eight or ten feet, that in favourable seasons the seeds will ripen in the open air, and that it requires the same treatment as other annuals usually raised on a hot-bed. Mr. AITON considers it as a stove plant, as indeed most of our tender annuals properly are.

It flowers from July to September.

Though apparently common in our gardens formerly, it is now very rarely met with.

[189]

ERICA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWERED HEATH.

_Class and Order._

OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 4-phyllus. _Cor._ 4-fida. _Filamenta_ receptaculo inferta. _Antheræ_ bifidæ. _Caps._ 4-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ERICA _grandiflora_ antheris muticis exfertis, corollis cylindraceis subincurvis glabris, stylo elongato, floribus axillaribus pedunculatis, foliis subsenis acerosis glabris. _Ait. Hort. Kew. vol. 2. p. 25._

ERICA _grandiflora_ foliis quaternis, stylo exserto, corolla cylindrica, calyce simplici, floribus lateralibus subcurvatis. _Linn. Suppl. Pl. p. 223._

The Erica here figured, is one of the many new and beautiful species, which within these few years have been sent from the Cape by Mr. MASSON, and which have contributed so greatly to enrich the royal garden at Kew.

The description given of the _grandiflora_ in the _Suppl. Plant_. accords so ill with our plant, that we should be led to consider it as another species, did not the respectable authority of the _Hortus Kewensis_ silence all doubts on that head.

The blossoms of this species, whether we regard their magnitude, their colour, their smooth and glossy surface, or the regular position of the filaments, projecting beyond the corolla, and closing together by the antheræ, excite our notice, and claim our admiration.

Like every other heath, the hardy ones excepted, it is a greenhouse plant, and flowers from May to July.

Our drawing was made from a plant finely blown, in the collection of JAMES VERE, Esq. Kensington-Gore.

[190]

ORNITHOGALUM AUREUM. GOLDEN ORNITHOGALUM.

_Class and Order._

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-petala, erecta, persistens, supra medium patens, _Filamenta_ alterna basi dilatata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ORNITHOGALUM _aureum_ foliis ovato-lanceolatis, albomargmatis, floribus racemosis confertis, filamentis nectario emarginato infidentibus.

We have bestowed on this plant the name of _aureum_, from the colour of its blossoms, which are usually of a bright orange or gold colour; in some specimens we have observed them of a paler hue, and consequently less beautiful.

This highly ornamental species is of modern introduction, having been received by Mess. LEE and KENNEDY, a few years since from the Cape, of which it is a native.

The root is a whitish bulb, resembling in size and shape that of the _Lachenalia tricolor_, figured on plate 82 of this work, from whence spring three or four smooth, somewhat fleshy, upright, dark-green leaves, about half an inch wide, and three or four inches long, edged with white, and, if magnified, appearing fringed with very fine hairs or villi; the stalk is naked, from eight to twelve inches high, supporting many flowers, which spring from the alæ of large, hollow, pointed bracteæ, and which opening one after another, keep the plant a considerable time in flower; according to LINNÆUS'S generic character, every other filament should be dilated at the base, in the present species each filament is so, or rather sits as it were on a white glandular nectary, emarginated on the inside, and highly deserving of notice.

In the greenhouse, where this plant has hitherto been kept, its blossoms come forth as early as January and February, and continue for several months; they will long display their beauty, if the stem be cut off and put in a phial of water.

It is propagated by offsets from its bulbs, and has the appearance of being a plant of kindly growth and easy management.

[191]

PRIMULA MARGINATA. SILVER-EDGED PRIMULA.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PRIMULA _marginata_ foliis obovatis serrato-dentatis albo marginatis, scapo multifloro, involucri foliolis pedunculis brevioribus.

There is no difficulty in determining the British plants of this genus, but much in ascertaining many of the foreign ones: Professor JACQUIN has taken great pains to elucidate them in his _Miscel. Austr._ where fifteen are specifically described, none of which accord exactly with the plant here figured, which has every appearance of being a distinct species: in the _Hortus Kewensis_ it is described as the _glutinosa_ of the _Flora Austriaca_, with which it agrees in many respects, but specimens sent from Vienna shew it to be a different plant; in its farinaceous tendency it accords with the _Primula Auricula_, but is very unlike that plant as it is figured in its wild state by Prof. _Jacquin_, in the _Fl. Austr._ the leaves being much narrower, the flowers larger, and of a different colour; it differs from _glutinosa_ in the shortness of its involucrum, from _villosa_ (already figured) in having leaves much narrower, perfectly smooth in respect to villi, and in the colour of its blossoms, which approach that of the Lilac, but more especially in its disposition to become mealy, particularly on the edges of its leaves, between the serratures, where it is so strong as to make the leaf appear with a white or silvery edge; as this character is constant to it, and not to any other species of Primula that we are acquainted with, we have given to it the name of _marginata_.

Mr. _Lee_ received it from the Alps in the year 1781, and it has continued in our gardens ever since unaltered by culture.|

It is a very delicate pretty plant, with a pleasing musky smell, and flowers in March and April. To succeed in its cultivation, it should be placed in a pot of stiffish loam, mixed with one-third rotten leaves, bog earth, or dung, and plunged in a north border, taking care that it does not suffer for want of water in dry seasons; thus treated, it increases by its roots nearly as readily as the Auricula, and may be propagated by parting its' roots early in April or September. |

[192]

CYPRIPEDIUM ACAULE. TWO-LEAVED LADY'S SLIPPER.

_Class and Order._

GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

Nectarium ventricosum, inflatum, cavum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CYPRIPEDIUM _acaule_ radicibus fibrosis, foliis oblongis radicalibus. _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. p. 303._

HELLEBORINE _Calceolus_ dicta, mariana, foliis binis e radice ex adverso prodeuntibus, flore purpureo _Pluk. Mant. 101; t. 418. f. 1._

CYPRIPEDIUM _humile_--Corolla labio superiore rhomboideo acuminato lateribus deflexo subtus carina angustissima obtusa, inferiore petalis longiore antice fisso. _Transact. Linn. Soc. V. 1. p. 76. t. 3. f. 4._