TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla 4-fida, seu 4 petala. Antheræ lineares, insertæ petalis infra apicem. Calyx proprius, nullus. Semina solitaria.
Blossom 4-cleft, or of 4 petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the ends. Cup, proper, none. Seeds solitary.
See Protea formosa, Pl. XVII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Protea foliis lanceolato-ovatis; squamæ calycinæ interiores barbatæ, apice incurvatæ, incarnatæ.
Protea with leaves between oval and lance-shaped; the inner scales of the empalement are bearded, turned inward at the ends, and flesh coloured.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Blossom complete, as it stands in the Empalement.
2. The same opened, to shew the situation of the Chives.
3. The Seed bud and Pointal.
The drawing of this magnificent plant was made at the nursery of Messrs. Grimwood and Wykes, Kensington, this year, early in the month of August; as we were informed by Mr. Wykes it was then in flower for the first time in England. In the year 1786 it was sent, in seeds, to the royal gardens, Kew, by Mr. F. Masson, from the Cape of Good Hope; where certainly its beauty must be great; as, even there, amidst that world of beauties, it should be honoured with such a specific title; in which, considering it as only a variety of our P. speciosa nigra, we entirely agree with Willdenow; where the last synonim of that species, copied by him in his Sp. Pl. from Ray’s Historia Plantarum of 1719, must have been taken from a plant of this variety. The treatment, and culture of this, and P. Speciosa nigra, are exact in every thing.[Pg 445]
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla sexpartita, ringens. Stamina adscendentia.
Blossom six divisions, gaping. Chives ascending.
See Gladiolus roseus, Plate XI. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gladiolus foliis lanceolato ensiformibus, scapo æquantibus; scapo subtrifloro, erecto; floribus erectis; corolla ringente, laciniis acutis, undulatis, medio striatis.
Gladiolus with leaves between lance and sword-shaped, the length of the flower-stem; generally three flowers on the stem; flowers grow upright; blossom gaping, the segments pointed, waved, and streaked in the middle.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The two Sheaths of the Empalement.
2. A Flower cut open with the Chives attached.
3. The Seed-bud and Pointal, natural size, one Summit detached, magnified.
This species of Cape Gladiolus was brought to us, from Holland, about the year 1788; it is a very hardy bulb, the flowers continuing perfect more than a week, and are not easily injured either by wind or rain. But the greatest merit of this plant is, that the blossoms are only produced when most of the other species of Ixiæ, Gladioli, &c. have done flowering; which is generally about the end of July. Before the stem decays, the bulb should be taken from the pot, and dried. The increase of this plant is not great, as seldom more than two roots are produced from the old one. Our drawing was made at the Hammersmith nursery, in 1799. Willdenow has a Gladiolus from Jacquin’s Icon. Rar. under the specific title here given to this, undoubtedly not the same plant; but as our name is that by which this species is in general known, and by which it came from Holland, we have not thought fit to alter it.[Pg 449]
OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Eight Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx superus. Corolla monopetala. Filamenta receptaculo inserta. Bacca quadrilocularis, polysperma.
Cup superior. Blossom of one petal. Threads fixed to the receptacle. A Berry with four cells and many seeds.
See Vac. Arctostaphyllos, Pl. XXX. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Vaccinium foliis ovatis, acutis, glabris; floribus solitariis, axillaribus; pedunculis longissimis, bracteatis; corollis urceolatis subalbidis; stamina decem.
Whortle-berry with oval, pointed, smooth leaves; flowers grow solitary from the foot-stalk of the leaves, close to the stem; foot-stalks of the flowers are very long, having floral leaves; blossoms pitcher-shaped, nearly white; ten chives.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower complete.
2. The Cup and its Foot-stalk, with the floral Leaves.
3. The Seed-bud, Pointal, and Chives.
4. The same, magnified.
5. The Shaft and its Summit, magnified.
This species of Whortle-berry is a neat, compact, bushy shrub; and like all the rest of those which have ten chives, and the other parts consonant, can scarcely be considered as a hardy plant; for although it will live through a mild winter, if planted in a warm and dry situation, on an open border; yet it will in general be destroyed, by the severe frosts which happen late in spring. It should be planted in sandy peat earth, with a small portion of light loam; may be propagated by layers, which do not commonly root, sufficiently to be taken off, under two years from the time of their being put down. As a hardy green-house plant it is best preserved in a flourishing state, and will flower about the month of June; in which month, this year, our drawing was made, at the nursery of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, by whom it was introduced from North America in the year 1783.[Pg 453]
TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx, nullus; nisi bracteas sub germine pro calyce assumas.
Corolla monopetala, marcescens; tubus filiformis, elongatus; limbus quadripartitus, planus, tubo brevior; laciniis ovatis.
Nectarium, glandulæ quatuor, seu octo, ovatæ, fauci circumpositæ, penicillo proprio cinctæ.
Stamina. Filamenta quatuor, brevissima, intra tubum ocultata. Antheræ lineares.
Pistillum. Germen ovatum. Stylus filiformis, longitudine tubi. Stigma capitatum, hispidum.
Pericarpium coriaceum, ovatum, uniloculare.
Semen unicum, acutiusculum.
Empalement, none; unless you take the floral leaves at the base of the seed-bud for the cup.
Blossom one petal, withering; tube thread-shaped, lengthened; border of four divisions, flat, shorter than the tube; segments egg-shaped.
Honeycup, four or eight oval glands, placed round the mouth of the blossom, each being surrounded by its brush of hairs.
Chives. Four threads, very short, hid within the tube. Tips linear.
Pointal. Seed-bud egg-shaped. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the tube. Summit, a hairy knob.
Seed-vessel leathery, egg-shaped, of one cell.
Seed One, a Little Pointed.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Struthiola foliis ovato-acuminatis, concavis, imbricatis, glabris, margine ciliatis; glandulæ quatuor supra faucem.
Struthiola with oval leaves, tapering to a point, concave, tiled, smooth, and hairy at the edges; four glands upon the mouth of the blossom.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower with its floral leaves, or cup.
2. The floral Leaves or Cup, magnified.
3. A Flower cut open, magnified.
4. The Seed-bud, Chives, and Pointal, magnified.
The Genus Struthiola, from the few species yet known, has been but slightly considered. Linnæus, at the end of his Generic Character, affines it to Passerina; it is true, the habits of S. virgata, and S. erecta, which are undoubtedly only varieties of the same stock, and the only two he had seen, might lead to such a comment; but, from the seven species of which we have drawings, all taken from living plants, and which will be brought forward in due course, we consider them, as perfectly distinct, in more essential characters than merely the number of chives. The acute and diligent Willdenow, in his new edition of Sp. Plant. enumerates five species from Thunberg, &c.; but from his notes of observation, prefixed to each, he had not seen either living or dried specimens of any, but the two above named. The characters in which we observe this genus to differ from Gnidia and Passerina, are, first, a cup of two leaves, constant in every species we have examined, for they cannot be considered as floral leaves, being attached to the base of the blossom, and joined together at the bottom; secondly, the honeycup forming a complete cincture to the mouth of the flower, and upon which are seated, four, or eight, upright glands. This species of Struthiola was first raised in England, at the nursery, Hammersmith, from the Cape of Good Hope, in the year 1794. It is a tender green-house plant, and very subject to be destroyed by wet; therefore, should be protected from too much rain in summer, and kept in an airy part of the house in winter. It is propagated by cuttings made in the month of May, or June, and should be planted in light, sandy peat, mixt with about one sixth part of loam. The flowers of this, as well as all the species we have seen, are extremely fragrant in the evening, beginning to smell with the setting sun, and continuing their flavour till morning. An agreeable peculiarity attendant on most plants of this natural order, and on every species of this genus, in particular, is, that they flower twice in the year, about the month of March, and again in September; in which month, last year, our drawing was made, from the Hibbertian collection, Clapham Common.[Pg 457]
[Pg 462][Pg 461][Pg 460][Pg 459][Pg 458]
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV. Of Suppl. System. Veget. 1781.
MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Monogyna. Stigmata quinque.
Fructus rostratus, penta-coccus.
One Pointal. Five summits.
Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.
See Geranium Grandiflorum, Pl. XII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis hispidis, multifidis; floribus heptandris; pedunculis multifloris; petala atropurpurea, margine pallido; caule suffruticoso, spithamæo.
Geranium with hairy leaves many-cleft; flowers with seven fertile chives; foot-stalk, many flowers; petals dark purple, pale at the margin; stem half shrubby, grows a span high.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement, cut open as far as to the solid part.
2. The Chives and Pointal.
3. The Chives cut and spread open, magnified.
4. The Pointal, magnified.
This beautiful species of Geranium was raised by Mr. J. Armstrong, nurseryman of Northwarmborough, Hants, from seeds received by him, in 1796, from the Cape of Good Hope. From a branch, in fine flower, brought to us, this year, in the month of June, by Mr. Dickinson, our drawing was made; who informs us, that the ordinary treatment of common Geraniums, is all that is required for this; that it is increased by cuttings, or from a division of the root, in spring. It has not, as yet, produced any perfect seed; although it has flowered abundantly these two years, from May till October. It has something the habit of G. triste, or the Night-smelling Geranium; but differs from that species, in having a short shrubby stem, the leaves shorter and harsher, and the flowers entirely without smell.[Pg 463]
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV. of Suppl. System. Veg. 1781.
MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.
See Geran. Grandiflorum. Pl. XII. Vol. I.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Monogyna. Stigmata quinque.
Fructus rostratus, penta-coccus.
One Pointal. Five Summits.
Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis ovatis, plicatis, erectis, serratis, tomentosis; floribus pentandris; filamentia duobus superioribus revolutis, ciliatis.
Geranium with egg-shaped leaves, plaited, upright, sawed, and downy; flowers with five fertile chives; the two upper threads rolled back and fringed.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. The Chives and Pointal, natural size.
3. The Chives cut open, magnified.
4. The Pointal, and Seed-bud.
The Downy-leaved Geranium, according to the Hort. Cantab. of Mr. Donn, introduced from the Cape of Good Hope, in the year 1794, is a dwarf growing, and rather delicate species, of this extended and very mutable tribe of plants; producing its flowers about the month of August. It is to be increased from the seeds, which sometimes ripen; or by cuttings, taken off in the month of March, and placed on a gentle hotbed; but if delayed to be made till much later, it will be found difficult to propagate by this mode. Less of dung and more loam, than is necessary for most Geraniums, will preserve this plant best through the winter; in which season, it should be kept in a dry and airy part of the greenhouse, to avoid the damps, which otherwise, often prove fatal to it.
That the charm of novelty, however erroneous or absurd, has found at all times its votaries, we have daily experience; therefore cannot wonder at, though we may regret its consequent influence on the many, who wish to signalize themselves, under its delusive banner. This observation naturally obtruded on our imagination, upon the perusal of the last Number of the Bot. Mag. where the Kidney-leaved Crane’s-bill is mentioned as “one of the rarest of the Geranium tribe;” are we to understand Geranium in this place as a new title for a natural order of plants; or, as solely confined to one Genus? Poor Geranium! although thou hast been so long excluded from thy station, in scientific English, yet shalt thou not lose thy due weight, against all thy opponents, in pure descriptive English prose; and perhaps some day may be deemed, by the learned, worthy a place amongst English Genera. With Mr. Donn, we humbly conceive the old title Crane’s-bill, as ill adapted to the three Genera of M. L’Heritier; and that, if new Latin names are to be foisted on us, for plants already well known, and settled, by that great master of the science, Linnæus; to whose opinion ours shall ever bow, English ones consonant, should be likewise adopted; and that Heron’s-bill for Erodium, Stork’s-bill for Pelargonium, and Crane’s-bill for Geranium, will prove no greater puzzle to the English Botanist. Unfortunately we are, and have been, so attached to old fashions, that we still mean to continue the title Geranium, as it is apparently best understood; whether, in English or Latin, descriptive, or scientific; as long as the public shall continue so honourably to patronize the Botanist’s Repository.[Pg 467]
DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Ten Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx. Perianthium duplex, approximatum, persistens.
P. exterius diphyllum, brevius; foliolis semiovatis, concavis, obtusis.
P. interius monophyllum, quinquesidum campanulatum; segmentis semiovatis.
Corolla monopetala, ovata, semiquinquesida; limbo parvo, revoluto.
Nectarium corpusculis decem, subulatis, erectis, brevissimis, cingentibus germen intra stamina.
Stamina. Filamenta decem, subulata, incurva, corolla breviora; receptaculo inserta. Antheræ bicornes; corniculis bifidis.
Pistillum. Germen subrotundum, depressum. Stylus cylindricus, longitudine corollæ. Stigma obtusum.
Pericarpium. Capsula subrotunda, obtusa, pentagona, depressa, quinque locularis, quinque valvis, undique tecta perianthio interiore transformato et enato in baccam subrotundam, coloratam, apice perviam.
Semina plurima, subovata, angulata, ossea.
Empalement. Cup double, close together, remaining.
Outer Cup two leaved, shorter; leaflets half egg-shaped, concave, and blunt.
Inner Cup one leaf, five-cleft, bell-shaped; segments half egg-shaped.
Blossom one leaf, egg-shaped, slightly five-cleft; border small, rolled back.
Honey-cup ten small substances, awl-shaped, upright, very short, surrounding the seed-bud within the chives.
Chives. Ten threads, awl-shaped, turned inwards, shorter than the blossom; fixed into the receptacle. Tips two-horned; horns two cleft.
Pointal. Seed-bud roundish and flattened; Shaft cylindrical, the length of the blossom. Summit obtuse.
Seed-vessel. Capsule roundish obtusely five-sided, flattened, five cells, five valves; covered on all sides by the inner cup, transformed and swelled to a roundish berry, coloured, open at top.
Seeds many, nearly egg-shaped, angular and hard.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gaultheria foliis ovatis, obtuse-dentatis, apice confertis; caulis flexuosus, filiformis.
Gaultheria with egg-shaped leaves, bluntly toothed, and crowded together at the top; stem grows zigzag and thread-shaped.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Blossom complete.
2. The Empalement, natural size.
3. The Empalement, magnified.
4. The Chives as they stand on the receptacle, magnified.
5. The Pointal and seed-bud, with the surrounding honey-cup, magnified.
6. The inner Cup of the Empalement, when the fruit is ripe, natural size.
7. A seed vessel of the natural size when ripe, detached from its cup.
8. A ripe capsule, cut open transversely.
From the eighth Ed. of Miller’s Dictionary, we learn that, this plant was cultivated at the Physic Gardens, Chelsea, in the year 1765. That so ornamental, and so easily propagated a plant as the Gaultheria, should have been so little noticed, or cultivated in our gardens, is rather singular; as, it is perfectly hardy in every exposure, an evergreen, and from the beautiful appearance of the fruit and flowers, which come in succession nearly through the whole year; must be considered, as one of our prettiest creeping or dwarf shrubs, for the front of the shrubbery borders, &c. as it never rises higher than six, or eight inches; forming a compact matted clump, which may be made to spread to a considerable extent, if planted in light sandy peat earth. The very curious conformation of the fruit, which is eatable, differing from every known Genus of plants; as well as, the peculiar property of the leaves; point out the Gaultheria, as a particular object for observation, and comment, to the experimental Botanist. In Canada, North America, where it is native, an infusion of the leaves is used as a substitute for tea; or a few of them, either dried, or plucked fresh from the plant, when mixt with the commonest bobea, communicate to it a flavour, equal to fine Hyson.[Pg 471]
PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. Five Chives. Two Pointals.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx. Perianthium quinquepartitum, acutum, persistens; laciniis oblongis.
Corolla. Petalum unicum, inferne tubulatum, imperforatum, superne quinquefidum, planum, marcescens; figura varia.
Stamina. Filamenta quinque, subulata, corolla breviora. Antheræ simplices.
Pistilla. Germen oblongum, cylindraceum, longitudine staminum. Styli nulli. Stigmata duo, ovata.
Pericarpium. Capsula oblonga, teres acuminata, apice leviter bifida, unilocularis, bivalvis.
Semina numerosa, parva. Receptacula duo, singula valvulæ longitudinaliter adnatæ.
Empalement. Cup five divisions, sharp and permanent; segments oblong.
Blossom. Petal only one, lower part tubular, and close; upper part five-cleft, flat, withering, and variously shaped.
Chives. Five threads, awl-shaped, shorter than the blossom. Tips simple.
Pointals. Seed-bud oblong, cylindrical, as long as the chives. Shafts none. Summits two, egg-shaped.
Seed-vessel. Capsule oblong, cylindrical, tapering, slightly cleft at the end, one-celled, and two valves.
Seeds numerous and small. Receptacles two, joined to each valve longitudinally.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gentiana corollis campanulatis, 6-7 fidis, atropurpureis, punctatis, verticillatis; calycibus membranaceis, sub-spathaceis, truncatis.
Gentian with bell-shaped blossoms, 6-7 cleft, deep purple, dotted and whorled; empalement skinny, almost sheathed, and appearing cut off at the ends.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. A Blossom, complete.
3. The same cut open, to shew the situation of the Chives.
4. Half the Seed-bud split longitudinally, to shew its interior structure.
5. A Seed-vessel, nearly ripe.
As a native of the Helvetian Alps, the Purple flowered Gentian is consequently, a hardy plant with us, requiring only to be planted in a light soil; may be increased from the seeds, which are produced in abundance, or by parting the root in autumn. The seeds are perfected, within a fortnight after the flower is decayed; and should be sown on light sandy peat, covering them very slightly, as soon as possible after they have been dried.
There appears a strange variety of opinions amongst Botanists concerning this, and two other species of Gentian, the Punctata and the Pannonica; which, as many have observed, although denied by others, are only varieties of each other; surely, a slight variation in height, the shape of the divisions of the border, or what is of less consequence, (as they vary, in that regard so much, on the same plant) their number; are not of sufficient weight to form a specific distinction.
This plant is said, in the Hort. Kew. to have been introduced in the year 1768 by Professor de Saussure: from what cause, we cannot judge, if it is so old an inhabitant, why it should not be more plentiful with us; as at present few collections possess it, and it is sold at a very high price. Our drawing was made at the Nursery, Hammersmith.[Pg 475]
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla sexpartita, ringens.
Stamina adscendentia.
Blossom, six divisions, gaping.
Chives ascending.
See Gladiolus roseus, Pl. XI. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gladiolus foliis ensiformibus nervosis; scapo subtrifloro, longitudine foliorum; floribus erectis, maximis; laciniis corollæ emarginatis, undulatis, striatis, sub-æqualibus.
Gladiolus with sword-shape leaves, nerved; flower-stem having mostly three flowers, and of the length of the leaves; flowers grow upright, and very large; the segments of blossom are notched at the ends, waved, striped, and nearly of an equal length.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The two sheaths of the Empalement.
2. The Blossom cut open, with the Chives attached.
3. The Pointal, and Seed bud.
From the figures in the Collect. and Ic. rar. of Jacquin, we were led to think, this must be the same, or a strong variety of his G. florabundus; but, as his trivial name and specific character so ill accord with our plant, we have continued it under that, by which it was sent to England in 1788. It is a very free blowing bulb, and will live through the winter, with very little protection; flowering about June or July, and does not require to be removed from the pot, to prevent its rotting. Our drawing was taken in June this year, at the Hammersmith Nursery.[Pg 479]
TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.
See Struthiola imbricata, Pl. CXIII. Vol. II.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Perianthium diphyllum. Corolla tubulosa 4-fida; nectarium, glandulæ octo fauci circumpositæ. Sem. 1. subbaccatum.
Cup two-leaved. Blossom tubular, 4-cleft; honey-cup, 8 glands placed round the mouth of the blossom. One seed like a berry.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Struthiola foliis ovatis, glabris; ramis glabris, rugosis.
Struthiola with egg-shaped, smooth leaves; branches smooth and wrinkled.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Blossom, complete.
2. The Empalement, magnified.
3. The Blossom cut open, with the Chives attached, magnified.
4. The Pointal and seed-bud, magnified.
This species of Struthiola is described by Thunberg, in his Prodromus, under the specific title it here bears, and was first introduced to us in the year 1794, in seeds received from the Cape of Good Hope, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith. It is a very tender greenhouse plant, and very subject to be destroyed by damps, or too much moisture, even in summer; the flowers, (as are most of this natural order,) are extremely fragrant and continue in full perfection from March till June. The mode of propagation is by cuttings, made in May, which should be placed under a hand-glass in a pot of light loam, and shaded from the mid-day sun. It thrives best in a mixture of half peat and half loam. The drawing was made in the spring of 1798, from a plant in the Hibbertian Collection, Clapham; then in flower, for the first time in England.[Pg 483]
OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Eight Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx. Perianthium monophyllum. Infundibuliforme, coloratura, superum marcescens; limbus quadripartitus.
Corolla. Petala quatuor, sessilia, ore calycis inserta.
Stamina. Filamenta octo, inæqualia, filiformia, erecta, tubo calycis inserta. Antheræ ovatæ.
Pistillum. Germen inserum, ovatum. Stylus filiformis, erectus, longitudine staminum. Stigma tuberculatum.
Pericarpium. Bacca carnosa, ovata, quadri-locularis.
Semina plura, parva, receptaculo columnari affixa.
Empalement. Cup one leaf, funnel-shaped, coloured, above and withering; border four divisions.
Blossom. Four petals, sitting close on the mouth of the cup, into which they are inserted.
Chives. Eight threads, unequal, thread-shaped, upright, fixed into the tube of the cup. Tips egg-shaped.
Pointal. Seed-bud beneath, egg-shaped. Shaft thread-shaped, upright, the length of the chives. Summit composed of small knobs.
Seed-vessel. A fleshy berry, egg-shaped, and four valves.
Seeds many, small, affixed to a pillar-shaped receptacle.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Fuchsia foliis ovatis undulatis, subternis; pedunculis unifloris, axillaribus; laciniis calycis reflexis.
Fuchsia with egg-shaped leaves, waved, and growing mostly by threes; foot-stalks with one flower growing from the insertion of the leaf, the segments of the cup reflexed.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower cut open, to expose the insertion of petals and chives into the cup.
2. The Pointal, complete.
3. A ripe berry, natural size.
No plant perhaps ever excited such universal admiration, as the Scarlet Fuchsia; wherefore, the addition of a second species to our collections, of so fine a Genus, must be considered as a very agreeable acquisition. The Box Thorn-like Fuchsia, is a native of the North-west coast of America; and was first brought to England, in the year 1796: it is certainly, much more tender than the Scarlet Fuchsia, as the plant constantly perishes, as low as to the earth, if not preserved in the hothouse; but whether it is herbaceous the root surviving, we have not sufficient experience to determine. The increase is certain and easy, if cuttings are made, from the young shoots, early in March, and plunged in a hotbed, or in the bark of the hothouse, six or eight in a pot; from which they may be removed, about June, into large pots for flowering, which will be from August till November. Loam, with a small portion of rotten dung, is the soil it most approves.
The specific title we have adopted, is from the very great resemblance the plant bears to Lycium afrum, or the Box-Thorn; although we have some doubts, whether this species may not be the F. triphylla of Father Plumier. But as the F. coccinea, as well as this plant, has frequently the leaves growing by threes; we thought that, as it as yet had no specific title with us, the character of the plant would be best distinguished, by the name we have chosen.[Pg 487]
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV. of Suppl. System. Veg. 1781.
MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Monogyna. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus, penta-coccus.
One Pointal. Five summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.
See Geranium grandiflorum, Pl. XII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis cordatis, sublobatis, serratis, tomentoso-sericeis; petiolis longissimis, erectis; floribus umbellatis, odoratissimis, stipulis subulatis; caule robusto, subcarnoso.
Geranium with heart-shaped leaves, slightly lobed, sawed, and covered with a downy pile; footstalks very long and upright; flowers grow in umbels, and are very sweet scented; leaf-props awl shaped; stem stout, and rather fleshy.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement cut open.
2. The Chives and Pointal, natural size.
3. The same, magnified.
4. The Chives cut open, magnified.
5. The Seed-bud, and Pointal, magnified.
The Cortusa-leaved Geranium is a tender plant, seldom growing to more than a foot in height; producing its blossoms, which are extremely fragrant, in erect bunches, from the summit of the branches, and must be protected, through the depth of winter, in the hothouse. The propagation is both slow and difficult, as it rarely perfects any seeds, and forms but few branches. The cuttings when taken off, which ought to be done about the end of May, should be exposed to the sun, till the part where cut has formed a tough coat over the wound, which will take place in two or three days; when they will not be so subject to rot from the moisture of the earth, as if planted when just taken from the plant. These instructions are necessary to be observed, in the propagation of all the thick-stemmed Geraniums, by cuttings. A mixture of sandy peat, with a small quantity of old rotten dung, will prove the best compost for preserving this plant. Our drawing was taken this year, in July, at the Hammersmith nursery. A mistake has arisen with regard to the name of this species of Geranium; which was evidently not known to any botanist, antecedent to its being brought to England in 1786 by Mr. A. Hove, a native of Poland, from the south west coast of Africa, and found by him in about the 23d degree of south latitude. Professor Martyn, in his new edition of Miller’s Dictionary, article Pelargonium 43, has taken for granted that this is the plant designed by Professor Jacquin, where he treats of G. cortusæfolium; giving the G. tabulare of Burman, Linnæus, &c. as synonymous to it; but undoubtedly, no such intention could be in the Professor, as the uniting these two plants, which are so entirely dissimilar; but only an unfortunate inclination to alter an old established name, for one, which he conceived more appropriate to a well known, common species; whence the confusion; the constant consequence of such useless alterations, whether generic or specific.[Pg 491]
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla sexpartita, ringens.
Stamina adscendentia.
Blossom six divisions, gaping.
Chives ascending.
See Gladiolus alatus, Vol. I. Pl. VIII.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gladiolus foliis sub-ovatis, costatis, mucronatis; spathis carianatis, tubo longioribus; lacinia summa concava, sub-erecta.
Gladiolus with leaves nearly egg-shaped, ribbed, and pointed at the ends; sheaths keeled, and longer than the tube of the blossom; the upper segment concave, and almost upright.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The two sheaths of the Empalement.
2. The Chives, with part of the tube of the Blossom, to which they are attached.
3. The Pointal and seed-bud.
We are certainly led to think with Thunberg, that this plant is not a species, but a very singular and beautiful variety, of G. alatus, of which we have seen above six or seven. Nevertheless, upon the authority of Prof. Jacquin, who in his Icones 2. tab. 258, has figured it under this name specifically; and as it has been continued as such, by the accurately discriminating and indefatigable Willdenow; (to whose labours, all lovers of the science are so much indebted, for his invaluable, and copious new Edition of the Species plantarum,) we have thought it but right to acquiesce, without alteration in the name adopted by them. For the management of this plant we must refer our readers to the G. alatus, Pl. VIII. Vol. I. of this work.
The Helmet-flowered Gladiolus was not seen in England, till the spring of the year 1800; when the roots were received at Clapham, from the Cape of Good Hope, sent by the Collector there, for the Hibbertian collection, amongst an infinite number of others; many having flowered this year, of which we have drawings, by permission of the proprietor, and are destined to enrich the Bot. Rep. being perfectly new to this country. The figure of this plant was taken in August, but the regular season of its flowering, must be much earlier (if planted with the other Cape bulbs in October,) that is to say, about the month of May or June.[Pg 495]