Part 4
5. The Seed-bud, cut transversely, magnified.
This little plant much resembles our Corn Spurry, or Spergula arvensis, at first sight. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, seldom grows more than six inches high, and is very apt to be destroyed by the damps of our winters. It should be placed in the airyest part of the greenhouse, and kept in light sandy loam. To propagate it, the cuttings should be put in, about the month of March, in the heat of a gentle hot-bed, or the bark-bed of the hot-house; the seeds are sometimes perfected. It has been often introduced to us, but as often lost; as it is not a plant of much shew, no great deal of pains has, hitherto, been taken for its preservation. Our drawing was taken from a plant in the Hibbertian Collection, in the month of July, 1802.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXVII.
XERANTHEMUM ARGENTEUM.
_Silvery Everlasting-Flower._
CLASS XIX. ORDER II.
_SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA._ Tips united. Superfluous Pointals.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
RECEPTACULUM paleaceum. Pappus setaceus. Calyx imbricatus, radiatus; radio colorato.
RECEPTACLE chaffy. Feather bristly. Cup tiled, rayed; ray coloured.
See XERANTHEMUM SPECIOCISSIMUM, V. I. Pl. LI.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Xeranthemum fruticosum; foliis lanceolatis, carinatis, sericeis; floribus paniculatis, argenteis.
Everlasting flower with a shrubby stem; leaves lance-shaped, keeled, and silky; flowers grow in panicles, and silvery.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. An hermaphrodite Floret, natural size.
2. The same, magnified.
3. An inner scale of the Empalement.
4. The Receptacle, cleared of the scales and florets.
5. A female Floret, magnified.
6. The Pointal of the above, natural size.
7. The same magnified.
This new species of Everlasting-flower was introduced to us, at the same time, with the X. spirale this work, Pl. CCLXII. by Montague Burgoyne, Esq. of Mark Hall, Essex, in the year 1801. It is a quick growing plant, and has flowered for the first time last April, when our drawing was taken. The flower stems grow to the length of eighteen inches, or more; and the buds, upon their first appearance, have a fine tint of flesh colour, which, however, totally disappears upon the expansion of the flower. It is propagated by cuttings, seeds, (which ripen in this country,) or by parting the branches at the root, as it makes many from one base, which are easily separated by passing a knife between them. It thrives best in sandy peat with a small portion of loam, and must be kept in an airy, dry part of the greenhouse.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXVIII.
GERANIUM BUBONIFOLIUM.
_Macedonian-Parsley-leaved Geranium._
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus, pentacoccus.
ONE POINTAL. Five Summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis pinnatis, pinnis oppositis, lobatis, distantibus, lobis inciso-dentatis, glabris; petalis emarginatis, albis; staminibus quinque fertilibus; radice tuberosa.
Geranium with winged leaves, wings opposite, lobed, distant, lobes deep cut and toothed, smooth; petals notched at the end, white, five fertile chives; root tuberous.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup cut and spread open.
2. The Chives and Pointal.
3. The Chives cut and spread open, magnified.
4. The Pointal, magnified.
This Geranium, from the Cape of Good Hope, is quite distinct in its habit, from most of the tuberous species; the leaflets or wings of the leaves being more hand-shaped, and at a greater distance from each other, than in any which has come under our observation; having much the appearance of those of the plant from which we have derived its specific title. The plant was introduced by Mr. Niven, to the Clapham Collection, in 1800; where our drawing was taken in the month of June, 1802. The cultivation as usual, for the plants of this branch of the Geranium family.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXIX.
PHARNACEUM LINEARE. _Var. flo. albo._
_Linear-leaved Pharnaceum. White Var._
CLASS V. ORDER III.
_PENTANDRIA TRIGYNIA._ Five Chives. Three Pointals.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX 5-phyllus. Corolla nulla.
CAPSULA 3-locularis, polysperma.
CUP 5-leaved. Blossom none.
CAPSULE 3-celled, many-seeded.
See PHARNACEUM LINEARE. Pl. CCCXXVI. V. V.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Pharnaceum foliis linearibus, verticillatis; umbellis inequalibus; calycibus albo-virentibus; caule decumbente.
Pharnaceum with linear leaves, growing in whorls; umbels unequal; cups whitish green; stem bending downwards.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower.
2. The Cup and Chives.
3. The Seed-bud and Pointals, natural size.
4. The same, magnified.
5. The Seed-bud, cut transversely, magnified.
We have given this variety of the linear-leaved Pharnaceum, at the same time with the orange-coloured, as being the only two Cape species, at present, in our gardens. It is equally tender and delicate with its fellow, is equally difficult to propagate; and was introduced, this last time, to the Hibbertian Collection in 1800, by Mr. Niven, with it.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXX.
NYMPHÆA STELLATA.
_Starr’d Water-Lily._
CLASS XIII. ORDER I.
_POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Many Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX 4, 5, seu 6-phyllus. Cor. polypetala. Bacca multilocularis, truncata.
CUP 4, 5 or 6-leaved. Bloss. many petals. Berry many-celled, appearing cut off at top.
See NYMPHÆA CŒRULEA, Pl. CXCVII. Vol. III.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Nymphæa foliis subrotundis, sinuatis, subtus purpurascentibus; lobis divaricatis, acutis; calyce tetraphyllo, petalis acutis cœruleis longiore.
Water-lily with nearly round leaves, scollopped and purplish underneath; lobes straddling and pointed; cup four-leaved, longer than the pointed, blue petals.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup divested of the petals.
2. A Chive, natural size.
3. The seed-vessel, nearly arrived to maturity.
4. The same, cut transversely.
This fine species of Water-lily is a native of the East Indies, on the Malabar coast; and has been given by Rheed, in his Hortus Malabaricus, Vol. II. p. 53. fig. 27. At first sight, it has much the appearance of N. cœrulea, but upon closer inspection it is found to possess many strongly differing characters, viz. In this, the under part of the leaves are purplish, the lobes straddle; in that, they are tiled, or lay upon each other; in N. stellata the petals or chives seldom exceed ten; whereas, the N. cœrulea has an indefinite number of both. The roots, likewise, are perfectly distinct; in N. cœrulea the diverging roots proceed from the lower part of the bulb, from whence the leaves issue, but in N. stellata from the top, leaving below them a smooth top-shaped bulb. The parts which compose the summit, or rather the summits, (for indeed we should consider them, if it lay with us, as distinct pointals,) are expanded horizontally when the flower is in its perfect state, forming a star like appearance, whence its specific name. It is much tenderer than N. cœrulea, and will not flower but in strong heat. Mr. Anderson informs us that the plants which have produced perfect seeds, this year, were from seeds, received by A. B. Lambert, Esq. (communicated by Dr. Roxburgh from India) in the month of March, and raised by him for the collection of J. Vere, Esq. Kensington Gore, where our drawing was made in August.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXI.
XYLOPHYLLA FALCATA.
_Cymitar-shaped-leaved Xylophylla._
CLASS XXI. ORDER III.
_MONŒCIA TRIANDRIA._ Chives and Pointals separate. Three Chives.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
* _Masculi flores._
CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, tripartitum, coloratum; laciniis ovatis, patulis, ovatis.
COROLLA. Petala tria, ovata, concava.
STAMINA. Filamenta tria, brevissima, basi approximata. Antheræ subrotundæ, didymæ.
* _Feminei flores_ in eodem fasciculo cum masculis.
CALYX. Perianthium ut in mare.
COROLLA ut in mare.
_Nectarium_ corpusculis glandulosis germen ambientibus.
PISTILLUM. Germen subrotundum, trisulcatum. Styli tres, patuli, bifidi. Stigmata obtusa.
PERICARPIUM. Capsula trigona, trisulca, trilocularis; loculis bivalvibus.
SEMINA solitaria.
* _Male flowers._
EMPALEMENT. Cup one leaf, three divided, coloured; segments egg-shaped, spreading, oval.
BLOSSOM. Petals three, egg-shaped, concave.
CHIVES. Threads three, very short, and approaching at the base. Tips roundish, double.
* _Female flowers_ in the same tuft with the males.
EMPALEMENT. Cup as in the male.
BLOSSOM as in the male.
_Honey-cup_ is formed of small glandular bodies surrounding the seed-bud.
POINTAL. Seed-bud roundish, three-furrowed. Shafts three, short. Summits blunt.
SEED-VESSEL. Capsule three-sided, three-furrowed, three cells; cells two-valved.
SEEDS solitary.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Xylophylla foliis sparsis, integris, falcatis, crenatis; crenis remotis, floriferis; floribus rubris.
Xylophylla with leaves scattered on the stem, entire, cymitar-shaped and scolloped; the scollops distant, and having the flowers on them; flowers red.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A male flower, magnified.
2. The blossom of male flowers, spread open, with the honey-cups.
3. A Female flower, magnified.
4. The Germ from a female flower, cut transversely, magnified.
It should seem that this Genus has not been observed with sufficient accuracy, at least those plants known to us, and which have been treated of as belonging to the class Pentandria. The present one, for instance, which is unquestionably the plant designed by Swartz, Commelin, Seba, &c. an is acknowledged by Swartz to be triandrous and monœcious, yet that it should be continued in the Kew Catalogue and by Willdenow, &c. to Pentandria, is astonishing. We have no hesitation in declaring our opinion that the whole genus as it now stands ought to be thrown to Phyllanthus. But, as the title Xylophylla is so well known for these plants; we have thought it more safe to give the Genus those characters the plants bear under their true Class and Order, than make any alteration in it. The Xylophylla falcata is a native of the West India Islands, and has been long cultivated in our hot-houses; so long ago as the year 1739. It is a tender plant, and will not flower without the assistance of the bark-bed; is easily propagated by cuttings; grows best in sandy peat, and flowers in August. Our drawing was made at the Hammersmith Nursery.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXII.
PROTEA ANEMONIFOLIA.
_Anemony-leaved Protea._
CLASS IV. ORDER I.
_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 4 petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the point. Empalement proper, none. Seeds solitary.
See PROTEA FORMOSA, Pl. XVII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Protea foliis pinnatis, pinnis planis, cuneiformibus, sub apice inciso-dentatis; capitalis terminalibus; squamis calycinis lanceolatis, glabris; floribus luteis.
Protea with winged leaves, wings flat, wedge-shaped, deeply toothed at the point; flower heads terminal; scales of the cup lance-shaped, smooth; flowers yellow.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. Flower complete, with its Seed-bud attached.
2. One of the petals of the flower, magnified.
3. Seed-bud, Shaft and Summit, the Summit detached and magnified.
The Protea Anemonifolia is one of the only three species of the Genus, we have, yet, received from New Holland. It was introduced to us, from thence, in the year 1792, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith; is a hardy green-house plant; grows to the height of three, or four feet; may be propagated by cuttings, and flowers in August. It thrives best in a mixture of light sandy loam, and peat earth, of each an equal quantity.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXIII.
SAGITTARIA LANCIFOLIA.
_Lance-leaved Arrowhead._
CLASS XXI. ORDER VII.
_MONŒCIA POLYANDRIA._ Chives and Pointals separate. Many Chives.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
* _Masculi flores_ plures.
CALYX. Perianthium triphyllum; foliolis ovatis, concavis, persistentibus.
COROLLA. Petala tria, subrotunda, obtusa, plana, patientia, calyci triplo majora.
STAMINA. Filamenta plurima (viginti quatuor sæpe), subulata, in capitulum congesta. Antheræ erectæ, longitudine calycis.
* _Feminei flores_ pauciores, infra masculos.
CALYX. Perianthium ut in mare.
COROLLA. Petala tria, ut in mare.
PISTILLA. Germina numerosa, compressa, in capitulum congesta, extrorsum gibba, desinentia in stylos brevissimos. Stigmata acuta, persistentia.
PERICARPIUM nullum. Receptaculum globosum, semina in globum colligens.
SEMINA numerosa, oblonga, compressa, cincta longitudinaliter margine membranaceo, lato, hinc gibbo, utrinque acuminato.
* _Male flowers_ many.
EMPALEMENT. Cup three leaves; leaflets egg-shaped, concave, remaining.
BLOSSOM. Three petals, roundish, blunt, flat, spreading, three times the size of the cup.
CHIVES. Threads many (often twenty-four), awl-shaped, collected into a little head. Tips upright, the length of the cup.
* _Female flowers_ fewer, beneath the males.
EMPALEMENT. Cup as in the male.
BLOSSOM. Three petals, as in the male.
POINTALS. Seed-buds numerous, flattened, forming a little head, hunched on the outerside, ending in very short shafts. Summits pointed, remaining.
SEED-VESSEL none. Receptacle globular, supporting the seeds in the form of a globe.
SEEDS numerous, oblong, flattened, surrounded lengthways by a broad skinny border, hunched on one side, tapering to each end.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Sagittaria foliis lanceolato-ovatis.
Arrowhead with leaves between lance and egg-shaped.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The whole plant in miniature.
2. A male flower divested of the petals.
3. One of the Chives, magnified.
4. A female flower without its petals.
5. The receptacle with its pointals, cut perpendicularly, magnified.
All the species of this Genus of plants are aquatic, or water plants, and differ but little from each other, in their specific characters. Our present subject is a native of the West India Islands, and requires the atmosphere of a hot-house to induce it to flower. The blossoms, on the lower part of the flower-stem, are all females; and those on the upper part, males; they are all exceedingly delicate, as either wind, or wet, destroys them. It increases by offsets from the root; but the seeds do not ripen in this country. It must be kept in a pan or tub half filled with earth, and the other half with water, but does not require to be plunged in the tan-bed.
Our figure was taken from a plant which flowered this year 1803 (and, for the first time in Britain, as we are informed by Mr. Anderson), in the month of July, in the Collection of J. Vere, Esq. Kensington Gore.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXIV.
STRUTHIOLA TOMENTOSA.
_Downy-leaved Struthiola._
CLASS IV. ORDER I.
_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
PERIANTHIUM diphyllum. Corolla tubulosa, 4-fida. Nectarium glandulæ octo fauci circumpositæ. Semen unum subbaccatum.
CUP two leaved. Blossom tubular, 4-cleft. Honey-cup 8 glands, placed round the mouth of the blossom. One seed like a berry.
See STRUTHIOLA IMBRICATA, Pl. CXIII. Vol. II.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Struthiola foliis ovatis, concavis, callosis, tomentosis, imbricatis; nectario duodecim partito.
Struthiola with egg shaped leaves, concave, callous, downy and tiled; honey-cup with twelve divisions.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The two leaves of the Empalement, magnified.
2. A Flower complete, magnified.
3. A Blossom cut open, to shew the situation of the chives, magnified.
4. A Seed-bud, with the Shaft and Summit, a little magnified.
The Clapham Collection is the only one in which this curious species of Struthiola is, at present, to be seen. It was sent by Mr. Niven, from the Cape, in 1799, and flowered, for the first time, last year 1802, in the month of August, when our drawing was made. It is a tender Green-house plant, as are most of this natural order, from that country; being susceptible of too great moisture, either when exposed to the open air during heavy rains in summer, or from over watering in winter. Wherefore they are best preserved by sheltering them in an airy situation during summer, and giving them but little water in winter. It is encreased by cuttings, taken off in the month of May, planted in a pot, filled to the margin with sandy loam, and plunged under a hand-glass, in a shady border, without watering the loam. It grows most flourishing in a mixture of sandy peat and loam; the peat about one third part.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXV.
GLADIOLUS PYRAMIDATUS.
_Pyramidal-spiked Gladiolus._
CLASS III. ORDER I.
_TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
COROLLA sexpartita, ringens. Stamina adscendentia.
BLOSSOM six-divided, gaping. Chives ascending.
See GLADIOLUS ROSEUS, Pl. XI. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gladiolus foliis ensiformibus, utrinque attenuatis, glabris; spathis præmorsis; spicis pyramidatis; floribus imbricatis, subringentibus.
Gladiolus with sword-shaped leaves, tapered to both ends, and smooth; sheaths appear bitten at the ends; spikes pyramid-shaped; flowers tiled, a little gaping.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. Part of a leaf.
2. The two Valves of the Sheath.
3. A Blossom cut open, to shew the insertion of the Chives.
4. The Seed-bud, Shaft and Summits.
This fine Gladiolus from the Cape of Good Hope, we believe, has not flowered, or is to be found, in any other collection than that of the Dowager Lady De Clifford, Paddington; where our drawing was taken in August, this year, 1803. It grows to the height of three feet; and the flowers continue to blow, from four to six at a time in succession, from the base of the spike. It is a hardy bulb, and has every appearance of being a free blower.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXVI.
ANCHUSA CAPENSIS.
_Cape Alkanet._
CLASS V. ORDER I.
_PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX. Perianthium quinquepartitum oblongum, teres, acutum, persistens.
COROLLA monopetala, infundibuliformis; tubus cylindricus, longitudine calycis; limbus semiquinquefidus, obtusus, erecto-patens; faux clausa squamulis quinque, convexis, prominentibus, oblongis, conniventibus.
STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, brevissima, in fauce corollæ. Antheræ oblongæ, incumbentes, tectæ.
PISTILLUM. Germina quatuor. Stylus filiformis, longitudine staminum. Stigma obtusum, emarginatum.
PERICARPIUM nullum; Calyx major, erectus, in sinu continens semina.
SEMINA quatuor, oblongiuscula, obtusa, gibba.
EMPALEMENT. Cup five-parted, oblong, cylindrical, pointed, remaining.
BLOSSOM one petal, funnel-shape; tube cylindric, the length of the cup; border half-five-cleft, obtuse, from erect spreading; throat closed with five small scales, convex, prominent, oblong, converging.
CHIVES. Five very short threads in the throat of the blossom. Tips oblong, incumbent, covered.
POINTALS. Seed-buds four. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the chives. Summit blunt, notched at the end.
SEED-VESSEL none; the Cup larger and erect, containing the seeds in its bosom.
SEEDS four, somewhat oblong, blunt, hunched.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Anchusa foliis lanceolatis, villosis, callosis; floribus racemoso-paniculatis, cœruleis.
Alkanet with lance-shaped leaves, hairy, and callous; flowers grow in bunches nearly panicled, blue.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement, natural size.
2. The same, magnified.
3. The Seed-buds and pointal, natural size.
4. The same magnified.
5. A Blossom cut open, magnified, to shew the scales upon the mouth, with the situation of the chives.
This is the only species of the Genus we have yet seen from the Cape of Good Hope; and, as it appears that Thunberg discovered but this solitary instance, which he has given in his Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, under the specific title we have here adopted, from him; he, perhaps, thought himself warranted in so naming it; although naming plants from the country where they are first found requires but little reasoning to shew its impropriety. It is a hardy green-house plant, but from all appearance, like the most of this natural order, rather short-lived. It grows freely in a mixture of loam and sandy peat; and there is every appearance that the seeds will ripen, the only method by which there is any likelihood of its being perpetuated.
The plant, before flowering, does not grow above six inches high; but the flower-stem rises near eighteen inches. Our figure was taken from a plant in the Hibbertian Collection; where it flowered for the first time in England in the month of July 1803; having been sent home, by Mr. Niven, from the Cape, in 1800.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXVII.
PROTEA TRITERNATA.
_Cluster-headed Protea._
CLASS IV. ORDER I.
_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
COROLLA quadrifida seu quadripetala. Antheræ lineares, insertæ petalis infra apicem. Calyx proprius nullus.
SEMINA solitaria.
BLOSSOM four-cleft or four petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the point. Empalement proper, none.
SEEDS solitary.
See PROTEA FORMOSA, Pl. XVII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Protea foliis bipinnatis, brevibus, filiformibus, confertis, glabris; floribus terminalibus, umbellatis; pedunculis bracteis, capitulis longioribus; squamis calycinis subulatis, hirtis.
Protea with doubly winged leaves, short, thread-shaped, crowded and smooth; flowers terminate the branches in umbels; fruit stalks with floral leaves, and longer than the small heads; scales of the cup awl-shaped and hairy.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Leaf.
2. A Flower.
3. One of the Petals of the flower, magnified.
4. The Seed bud, Shaft and Summit, the Summit detached, magnified.
5. The common Cup of one of the small heads of flowers.
This beautiful divided leaved Protea has been named, as above, by Thunberg, in his Dissertatio de Protea, n. 7, and in his Prodromus plantarum capensium 25. It is rather a delicate plant, and subject to lose the lower leaves from the stem, which takes something from the beauty of its habit. The young leaves, when they first appear, have a downy character, which disappears as they grow firm. The stem has likewise, in its young state, a tendency to downiness, which is not discovered on the old wood; and is, where the leaves are extant, quite covered by them. It grows to the height of three feet, is propagated by cuttings, and flowers in the month of July. Our figure was taken from a plant in the Hibbertian Collection, which was raised from Cape seeds in 1800, sent from thence by Mr. Niven.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXVIII.
GERANIUM CORONOPIFOLIUM.
_Buck’s-horn-leaved Geranium._
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
_MONADELPHIA 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 subcuneatis, apice inciso-dentatis, canescentibus, petiolis longissimis; pedunculis subtrifloris; corollis pallidè violaceis; caulê suffruticoso; staminibus quinque fertilibus.
Geranium with nearly wedge-shaped leaves, deeply toothed at the end, whitish and very long foot-stalks; flower stems mostly three-flowered; blossoms pale purple; stem rather woody; five fertile chives.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower and a Bud from a seedling variety of this plant, by an intermixture of the farina of Geranium tricolor.
2. The Cup, which is solid and five-leaved.
3. The Chives and Pointal, magnified.
4. The same cut open, magnified.
5. The Seed-bud, Shaft and Summits, magnified.
The Geranium coronopifolium is one of those species we may fairly denominate biennial; for such is certainly the G. tricolor, G. Oenothera, G. tomentosum, &c. and as such must be propagated every year to have a succession of them. It is readily increased by putting the cuttings into small pots, and plunging them in the heat of a hot-bed or hot-house, early in the month of March; which plants will flower in September. It was first introduced to the Kew Gardens by Mr. Masson in 1792. The plant very delicate, and should be kept in a dry part of the green-house, in a mixture of sandy peat and rich earth. Our figure is from a plant in the Hibbertian Collection; where, likewise, we found the variety of which a flower is given on the plate. Mr. Allen informs us, he procured the Var. by approximating a plant of this species to the G. tricolor; first impregnating the summits of the flower of G. coronopifolium, with the pollen from the tips of the G. tricolor, a method much practised of late for the production of varieties, in many genera.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXXIX.
LOBELIA CORONOPIFOLIA.
_Buck’s-horn-leaved Lobelia._
CLASS XIX. ORDER VI.
_SYNGENESIA MONOGAMIA._ Tips united. Flowers simple.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX 5-fidus. Corolla 1-petala, irregularis. Capsula infera, 2-seu 3-locularis.
CUP 5-cleft. Blossom 1-petal, irregular. Capsule beneath, 2 or 3-celled.
See LOBELIA PINIFOLIA, Pl. CCLXXIII. Vol. IV.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Lobelia foliis lanceolatis, dentatis, glabris; floribus solitariis, axillaribus; pedunculis elongatis; stigmatibus obtusis, pilosis.
Lobelia with lance-shaped leaves, toothed and smooth; flowers solitary, from the base of the leaves; foot-stalks lengthened; summits blunt, hairy.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Chives magnified.
2. The Cup, Chives, and Pointal, the Summit detached, magnified.
The character of most of the Lobelias from the Cape, and elsewhere, is, that they are either annual or biennial, and can scarcely be considered as shrubs. Our present subject is a biennial from the Cape of Good Hope, flowers the first year from the seed, if sown in March, and may be preserved a second year; but, as it seeds so abundantly, it is scarce worth the pains to preserve it, as the plants of one year’s growth are so much handsomer than those preserved through the winter. It flowers from July till October, and should be kept in sandy peat earth.