Part 2

The nurserymen near town regard this plant as the _grossularifolia_ of Linnæus, calling another, equally common species, with longer and narrower leaves, _alnifolia_, and which does not appear to be described by Linnæus or mentioned by Mr. Aiton; our plant accords exactly with the Linnæan description of _alnifolia_, and there is we think no doubt of its being the _alnifolia_ of the _Hortus Kewensis_, and Mr. Miller's _Dictionary_.

[300]

Gnaphalium Eximium. Giant Cudweed.

_Class and Order._

Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua.

_Generic Character._

_Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ plumosus vel capillaris. _Cal._ imbricatus, squamis marginalibus rotundatis, scariosis, coloratis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GNAPHALIUM _eximium_ foliis sessilibus ovatis confertis erectis tomentosis, corymbo sessili. _Linn. Mant. Pl. p. 573._ _Syst. Nat. ed. 13. Gmel._

ELYCHRYSUM africanum foliis lanceolatis integris tomentosis decurrentibus, capitulus congestis ex rubello aureis. _Edw. Av. t. 183._

In the summer of 1794, towards the end of July, the Gnaphalium here figured, the most magnificent and shewy of all the species hitherto introduced to this country, flowered in great perfection at Messrs. Lee and Kennedy's, Hammersmith: Mr. Lee informs me, that he raised it from seeds given him by Capt. William Paterson, author of a Narrative of four journeys into the country of the Hottentots, and Caffraria, and who has most laudably exerted himself in introducing many new and interesting plants to this country; this gentleman assured Mr. Lee, that the plant was found in a wild state, five hundred miles from the Cape, on the borders of the Caffre country, from whence the natives bring bundles of the dried plant to the Cape as presents; in the state the plant has long since been imported from that fertile coast: if we mistake not, a specimen of this sort is figured in Petiver's works, and a coloured representation is given of it in Edwards's History of Birds, taken from a dried plant, brought from the Cape, by Capt. Isaac Worth, in 1749.

The plants we saw were about a foot and a half high, the stalks shrubby, and but little branched; the foliage and flowers as represented on the plate.

Several of the Gnaphaliums it is well known are liable to be killed by moisture, especially in the winter season; during that time, this plant in particular, should be kept as dry as possible, and, if convenient, on a shelf, separate from the other plants of the greenhouse; when it is necessary to give it water, it should never come in contact with the foliage or flowers: with these precautions it may be kept very well in a good greenhouse, in which it should remain, even during summer.

It may be raised from seeds, and also from cuttings.

[301]

Melianthus Minor. Small Melianthus, or Honey-Flower.

_Class and Order._

Didynamia Angiospermia.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-phyllus: folio inferiore gibbo. _Petala_ 4: nectario infra infima. _Caps._ 4-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

MELIANTHUS _minor_ stipulis geminis distinctis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 581._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 368._

MELIANTHUS africanus minor foetidus. _Comm. rar. 4. t. 4._

There are few flowers that do not secrete from some kind of a glandular substance, honey, or nectar, to a greater or smaller amount; in those of the present genus, this liquid is particularly abundant, even dropping from the flowers of the _major_, in considerable quantity; in the present species it flows not so copiously, but is retained in the lower part of the blossom, and is of a dark brown colour, an unusual phenomenon.

There are only two species of this genus described, the _major_ and the _minor_, both of which are cultivated in our nurseries; the _major_ is by far the most common, the most hardy, and the most ornamental plant; its foliage indeed is peculiarly elegant: this species will succeed in the open border, especially if placed at the foot of a wall with a south or south-west aspect, taking care to cover the root to a considerable depth with rotten tan in severe frosts: the _minor_ is always kept in the greenhouse, in which, when it has acquired a certain age, it flowers regularly in the spring, and constantly so, as far as we have observed of the plants in Chelsea Garden; Mr. Aiton says in August, and Commelin the summer through.

The _Melianthus minor_ grows to the height of three, four, or five feet; its stem, which is shrubby, during the flowering season is apt to exhibit a naked appearance, having fewer leaves on it at that period, and those not of their full size; but this, perhaps, may in some degree be owing to the plant's being placed at the back of others.

The foliage when bruised has an unpleasant smell.

It is a native of the Cape, and, according to Mr. Aiton, was cultivated by the Duchess of Beaufort, in 1708; is propagated readily by cuttings.

[302]

Mimosa Myrtifolia. Myrtle-Leaved Mimosa.

_Class and Order._

Polyandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Flores_ mere masculi reliquis intersiti. _Cal._ 5-dentatus. _Cor._ 5-fida aut 0. _Stamina_ 4-locularis. _Legumen. Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. Gmel._

_Specific Character._

MIMOSA _myrtifolia_ foliis ovato-lanceolatis obliquis undulatis acuminatis margine cartilagineis: primordialibus pinnatis. _Smith Trans. Linn. Soc. v. 1. p. 252._

The seeds of this species of Mimosa having been sent over in plenty, with some of the first vegetable productions of New South-Wales, and growing readily, the plant has been raised by many cultivators in this country; Mr. Hoy, gardener to the Duke of Northumberland, produced a specimen of it in flower at a meeting of the Linnean Society in 1790; it is a shrub of quick growth, and a ready blower: a plant of it in the stove of Chelsea-Garden has this year (May 10, 1795) produced ripe pods, and perfect seeds. In the greenhouse, where it flowers from February to April, the blossoms go off without shewing any tendency to produce fruit.

It is first described by Dr. Smith, in the Transactions of the Linnean Society; the leaves in the plants that have fallen under our notice have not accorded exactly with those he has described, having neither been of a glaucous green colour, according to the usual acceptation of that term, nor very much undulated; and though those of an individual plant may have presented such an appearance, we are persuaded they do not do so generally when growing and in good health.

The foliage is usually edged with red, and the flowers are fragrant.

[303]

Erica Ampullacea. Flask Heath.

_Class and Order._

Octandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 4-phyllus. _Cor._ 4-fida. _Filamenta_ receptaculo inserta. _Antheræ_ apice bifidæ, pertusæ. _Caps._ 4-locularis, 4-valvis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ERICA _ampullacea_ foliis ciliatis mucronatis, bractæis coloratis, floribus umbellatis subquaternis erecto-patentibus, stylo exserto.

The Erica here figured has some affinity in the form of its flowers to the _E. ventricosa_, as these in their shape resemble a flask or bottle, especially of that kind in which water is usually kept, we have named it _ampullacea_; it is of very modern introduction.

On the 11th of June 1784, we had the pleasure to see a small plant of this species in flower, with Mr. Williams, Nurseryman, Turnham-Green, an unwearied and ingenious cultivator of this beautiful tribe of plants in particular, the richness of whose collection will appear in the subsequent list; by him it was raised from Cape seeds, though not more than the height of ten inches, it produced eighteen branches, most of which put forth flowers at their summits; we counted sixty-six blossoms on this small plant.

The leaves are short, linear, somewhat triangular, rigid, edged with fine crooked hairs, very visible when magnified, and terminating in a mucro or point, on the older branches recurved and mostly eight-rowed; each branch is usually terminated by four or five flowers, at first growing closely together, and covered so strongly with a glutinous substance, as to look as if varnished, and which is so adhesive as to catch ants and small flies; as the flowering advances, they separate more widely from each other, and finally a young branch grows out of the centre from betwixt them; the true calyx is composed of four lanceolate leaves, sitting close to and glued as it were to the corolla; besides these, there are several other leaves, which might be mistaken for those of the calyx, but which may with more propriety be called Bracteæ or Floral-leaves; some of these, like the calyx, are wholly red, others red and green mixed together, and broader than the leaves of the plant; the flowers are about an inch and a quarter in length, inflated below, and contracted above into a long narrow neck, dilating again so as to form a kind of knob, in which the antheræ are contained, just below the limb, which divides into four somewhat ovate obtuse segments, the upper side of these segments is of a very pale flesh colour, the under side of them as well as the dilated part just below them bright red, the body of the flower flesh colour, marked with eight longitudinal stripes, of a deeper hue; filaments eight, antheræ within the tube; style projecting about the eighth of an inch beyond the corolla; stigma, a round glutinous head.

The flowers as they decay become of a deeper red colour, and finally pale brown, still retaining their form and appearing to advantage;--hitherto the plant has produced no seeds here, is increased with difficulty either by cuttings or layers, but with most certainty in the latter way.

* * * * *

A Catalogue of Heaths, cultivated and sold by Richard Williams, at his Nursery, _Turnham-Green, Middlesex_.

ERICA.

* abietina. albens. * ampullacea. arborea. ---- var. squarrosa. articularis. australis. baccans. * Banksii. canescens. capitata. caffra. cernua. * cerinthoides. cinerea. ---- var. fl. albo. ciliaris. * coccinea. comosa. ---- var. fl. rubro. * conspicua. corifolia. * cruenta. cubica. * curviflora. denticulata. * discolor. * elata. empetrifolia. * fascicularis. * formosa. fucata. * grandiflora. * halicacaba. herbacea. incarnata. incana. lateralis. lutea. * mammosa. ---- var. fl. purp. margaritacea. ---- var. fl. rubro. marifolia. mediterranea. * Massoni. minima. * monadelphia. * Monsoniana. mucosa. multiflora. ---- var. fl. albo. * muscari. * nudiflora. parviflora. * Pattersoni. persoluta. ---- var. fl. rubro. * Petiveri. physodes. * pinifolia. planifolia. * Plukenetii. pubescens. pyramidalis. quadriflora. ramentacea. regerminans. scoparia. * sessiliflora. * simpliciflora. * Sparrmanni. * spicata. stricta. taxifolia. Tetralix. ---- var. fl. albo. thymifolia. triflora. ---- var. fl. albo. * tubiflora. umbellata. urceolaris. vagans. * ventricosa. * versicolor. * verticillata. * vestita. virgata. vulgaris. ---- var. fl. albo.

N.B. _Those marked with an asterisk have tubular flowers._

[304]

Hermannia Lavendulifolia. Lavender-Leaved Hermannia.

_Class and Order._

Monadelphia Pentandria.

_Generic Character._

Pentagyna. _Caps._ 5-locularis. _Petala_ basi semitubulata, obliqua.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

HERMANNIA _lavendulifolia_ foliis lanceolatis obtusis integerrimis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 611._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 413._

HERMANNIA frutescens folio Lavendulæ latiore et obtuso flore parvo aureo Boerh. _Dill. Hort. Elth. t. 147._

The _Hermannia_ here figured is a plant of humble growth, forming a small bushy shrub, a foot or a foot and a half in height, and producing numerous flowers thinly scattered over the branches, the greatest part of the summer; it is this disposition which it has of flowering so freely, that renders it a desirable plant for the greenhouse, in which it is commonly kept, and of which it is an old inhabitant.

Dillenius has figured it in his admirable work the _Hortus Elthamensis_, published in 1732; hence we learn that it was cultivated in Mr. Sherard's celebrated garden at Eltham prior to that date.

It is a native of the Cape, and is readily increased by cuttings.

[305]

Amaryllis Equestris. Barbadoes Amaryllis, or Lily.

_Class and Order._

Hexandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ hexapetaloidea, irregularis. _Filamenta_ fauci tubi inserta, declinata, inæqualia proportione vel directione. _Linn. fil._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

AMARYLLIS _equestris_ spatha subbiflora, pedicellis erectis spatha brevioribus, tubo siliformi horizontali, limbo oblique patulo sursum curvo, fauce, pilosa. _Linn. fil. Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 417._

AMARYLLIS dubia _Linn. Am. Ac. 8. p. 254_.

LILIUM americanum puniceo flore Belladonna dictum. _Herm. Par. Bat. p. 194. cum fig._

Mr. Aiton, in his _Hortus Kewensis_, has inserted this species of Amaryllis, as named and described by the younger Linnæus; he informs us, that it is a native of the West-Indies, and was introduced by Dr. William Pitcairn, in 1778: as its time of flowering is not mentioned, we may presume, that it had not blossomed in the royal garden when the publication before mentioned first made its appearance; it no doubt has since, as we have seen it in that state in the collections of several Nurserymen, particularly those of Mr. Grimwood and Mr. Colvill.

It flowers towards the end of April.

The flowering stem rises above the foliage, to the height of about a foot or more, produces from one to three flowers, similar to, but not quite so large as those of the Mexican Amaryllis, to which it is nearly related; it differs however from that plant essentially in this, that the lower part of the flower projects further than the upper, which gives to its mouth that obliquity which Linnæus describes.

The spatha is composed of two leaves, which standing up at a certain period of the plant's flowering like ears, give to the whole flower a fancied resemblance of a horse's head; whether Linnæus derived his name of _equestris_ from this circumstance or not, he does not condescend to inform us.

Mr. Aiton regards it as a greenhouse plant; like those of many of the Ixias, however, the bulbs are of the more tender kind.

It is propagated by offsets, but not very readily.

[306]

Othonna Pectinata. Wormwood-Leaved Othonna.

_Class and Order._

Syngenesia Polygamia Necessaria.

_Generic Character._

_Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ subnullus, _Cal._ 1-phyllus multifidus subcylindricus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

OTHONNA _pectinata_ foliis pinnatifidis: laciniis linearibus parallelis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 793._ _Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 276._

JACOBÆA africana frutescens, foliis absinthii umbelliferi incanis. _Comm. hort. 2. p. 137. t. 69._

The _Othonna pectinata_ is a native of Africa, a long-established and common plant in greenhouses, having been cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 1731; it recommends itself chiefly on account of its foliage, which forms a pleasing contrast to the darker greens of other plants.

It flowers in May and June, is moderately hardy, and readily increased by cuttings.

In many collections we meet with old plants of it three or four feet high; formerly, when greenhouse plants were few in numbers and the houses large, it might be proper to keep such; but now there is not that necessity, especially since the vast accession of plants from the Cape and New-Holland, made within these few years.

[307]

Hermannia Althæifolia. Marsh-Mallow-Leaved Hermannia.

_Class and Order._

Monadelphia Pentandria.

_Generic Character._

Pentagyna. _Caps._ 5-locularis. _Petala_ basi semitubulata, obliqua.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

HERMANNIA _althæifolia_ foliis ovatis crenatis plicatis tomentosis, calycibus florentibus campanulatis angulatis, stipulis oblongis foliaceis. _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 411._

HERMANNIA _althæifolia_ foliis ovatis plicatis crenatis tomentosis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 610._

HERMANNIA capensis althææ folio. _Pet. Gaz. 53. t. 34. f. 2._

KETMIA africana frutescens foliis mollibus et incanis. _Comm. hort. 2. p. 151. t. 79._

The _Hermannia althæifolia_, a native of the Cape, is a plant of much larger growth than the _lavendulifolia_, rising to the height, if suffered to do so, of three, four, or more feet; its blossoms are proportionably large, and of a deep yellow colour, inclined to orange.

It is a plant of free growth, much disposed to produce flowers during most of the summer months; hence it is kept very generally in collections of greenhouse plants: is propagated readily by cuttings.

Was cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 1728. _Ait. Kew._

Our readers will see, that the specific description of Linnæus has been altered in the _Hortus Kewensis_, and that it now comprizes all the striking features of the plant.

[308]

Verbena Aubletia. Rose Vervain.

_Class and Order._

Diandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ infundibuliformis subæqualis curva. _Calycis_ unico dente truncato. _Semina_ 2 s. 4 nuda (_Stam._ 2 s. 4.)

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

VERBENA _Aubletia_ tetrandra, spicis laxis solitariis, foliis trifidis incisis. _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 33._

VERBENA _Aubletia_ tetrandra, spicis solitariis, coroliis fasciculatis, foliis cordatis inciso-serratis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 66._ _Suppl. Pl. p. 86._

BUCHNERA canadensis _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 13. p. 478._

VERBENA _Aubletia_. _Jacq. hort. v. 2. p. 82. t. 176._

OBLETIA _Journ. de Rozier introd. 1. p. 367. t. 2._

It has fallen to the lot of this plant to have an unusual degree of attention bestowed on it by various botanists, and after being regarded as a distinct genus by several, to be finally classed with the _Verbena_; in the _Supplementum Plantarum_ of the younger Linnæus it is minutely described.

We learn from the _Hortus Kewensis_ of Mr. Aiton that it is a native of North-America, introduced by Mons. Richard in 1774, and that it flowers in June and July.

The extreme brilliancy of its colours renders it a very ornamental greenhouse plant, it seldom grows above the height of two feet; in favourable seasons ripens its seeds readily, by which it is usually propagated, being a biennial.

[309]

Pelargonium Echinatum. Prickly-Stalked Geranium.

_Class and Order._

Monadelphia Heptandria.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-partitus: lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem nectariferum secus pendunculum decurrentem. _Cor._ 5 petala irregularis. _Filamenta_ 10, inæqualia, quorum 3 raro 5 castrata. _Fructus_ 5 coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ spiralia, introrsum barbata.

_Specific Character._

PERLARGONIUM _echinatum_ caule carnoso, stipulis spinescentibus, foliis cordato-subrotundis 3-5 lobis, floribus umbellatis, umbellis subseptemfloris.

This singular and most beautiful species of Pelargonium, recently introduced to this country, this Summer flowered with Mr. Colvill, Nurseryman, in the King's-Road, Chelsea, from one of whose plants our figure and description have been taken.

Stalk green, surface smooth and somewhat glossy, fleshy, beset with spines which bend back and terminate in brownish somewhat weak points; these appear to have been primarily the stipulæ, which become thus fleshy and rigid, and from this circumstance not altogether peculiar to this species, it takes the name of _echinatum_; the leaves stand on long footstalks, are somewhat heart-shaped, mostly roundish, divided into three or five lobes, veiny, soft, and downy, especially on the under side, which is of a much lighter colour than the upper, the flowering stem proceeds from the summit of the stalk, and is a foot or more in height; as it advances it throws out its branches, or peduncles, ultimately about five in number, each of which has a leaf at its base, similar to the other leaves of the plant, but smaller, and terminates in an umbel of seven or eight flowers; as the umbels blossom in succession, a period of several months usually intervenes betwixt the blowing of the first and the last; when the flower is expanded, the hindmost leaf of the calyx continues upright, the others are reflexed as in other species of this genus, they are all beset with fine long hairs; the three lowermost petals are pure white, with a little gibbosity at the base of each, the two uppermost are marked each with three irregular spots, of a rich purple colour, inclining to carmine, the two lowermost spots narrowest and of the deepest colour; of the stamina there are six filaments which have antheræ, and four of which have none; stigma red, divided into five parts, and a little longer than the fertile filaments.

In its habit this plant resembles somewhat the _Pelargonium cordifolium_, is a native of the Cape, flowers from May to September, in favourable seasons has produced seeds here, but is more usually increased by cuttings.

Varies with petals of a rich purple colour, in which the spots are similar, though not so conspicuous.

[310]

Erinus Alpinus. Alpine Erinus.

_Class and Order._

Didynamia Angiospermia.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Cor._ Limbus 5-fidus æqualis. _Caps._ 2-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ERINUS _alpinus_ floribus racemosis, foliis spathulatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 570._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 357._

AGERATUM serratum alpinum. _Bauh. pin. 221._

The _Erinus alpinus_ is a native of Switzerland, Germany, and France; inhabiting the more mountainous parts of those countries.

It is a very desirable little plant for the decoration of rock work, growing in close tufts, and producing numerous flowers of a lively purple colour during most of the summer months.

Is increased without difficulty by parting its roots in Autumn, or from seed; in the winter some plants of it should be kept in pots under a frame or hand-glass, as it is liable to be injured by wet and frost.

Was cultivated here by Mr. Miller in 1759.

[311]

Robinia Hispida. Rough-Stalk'd Robinia, or Rose Acacia.

_Class and Order._

Diadelphia Decandria.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 4-fidus. Legumen gibbum elongatum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ROBINIA _hispida_ racemis axillaribus, foliis impari pinnatis, caule inermi hispido. _Linn. Mant. p. 668. Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 53._

ROBINIA racemis axillaribus, pedicellis unifloris, foliis impari pinnatis, caule inermi. _Jacq. Amer. 211. t. 179. f. 101._

PSEUDO ACACIA hispida floribus roseis. _Catesb. Carol. 3. p. 20. t. 20._

There are few trees or shrubs which have contributed more to adorn our plantations, and shrubberies, than those of this genus, nine species of which are enumerated in the _Hort. Kew._ of Mr. Aiton, most of these are natives either of North-America, or Siberia: the present species, an inhabitant of Carolina, is perhaps the most ornamental of the whole: its large pendant bunches of rose-coloured flowers load the branches in May and June, and sometimes a second crop will be produced late in the season, these with us usually fall off without producing any seed-vessels.