Part 2

Our drawing was made from a plant which flowered with Mr. Fairbairn, at the Apothecaries Garden, Chelsea, May 2, 1798.

[442]

Genista Linifolia. Flax-Leaved Broom.

_Class and Order._

Diadelphia Decandria.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 2-labiatus 2/3. _Vexillum_ oblongum, a pistillo staminibusque deorsum reflexum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GENISTA _linifolia_ foliis ternatis sessilibus linearibus subtus sericeis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 645._ _Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 14._

CYTISUS _argenteus_ linifolius insularum stæchadum. _Tourn. Inst. 648._

The _Genista linifolia_ is a native of Spain, and was introduced to the royal garden at Kew, by Sir Francis Drake, in the year 1786. _Ait. Kew._

The bright yellow flowers, which are abundantly produced on this plant during May and June, joined to the silky appearance of its foliage, has rendered it worthy the notice of most lovers of plants, in whose collections it is now generally found.

It is most successfully propagated by seeds, which usually ripen in this country; it may also be raised from cuttings, but not readily, agreeing in this respect with leguminous plants in general.

We do not find in Linnæus's works any figure of this plant referred to; but there is a minute description of it in his _Sp. Pl._

It is usually kept in the greenhouse; being a native of Spain, it may probably be more hardy than we imagine.

[443]

Erica Physodes. Sticky-Flowered 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 _physodes_ antheris cristatis, corollis ovatis inflatis, stylo incluso, foliis quaternis, floribus subsolitariis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. Murr. p. 366._ _Berg. Cup. 108._

ERICA _physodes_ cristata, foliis quaternis linearibus, floribus umbellatis viscosis, calyce ovato brevi. _Thunb. Prodr. p. 74._

The _Erica physodes_ is a native of the Cape, and another of those species which have been introduced since the publication of the _Hort. Kew._ of Mr. Aiton.

* * * * *

It is principally distinguished by the form, and delicate whiteness of its blossoms, which are so extremely viscid as to retain flies and other insects which settle on them.

* * * * *

Is scarcely to be increased by cuttings, more readily by seeds, which sometimes ripen here.

[444]

Canarina Campanula. Canary Bell-Flower.

_Class and Order._

Hexandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 6-phyllus. _Cor._ 6-fida, campanulata. _Stigmata 6._ _Caps._ infera, 6-locularis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CANARINA _Campanula_ caule erecto, foliis hastatis ternis oppositisve. _Martyn Mill. Dict. Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 344._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 480._ _Linn. Mant. p. 225._

CAMPANULA _canariensis_ capsulis quinquelocularibus, foliis hastatis dentatis oppositis petiolatis. _Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 238._

CAMPANULA _canariensis_ regia _s._ medium radice tuberosa, foliis sinuatis cæsiis atriplicis æmulis ternis circum caulem ambientibus, flore amplo pendulo colore flammeo rutilante. _Pluk. Alm. 76. t. 276. f. 1._

The flowers of this plant so strongly resemble those of the Campanula, that it is no wonder the older Botanists regarded it as such, Linnæus himself did so at first, and Miller also; and even now it may perhaps be doubted whether it ought to be made a distinct genus of, since it is found to differ principally in the number of its parts of fructification.

It is a native of the Canary Islands, whence its name, was cultivated in the royal garden, Hampton-Court, as long since as the year 1696[4], and is a tender herbaceous plant, to be found in most of our greenhouses; its stem rises to the height of six or more feet, its flowers produced singly from the fork of the stalk are large and shewy, they begin to open at the commencement of winter, and continue to blow till March.

"Is propagated by parting of its roots, which must be done with caution; for, as the root is fleshy, if they are broken or wounded, the milky juice will flow out plentifully; so that if these are planted before the wounds are skinned over, it occasions their rotting: the best time for transplanting and parting of their roots is in July, soon after the stalks are decayed; the soil should he a light sandy loam, mixed with a fourth part of screened lime rubbish." Miller.

FOOTNOTE:

[4] Ait. Kew.

[445]

Coronilla Emerus. Scorpion Senna.

_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 _Emerus_ fruticosa, pedunculis subtrifloris, corollarum unguibus calyce triplo longioribus, caule angulato. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 669._ _Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 57._

COLUTEA siliquosa _s._ scorpioides major. _Bauh. Pin. p. 1046._

Authors have given to this plant the name of Scorpion Senna, its seed-vessels, from their slender and jointed appearance, bearing some resemblance to the tail of a scorpion.

It is a native of France and Germany, and a very old inhabitant of our gardens, having been cultivated by Gerard in 1596; it is of low and slow growth: there is a shrub of it in the Apothecaries Garden, Chelsea, which grew there in the time of Miller, and which now is not more than five feet high.

In the nurseries we have observed two varieties of it, one in which the flowers have been tinged with bright red inclining to orange and which is by far the most common, the other with flowers wholly yellow, scarcely worth cultivating.

Its blossoms are produced in May and June, and sometimes again in autumn; neatly trained to a wall or paling, it makes a beautiful appearance when in flower, the shortness of its shoots renders it a very proper object for this purpose.

Is propagated by seeds, layers, and cuttings; the first are not produced in any great plenty with us.

The leaves by a proper fermentation are said to produce a dye like that of Indigo.

[446]

Psoralea Bracteata. Oval-Spiked Psoralea.

_Class and Order._

Diadelphia Decandria.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ punctis callosis adspersus longitudine leguminis monspermi.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PSORALEA _bracteata_ foliis ternatis obovatis recurvato-mucronatis, mucronatis, spicis ovatis. _Linn. Mant. 264._ _Berg. Cap. 224._ _Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 79._

TRIFOLIUM fruticans. _Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 1085._

TRIFOLIUM africanum fruticans flore purpurascente. _Comm. Hort. 2. p. 211. t. 106._

The old authors, and indeed Linnæus himself at first, regarded this plant as a Trifolium; afterwards the latter changed it to _Psoralea_, and minutely described it in his _Mantissa_.

As a green-house plant, this small and delicate species has long been cultivated[5], and still continues to hold a place in all collections of note.

Its inflorence to us has more the appearance of a _capitulum_ than a _spike_, and which when the plant is in full bloom, is by no means ovate, but rather hemispherical; the purple colour of the vexillum, contrasted with the white of the alæ, gives to the flowers a very pleasing parti-coloured appearance.

In its leaves we have a good example of the _folium mucronatum_.

It is a native of the Cape, flowers in June and July, and is usually propagated by cuttings.

FOOTNOTE:

[5] By Miller, in 1731.

[447]

Erica Empetrifolia. Crowberry-Leaved 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 _empetrifolia_ foliis oblongis ciliatis, floribus verticillatis: calyce ciliato. _Thunb. Prodr. p. 73._ _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 13. Gmel. p. 627._ _Linn. Pflanzen Syst. 3. t. 23. f. 2._

ERICA _empetrifolia_ antheris cristatis, corollis ovatis, foliis quaternis, floribus sessilibus lateralibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 366._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 19._

It is a most pleasing circumstance, when plants afford characters by which they may with certainty be distinguished; most of the Heaths are of this kind, and the present one in particular: exclusive of its great peculiarity of growth, so obviously expressed in our representation of it, its flowers diffuse a strong honey-like fragrance, which, if other characters were wanting, would at once discriminate it.

It is one of those Heaths which are enumerated in the _Hort. Kew._ of Mr. Aiton, and was introduced to the royal garden by Mr. Masson, in 1774; is now to be met with in most of the collections of green-house plants about town, and flowers in May and June.

Is usually propagated by cuttings.

[448]

Mesembryanthemum Micans. Glittering Fig-Marygold.

_Class and Order._

Icosandria Pentagynia.

_Generic Character._

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

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _micans_ foliis subcylindricis papulosis distinctis, caule scabro. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 470._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 190._

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM _micans_ flore phoeniceo: filamentis atris. _Dill. Elth. 292. t. 215. f. 1282._

FICOIDES capensis, tereti folio, flore croceo. _Pet. gaz. t. 7. f. 9._

FICOIDES capensis, folio tereti argenteo, petalis perplurimis aurantiacis. _Bradl. Succ. 1. p. 9. t. 8._

The _Mesembryanthemum micans_, so called from the glittering particles which are conspicuous on its stalks and leaves, is a species which has long been introduced to our gardens (having been cultivated by Prof. Bradley in 1716) for the beauty of its flowers, which in richness of colour are indeed surpassed by few; they are produced in the months of July and August, but do not expand fully, unless the sun shines powerfully on them; nor do they long retain that regular expansion observable in some species, but quickly assume a somewhat ragged appearance; nevertheless, upon the whole, it is one of those species which is highly deserving of culture, by those who are partial to this tribe of plants.

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

Varies with flowers of a paler hue.

[449]

Dillenia Speciosa. Shewy Dillenia.

_Class and Order._

Polyandria Polygynia.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala 5._ _Caps._ polyspermæ, connatæ, pulpa repletæ.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

DILLENIA _speciosa_ foliis oblongis rotundato-acutis denticulatis, pedunculis unifloris. _Thunb. in Linn. Trans. 1. p. 200._

DILLENIA _indica_. _Linn. Syst Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 507._

SYALITA Malabaris. _Rheede Hort. Malab. tom. iii. p. 39. t. 38. 39._

The name of _Dillenia_ was given by Linnæus to this genus of plants, in honour of John James Dillenius, Professor of Botany at Oxford, and the celebrated author of the _Hist. Muscorum_, _Hort. Elthamensis_, &c.

Until the publication of the first volume of the _Linnean Transactions_, only one species of _Dillenia_ was generally known; in that work Prof. Thunberg minutely describes five others, three of which are there figured; all these, and one more described by Dr. Roxburgh in his work on the Coromandel plants, are inserted by Prof. Martyn in his new and highly improved edition of Miller's _Dictionary_.

The present species, which now loses its name of _indica_ in that of _speciosa_, and which though not enumerated in the _Hort. Kew._ has many years been cultivated at Kew, and in the stoves of the curious near town, is a native of Malabar and Java; in its native soil it becomes a vast tree, here we rarely see it more than two or three feet high; its flowers are large and shewy, but quickly deciduous, and remarkable for the unpleasantness of their scent, which is like that of the _Lycium japonicum_, but not being readily exhaled does not infect the air of the stove.

This species is increased without difficulty by cuttings, which quickly produce flowering plants.

[450]

Gladiolus Watsonius. Watson's Corn-Flag.

_Class and Order._

Triandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-partita, tubulosa, ringens. _Stamina_ adscendentia.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GLADIOLUS _Watsonius_ corollis infundibuliformibus, limbi laciniis subæqualibus, foliis linearibus ad oras revolutis. _Jacq. Icon. rar. 2. t. 233. Collect. 3. p. 257._ _Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. Wilden. p. 214._

GLADIOLUS _Watsonius_ monostachyus corollis cernuis, tubo duplici, limbi laciniis oblongis, foliis linearibus glabris. _Thunb. Prod. p. 8._

Professors Jacquin and Thunberg have both described this rare bulbous plant, a native of the Cape, and newly introduced to this country from Holland among a great variety of others: it seems highly probable that the descriptions of both these authors were taken from dried specimens, since they accord so little with the living plant as it flowers with us.

At first sight, one would be led to regard this plant as an _Antholyza_ rather than a _Gladiolus_, its flowers bearing a great affinity to those of the _Antholyza Meriana_, which differs widely from those of the _Gladiolus communis_: Prof. Thunberg having thought fit to make a _Gladiolus_ of that plant, he could do no less than regard this as a _Gladiolus_ also; we regret that the infinite variety to which all the productions of nature are subject should give occasion to versatile minds perpetually to alter genera, often without due consideration. This species flowers in February and March, requires the same treatment as other Cape bulbs, and is propagated in the same manner.

Descr. Stalk from twelve to eighteen inches high, upright, smooth; Leaves about three or four, the lowermost a sheath merely, the second leaf springs from a long sheath, is puckered at its base, three inches in length, upright, rigid, flat, linear-lanceolate, having three strong ribs, one in the middle, two at the margin, which, projecting on each side, give to the edge of the leaf a thick appearance, the leaves as they ascend, gradually differ from this, and finally become hollow bracteæ, which at first envelope the flowers, and afterwards contribute to support them; Flowers from two to three, each standing on a peduncle-like tube, enclosed by a bifid spatha, contained within and about half the length of the bracteæ; Corolla bright red, funnel-shaped, tube bent somewhat downwards, nearly cylindrical, a little flattened, and glossy, limb divided into six ovato-lanceolate segments, spreading outwards, the uppermost segment incumbent, the three lowermost smaller than the others; Filaments three, whitish, nearly straight; Antheræ oblong, straight, purple; Style red; Stigma trifid, each segment dividing into two villous lips.

[451]

Blakea Trinervia. Three-Ribbed Blakea.

_Class and Order._

Dodecandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ inferus, 6-phyllus, superus, integer. _Petala 6._ _Capsula_ 6-locularis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

BLAKEA _trinervia_ bicalyculata, foliis enerviis transversim subtilissime striatis. _Linn. Suppl. p. 246._ _Syst. Veg. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 442._

BLAKEA foliis ellipticis trinerviis nitidis, floribus lateralibus. _Brown. Jam. 323. t. 35._ The wild Rose.

"This vegetable is certainly one of the most beautiful productions of _America_. It is but a weakly plant at first, and supports itself for a time by the help of some neighbouring shrub or tree; but it grows gradually more robust, and at length acquires a pretty moderate stem, which divides into a thousand weakly declining branches, well supplied with beautiful rosy blossoms on all sides that give it a most pleasing appearance in the season.

"It is chiefly found in cool, moist, and shady places, and grows generally to the height of ten or fourteen feet; but rises always higher when it remains a climber, in which state it continues sometimes. It thrives best on the sides of ponds or rivulets, and those that would choose to have it flourish in their gardens, where it must naturally make a very elegant appearance, ought to supply it with some support while it continues young and weakly.

"It is called _Blakea_, after Mr. Martin Blake, of Antigua, a great promoter of every sort of useful knowledge, and a gentleman to whose friendship the Natural History of Jamaica chiefly owes its early appearance." _Brown's Jamaic._

Our figure was drawn from a very fine healthy plant which flowered in the collection of Lady Downe, at her villa of Bookham-Grove, near Leatherhead, in April 1799; though not enumerated in the _Hortus Kewensis_, it had produced blossoms in several other collections near town long before this period; those when they once expand are of short duration, but the foliage when healthy is always handsome.

It is usually kept in the stove with other Jamaica plants, and propagated by layers.

We cannot see the propriety of applying _foliis enerviis_ to the description of this species, since Linnæus himself, in his _Sp. Pl._ describes the leaves as _trinervia_; three strong ribs they always have, and usually two others near the margin which are finer.

[452]

Cardamine Trifolia. Three-Leaved Cuckow-Flower.

_Class and Order._

Tetradynamia Siliquosa.

_Generic Character._

_Siliqua_ elastice dissiliens valvulis revolutis. _Stigma_ integrum. _Cal._ subhians.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CARDAMINE trifolia foliis ternatis obtusis, caule subnudo. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 593._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 387._

NASTURTIUM alpinum trifolium. _Bauh. Pin. 104._

CARDAMINE trifolia. Trefoile Ladies smockes. _Parkins. Parad. p. 389._

Such as are attached to the smaller alpine plants, will regard this species of _Cardamine_ as worthy a place in their collections; one would scarcely have expected to find it in Parkinson's _Parad._ yet there it is described, and the following account given of its introduction: "It was sent me by my especial good friend John Tradescante, who brought it among other dainty plants from beyond the seas, and imparted thereof a root to me."

This species is perennial, hardy, and of very humble growth; the leaves grow thickly together, forming a kind of tuft; the flowering stems rarely rise above the height of six inches, and produce on their summits numerous flowers, waved on their edges; all those which we have had an opportunity of seeing have been perfectly white, Parkinson and Haller describe them as being sometimes tinged with red or purple; they begin to appear towards the end of March and continue through April, the shelter of a hand-glass open at top is often necessary to protect and improve the flowering of this and other such early-blowing plants.

It grows readily either in a pot or in the open border, succeeds best when planted in bog earth in a situation moderately moist and shady, and is readily increased by parting its roots, which are somewhat of the creeping kind.

Grows spontaneously in most of the northern parts of Europe, especially Lapland, Switzerland, and Austria.

[453]

Amaryllis Reginæ. Mexican 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 _reginæ_ spatha subbiflora, pedicellis divaricatis, corollis campanulatis breve tubulosis nutantibus, fauce tubi hirsuta, foliis lanceolatis patulis. _Linn. fil. Ait. Kew. 416. Mill. ic. p. 16. t. 24._

LILIUM americanum puniceo flore Belladonna dictum. _Herm. par. 194. t. 194._

Descr. "Bulb green, scape round, somewhat flattened: Corolla scarlet, with a bottom of a whitish green, the three outer petals round at the tip, the three inner fringed at the base; the style red, the flower stems seldom rise more than one foot high; each stem supports two, three, or four flowers, rarely more; they are large, and of a bright copper colour, inclining to red; the spathe which cover the buds before they open, divides into two parts to the bottom, standing on each side the umbel of flowers joined to the peduncles.

"It flowered in Mr. Fairchild's garden at Hoxton, in 1728, when the late Dr. James Douglass caused a figure of it to be drawn, and wrote a folio pamphlet on it. He gave it the title of _Lilium Reginæ_, because it was in full beauty on the first of March, which was the late queen's birth-day. Mr. Fairchild told me the roots were brought from Mexico; so he gave it the name of Mexican Lily, which is still continued to it by the English gardeners. It flowers constantly in the spring, when it is placed in a very warm stove. It is in beauty in February, and those which are in a moderate temperature of air will flower in March or April.

"Not being so hardy as some others, it must be placed in a warm stove, and if the pots are plunged into a hot-bed of tanner's bark, the roots will thrive better, and the flowers will be strong.

"It is increased by offsets." _Mill. Dict. ed. Mart._

[454]

Canna Indica. Common Indian Reed or Shot.

_Class and Order._

Monandria Monogynia.

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ 6-partita erecta: labio bipartito, revoluto. _Stylus_ lanceolatus, corollæ adnatus. _Calyx_ 3-phyllus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CANNA _Indica_ foliis ovatis utrinque acuminatis nervosis. _Sp. Pl. 1._ _Ait. Kew. vol. 1. p. 1._

CANNACORUS. _Rumph. amb. 5. p. 177. t. 71. f. 2._

ARUNDO indica latifolia. _Bauh. Pin. 19._

CANNA Indica flore rubro. Red flowred Indian Reede. _Park. Parad. p. 376._

The _Canna indica_, a native of both the Indies, is a plant greatly admired for the beauty of its foliage and flowers, and on that account generally cultivated; it has been called by some _Indian Shot_, from the roundness and hardness of its seeds.

We find it to have existed in our gardens in the time of Gerard, 1596. Parkinson was acquainted with that variety of it which has yellow spotted flowers: Prof. Martyn, in his edition of _Miller's Dict._ has quoted the chief of what these authors say of it, which as a matter of curiosity we shall here transcribe: "Gerard informs us, that in his time it was in the garden at Padua, that he had planted it in his garden divers times, but it never came to flowering; and that it must be set or sown in a pot, with fine earth, or in a bed made of horse-dung, in such manner as Cucumbers and Musk-Melons are: Parkinson says, in some kindly years this beautiful plant has borne its brave flowers, but never any ripe seed, and that it will not abide the extremities of our winters, unless it meet with a stove, or hot-house, such as are used in Germany; for neither house nor cellar will preserve it: Clusius saw it flowering by house-sides in Spain and Portugal, and says, that the inhabitants there use the seeds for making their rosaries."

Mr. Aiton enumerates four varieties of it, viz. _rubra_, _lutea_, _coccinea_, and _patens_.