The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 06 / Or, Flower-Garden Displayed

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 wish to become scientifically acquainted with the Plants they cultivate.

By WILLIAM CURTIS,

Author of the Flora Londinensis.

VOL. VI.

LONDON:

Printed by Couchman and Fry, Throgmorton-Street. For W. CURTIS, No 3, St. George's-Crescent, Black-Friars-Road; And Sold by the principal Booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland.

M DCC XCIII.

CONTENTS

[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.

[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.

We have not figured the present species of Cypripedium so much on account of its beauty as of its rarity, for it is far less handsome than any of the other species that we are acquainted with.

It is a native of different parts of North-America, and flowers with us in May.

There is little difficulty in distinguishing it from the other foreign species, it has rarely more than two radical leaves, a very short flowering stem compared with the others, a large nectary in proportion to its size, which in the specimens we have seen has been divided on its upper part, through its whole length, so as in fact to destroy in a great degree that shoe or slipper-like form, from which this genus has taken its name.

Like the rest of the family, it requires a little extraordinary care in its culture; its roots should be placed in a pot filled with loam and bog-earth, or rotten leaves, well mixed, and plunged in a north border, where in severe seasons it will be proper to shelter it; if the whole border be formed of the same soil or compost the pot will be less necessary.

Our drawing was made from a plant growing with Messrs. Grimwood and Co. Kensington.

[193]

Narcissus Angustifolius. Narrow-Leaved Narcissus.

Class and Order.

Hexandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Petala 6 æqualia. Nectario infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. Stamina intra nectarium.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

NARCISSUS poeticus spatha uniflora, nectario rotato brevissimo scarioso crenulato. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 317. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 414.

NARCISSUS uniflorus, foliis ensiformibus, scypho brevissimo. Hall. Hist. n. 1250.

NARCISSUS albus circulo purpureo. Bauh. Pin. p. 48. Magnol. Bot. Monsp. p. 181.

NARCISSUS poeticus medio purpureus. Lob.

NARCISSUS medio purpureus. Dod. Pempt. p. 223. f. 1.

NARCISSUS medio purpureus præcox. Timely purple ringed Daffodil. Ger. Herb. p. 108. f. 2. also præcocior, fig. 3. and præcocissimus, fig. 4.

NARCISSUS medio purpureus præcox. The early purple ringed Daffodil. Park. Parad. p. 76. t. 75. f. 3.

NARCISSUS latifol. classis altera, lin. 7. alterum vero, &c. Clus. Hist. Pl. rar. lib. 2. p. 156.

Under the name of poeticus three different species of Narcissus appearing perfectly distinct (though similar in many respects) and regarded as such by the old Botanists, have been confounded by the moderns, viz.

The first of these, the one here figured is evidently the poeticus of Linnæus, judging by the authors to whom he refers in the third edition of his Spec. Pl. which are indeed few in number, and confined chiefly to Bauh. Pin. Dodonæus; of the second, and third, he takes no notice.

The two former ones of these have the greatest affinity, inasmuch as they both produce for the most part only one flower, of a white colour, having a very short nectary, edged with orange; to both of these Linnæus's specific description is equally applicable, as well as the trivial name of poeticus, given them indiscriminately by several of the old Botanists, some regarding the first, some the second as the plant mentioned by Theocritus[2], Virgil[3], and Ovid[4]; unfortunately both of them are found to grow in the same meadows, and have the same obvious appearances, it is therefore utterly impossible to say which of the two was the Narcissus of the poets; if we have the greatest difficulty in ascertaining what the plants were of the Botanists of those times, how are we to discover what the Poets meant, who with very few exceptions have been unpardonably inattentive to the appearances of nature. Since then the term poeticus is equally suitable to both, and as there cannot be two with the same name, we have thought it best to get rid of it altogether, and substitute others which tend in a certain degree to discriminate the several species, denominating the

1st. angustifolius.
2d. majalis.
3d. biflorus.

The angustifolius here figured is a native of the South of Europe, and said by Magnol and Clusius to grow spontaneously in the meadows about Narbonne and Montpelier.

It flowers in our gardens early in April, about a month before the biflorus, and full six weeks sooner than the majalis, increases readily by offsets, and succeeds best in a soil that is moderately moist. In what respects it differs from the two others, will be mentioned when they come to be figured.

[194]

Fritillaria Imperialis. Crown Imperial.

Class and Order.

Hexandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Cor. 6-petala, campanulata, supra ungues cavitate nectarifera. Stam. longitudine corollæ.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

FRITILLARIA imperialis racemo comoso inferne nudo, foliis integerrimis. Linn, Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 324. Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 432.

LILIUM sive Corona Imperialis. Bauh. Pin. p. 79.

TUSAI sive Lilium Persicum. Clust. Hist. 1. p. 127.

CORONA IMPERIALIS. The Crowne Imperiall. Park. Par. p. 27. tab. 29. f. 1.

The Crown Imperial, a native of the East, most probably of Persia, was introduced according to Dodonæus, into the gardens of the emperor and some of the nobility at Vienna in 1576; it appears to have been cultivated here as early as 1596: both Gerard and Parkinson describe it minutely, the latter on account of its "stately beautifulness, gives it the first place in his garden of delight."

It flowers usually in the beginning of April; the whole plant sends forth a strong unpleasant smell, compared by most writers to that of a fox, perceptible when you approach it; to this effluvia Parkinson endeavours to reconcile us by saying that it is not unwholesome; it is so disagreeable however, that few choose to have many of these plants, or those in the most frequented parts of their gardens, yet it ought not to be proscribed, for independent of its beauty, there is much in it to admire, and especially its singular Nectaria, which in the form of a white glandular excavation decorate the base of each petal; in these usually stands a drop of clear nectareous juice; the peduncle or flower-stalk which bends downwards when the plant is in flower, becomes upright as the seed ripens.

Of this plant, as of all others which have long been objects of culture, there are many varieties; those most generally cultivated in our gardens are the common orange-flowered single and double, yellow single and double, gold-striped leaved, and silver-striped leaved; the Dutch in their catalogues enumerate thirteen varieties.

Luxuriant plants will sometimes produce a second and even a third whorl or crown of flowers, and the flat-stalked ones which are monsters, have been known to produce seventy-two blossoms, but none of these are found to be constant.

The Crown Imperial, though a native of a much warmer climate than ours, is a hardy bulb, and not very nice in regard to soil, succeeds best in such as is stiffish, enriched with manure, and placed in a sheltered situation.

Is propagated by offsets, which are produced in tolerable abundance.

[195]

Cheiranthus Mutabilis. Changeable Wall-Flower.

Class and Order.

Tetradynamia Siliquosa.

Generic Character.

Germen utrinque denticulo glandulato. Cal. clausus foliolis duobus basi gibbis. Sem. plana.

Specific Character.

CHEIRANTHUS mutabilis foliis lanceolatis acuminatis argute serratis, caule frutescente, siliquis pedunculatis. Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 2. p. 395.

The present species of Cheiranthus, unknown both to Miller and Linnæus, was first described in the Hortus Kewensis of Mr. Aiton, who informs us that it was introduced to the Royal Garden in 1777, and found wild in the Island of Madeira by Mr. Masson.

Its chief merit as an ornamental plant consists in its early flowering; its blossoms which are shewy contribute to enliven the green-house in March and April; on their first expanding, they are white, in some plants (for they are subject to great variation) inclined to yellow, in a few days they become purple; to this change of colour observable also in the Cheiranthus maritimus already figured, it owes its name of mutabilis.

In sheltered gardens at the foot of a wall, we have known this species survive a mild winter; it seems indeed to be almost as hardy as the common stock; it is most commonly however kept in the green-house.

The usual way of propagating this species, which is of ready and quick growth, is by cuttings, which should be put into the ground as soon as the plant has done flowering; these if properly treated will become handsome plants to place in the green-house at the approach of Winter, and to decorate it the ensuing Spring; in like manner may the green-house be annually recruited with many similar plants to great advantage.

[196]

Saxifraga Crassifolia. Oval-Leaved Saxifrage.

Class and Order.

Decandria Digynia.

Generic Character.

Cal. 5-partitus. Cor. 5-petala. Caps. 2-rostris, 1-locularis, polysperma.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

SAXIFRAGA crassifolia, foliis ovalibus retusis obsolete serratis petiolatis, caule nudo, panicula conglomerata. Linn. Sp. Pl ed. 3. p. 573. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 412.

SAXIFRAGA foliis ovalibus crenulatis, caulibus nudis. Gmel. Sib. 4. p. 166. t. 66.

The term grandifolia would have been more applicable to this species of Saxifrage than crassifolia, for it is not so much distinguished for the thickness as the largeness of its leaves; these are almost equal in size to those of our broad-leaved Dock, red on the under and of a fine shining green on their upper surface; they may be ranked indeed among the more handsome kinds of foliage; the flowering stems, according to the richness and moisture of the soil in which they are planted, rise from one to two or even three feet high; at top supporting a large bunch of purple pendulous flowers, which blossom in April and May, and, if the season prove favourable, make a fine appearance. Should cold winds prevail at the time of their flowering, which they are very apt to do, the plants should be covered with a hand-glass; or, if in a pot, it may be removed into the green-house, which they will not disgrace.

Is found spontaneously on the Alps of Siberia, and, according to Mr. Aiton, was introduced in 1765 by Dr. Solander. No plant is more readily increased by parting its roots, which may be done either in spring or autumn.

There is another Saxifrage in our gardens exceedingly like this in appearance, but differing, in producing larger bunches of flowers, and in having larger, rounder, and more heart-shaped leaves; Mr. Aiton regards this as a variety of the crassifolia, we are inclined to consider it as a species under the name of cordifolia. The parts of fructification in the crassifolia are apt to be preternaturally increased.

[197]

Narcissus Biflorus. Two-Flower'd Narcissus.

NARCISSUS biflorus spatha biflor, nectario brevissimo scarioso.

NARCISSUS pallidus circulo luteo. Bauh. Pin. p. 50.

NARCISSUS medio luteus. Dod. Pempt. p. 223. f. 2.

NARCISSUS medio luteus. Primrose Peerles, or the common white Daffodil. Ger. Herb. p. 110. f. 6.

NARCISSUS medio luteus vulgaris. The common white Daffodill, called Primrose Peerlesse. Park. Par. P. 74. t. 75. f. 1.

NARCISSUS latifol classis altera, lin. 1. Nascuntur, &c. ad intellexisse. Clus. Hist. Pl. rar. lib. 2. p. 156.

Both Gerard and Parkinson describe and figure this plant, informing us that it was very common in the gardens in their time; the former indeed mentions it as growing wild in fields and sides of woods in the West of England; the latter says he could never hear of its natural place of growth. Clusius reports that he had been credibly informed of its growing wild in England; it probably may, but of this it remains for us to be more clearly ascertained; it undoubtedly is the plant mentioned by Ray in his Synopsis.

As it grows readily, increases in a greater degree than most others and is both ornamental and odoriferous, it is no wonder that we meet with it in almost every garden, and that in abundance, flowering towards the end of April, about three weeks later than the angustifolia. It usually produces two flowers, hence we have called it biflorus; it frequently occurs with one, more rarely with three, in a high state of culture it probably may be found with more; when it has only one flower it may easily be mistaken for the majalis, but may be thus distinguished from it; its petals are of a more yellow hue, the nectary is wholly yellow, wanting the orange rim, it flowers at least three weeks earlier; but the character, which by observation we have found most to be depended on, exists in the flowering stem, the top of which in the biflorus, very soon after it emerges from the ground, bends down and becomes elbowed, as our figure represents; in the majalis, it continues upright till within a short time of the flowers expanding.

[198]

Indigofera Candicans. White-Leaved Indigo.

Class and Order.

Diadelphia Decandria.