Chapter III: Part 3

It rises with several stems to the height of a foot or upwards: the leaves are opposite, or in threes, remote, lanceolate, stem-clasping, and obscurely three-nerved, with scabrous margins, occasioned by minute, upwardly-directed serrulations, which at the base of the leaf are decurrent, and form four or six roughened lines on the stem: the flowers are irregularly whorled; but the uppermost whorl is by much the largest; each blossom is of a rich deep purple colour, ventricose, and opens very little at the mouth, where it is divided into ten incurving segments, every other of which is of a much paler colour than the rest, broader, unequally bifid, and minutely lacerated: the empalement is five-cleft, and its segments are linear-lance-shaped, with minutely ciliated edges, after the manner of the edges of the leaves.

The living specimen from which our figures were made, was obligingly communicated to us by the Hon. Mr. Irby, of Farnham Royal, Bucks.

PLATE CCCCXIX.

GENISTA LUSITANICA.

_Portugal Genista._

CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.

_DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Two Brotherhoods. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX bilabiatus: 2-3 dentibus, binis superioribus brevissimis. Vexillum oblongum a pistillo staminibusque deorsum reflexum.

EMPALEMENT two-lipped: with 2-3 teeth, the two uppermost very short. The standard oblong, and reflexed downwards from the chives and pointal.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.

GENISTA, caule aphyllo, spinis decussatis. _Willd. Sp. Pl. 2. 946._--_Ait. Hort. Kew. 2. 16._

GENISTA, with a leafless stem, and decussated spines.

SCORPIUS secundus. _Clus. Hist. 1. p. 107._

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement.

2. The standard.

3. One of the wings.

4. The keel.

5. The chives.

6. The seed-bud and pointal.

7. The same magnified.

The Portugal Genista is a very spiny, and almost leafless shrub, of bushy growth; and although very well known to most of the old Botanists, does not appear to have been cultivated in the British gardens until the year 1771; when, according to Mr. Aiton’s Hortus Kewensis, it was introduced by Mrs. Primmet. It is a native of Portugal and Spain, but is sufficiently hardy to resist the cold of our ordinary winters, if planted in a sheltered situation: yet is extremely liable to be injured, or even destroyed, in those which take place with rigour and severity: but as it very frequently produces good seeds, a supply of it is not difficult to be kept up that way. The best time of sowing them is spring, and they will require some slight protection from frost while young.

The plant blooms freely from March till May, and when decorated with its golden flowers, makes a very ornamental appearance in the shrubbery; in which, although it has been so long in cultivation, we cannot help regretting that it but seldom occurs: and we venture to recommend it along with G. germanica (a closely allied species) to the further attention of our cultivating friends.

Like many other shrubby leguminous plants, this Genista is averse to being frequently transplanted; and never suffers the operation of removal with impunity. Let that business therefore, when necessary, be performed with all possible diligence and care. Our figure was taken from plants in the Clapham collection.

PLATE CCCCXX.

GERANIUM FLORIBUNDUM.

_Tuberous Many-flowered 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 beaked, five berries.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

GERANIUM, tuberosum, pinnis foliorum oppositis bipartitis, laciniis ellipticis; scapis numerosis ramosis, petalis clavato-linearibus.

GERANIUM, tuberous, with the pinnæ of the leaves opposite and two-parted, with their segments elliptical; numerous branched flower-stalks, and clavatedly-linear petals.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement.

2. The seed-bud, chives, and pointal.

3. The chives spread open.

4. The seed-bud and pointal.

5. The same magnified.

Geranium floribundum appears to be not only a nondescript species of the Erodium family of this extensive tribe of plants; but at the same time, a new and brilliant one. Few in number are the species which equal it in beauty: and still more rare are those which can be allowed to surpass it.

It is of extremely humble growth, and its roots are tuberous: from the crowns of which it throws up, in the early part of summer, a considerable number of flowering stems, each adorned with many flowers; whence our specific name of floribundum.

It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and prospers with the same treatment as the other dwarf Geraniums; and is propagated like them, by carefully dividing the tubers of its roots.

Our figure was made from the Clapham collection, which it is well known abounds more in this description of plants, than any other existing in this country.

PLATE CCCCXXI.

RENEALMIA CALCARATA.

_Upright-flowering Renealmia._

CLASS I. ORDER I.

_MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ One Chive. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX superus, monophyllus, in 2 sive 3 dentes irregulares rumpens. Corolla trifida. Nectarium oblongum. Anthera sessilis, nectario opposita. Bacca carnosa, trilocularis, profunde sulcata, et hirta. Semina plurima, alte truncata, arillo membranaceo niveo adpresso.

EMPALEMENT above the fruit, one-leafed, breaking into 2 or 3 irregular teeth. Blossom trifid. Nectary oblong. Chive sessile, opposite to the nectary. Berry fleshy, three-celled, profoundly sulcated, and hairy. Seeds many, deeply truncated, and furnished with a membranous, close-pressed, snow-coloured exterior skin.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

RENEALMIA foliis lanceolato-ensiformibus, racemo terminali erecto.

RENEALMIA with lance-sword-shaped leaves, and an erect terminal racemus of flowers.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The spathe.

2. A blossom divested of the chive and honey-cup.

3. The honey-cup.

4. The sheath which crowns the seed-bud.

5. The chive, pointal, and seed-bud.

6. The same without its chive.

7. A transverse section of the seed-bud magnified.

The new and elegant plant here figured was obligingly communicated to us in September last by A. B. Lambert, Esq. who informs us that it had grown vigorously to the height of about three feet in the bark-bed of his hot-house, without showing flowers; but that, on being removed from the tan and placed upon the flue, it soon produced those which we have here delineated; whence it is probable that the check to its growth, occasioned by the mere change of situation, was the cause of its blooming, as in other collections it has not hitherto done it. Mr. L. likewise informs us that its native country is Coromandel, and that it is intended for publication by Dr. Roxburgh under the name of Amomum calcaratum; and showed us a drawing of it, so named, copied from one that was made in the East Indies from a native specimen, and which represents the plant somewhat slenderer and less upright than the individual we have here depicted.

Whoever will carefully investigate and compare our dissected figures of this plant with those which are given with Renealmia nutans on our 360th plate, will not only find that they precisely agree with each other (as much as two distinct species of plants can do), but that both of them very sufficiently correspond with the essential characters of the genus Renealmia: yet both are, no doubt, specifically distinct from Renealmia exaltata; wherefore we have not hesitated to withdraw the present plant from the genus Amomum, from which, independent of its widely different mode of flowering, we believe it to be generically distinct. Neither are the above-mentioned all the species of Renealmia we have a knowledge of; for even in the British gardens (exclusive of those which have not yet been introduced to us alive) we are already acquainted with at least three more. But how far some of these plants are distinct from the four diandrous Globbæ enumerated by Willdenow, and from Schrader’s Zerumbet speciosum, which is a true Renealmia, we are not at present prepared to determine; yet cannot help remarking that the last-mentioned plant should seem to resemble the Globba Japonica of Thunberg;--that our present subject may resemble G. Marantina;--that G. nutans greatly resembles Renealmia nutans; and that at least one of the figures cited by Willdenow for the former in Rumphius, is absolutely the same as R. nutans:--and, lastly, that R. exaltata of Linn. Supp. Pl. possesses, in a very striking and remarkable manner, the extraordinary habit of the remaining Globba uviformis.

As to culture, these are all stove plants, and in this country require the assistance of the tan-bed to make them flourish. Rich earth and great plenty of pot-room are likewise requisite, and also a large portion of water when they are vegetating briskly, but less when they are almost at a stand,--which is sometimes the case,--although they are never perfectly quiescent, as is common in the neighbouring genus Amomum. They are propagated easily by parting their perennial roots.

PLATE CCCCXXII.

CROTOLARIA JUNCEA.

_Rushy-stalked Crotolaria._

CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.

_DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Two Brotherhoods. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

LEGUMEN turgidum, inflatum, pedicellatum. Filamenta connata, cum fissura dorsali.

POD turgid, inflated, pedicelled. Chives conjoined, with a dorsal fissure.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.

CROTOLARIA, foliis simplicibus lanceolatis subsessilibus, leguminibus glabris, racemo terminali, caule sulcato. _Willd. Sp. Pl. 3. 974._--_Curt. Bot. Mag. 490._

CROTOLARIA, with simple lanceolate somewhat sessile leaves, smooth pods, a terminal bunch of flowers, and a furrowed stem.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement.

2. The standard.

3. One of the wings.

4. The keel.

5. The chives.

6. The same spread open.

7. The seed-bud and pointal.

The species of Crotolaria here represented is a native of Malabar and the coast of Coromandel. It was obligingly sent us in bloom last August by the Hon. Mr. Irby, of Farnham Royal, Bucks, and was raised by him from East Indian seeds. Its root is annual; and the plant, in consequence of it, admits of increase by seeds only, which should be sown early on a hot-bed, with the most tender annuals, and the young plants when large enough should be transplanted into separate pots of rich earth; and after they have sufficiently recovered the effects of removal, they should be taken into the hot-house, the assistance of which is requisite to bring them to maturity. They rise with slender and rather rushy stems, which are but slightly branched, to the height of two or three feet, and make a fine appearance when in flower; but they are, like many other tender leguminous plants, very subject to the annoyance of insects, and more especially to that almost indestructible pest of stoves, the red spider; the best mode of destroying which is that of steaming the plants; that is, keeping them well watered, and in a hot and humid air.

Some of our friends conceive this plant to differ from that which is figured in the Botanical Magazine, No. 490. It is true, I found the seed-bud quite silky; and if the full grown pod (which I never saw[F]) should likewise be so, it would certainly be worthy distinguishing from that plant, which is said to have smooth, and therefore, in all probability, naked pods.

[F] Neither have I yet seen the pod of the Crotolaria figured in the last number, which, if it should prove cylindrical and not turgid, would refer that plant to the genus Lebeckia, with which in habit it very well accords.

PLATE CCCCXXIII.

GERANIUM LUTEUM.

_Dwarf Yellow-flowered Geranium._

CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.

_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus pentacoccus.

ONE POINTAL. Five summits. Fruit beaked, five berries.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

GERANIUM, tuberosum, pinnis foliorum oppositis subovatis acutis inciso-bifidis seu trifidis integrisve, scapis simplicibus, petalis clavato-linearibus.

GERANIUM, tuberous, with the pinnæ of the leaves somewhat ovate acute gash-bifid or trifid or entire, simple flower-stalks, and clavatedly-linear petals.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement cut open.

2. The chives and pointal.

3. The chives spread open.

4. The seed-bud and pointal.

We have here the pleasure of adding another tuberous-rooted Geranium, not enumerated by Willdenow, to the great variety of that description already given in this work. As a species it appears sufficiently distinct from any of them, although pretty closely allied to that which is delineated in our last number; and also to G. fissifolium of our 378th plate. Its flowers are yellow marked with red, as is frequently the case amongst the tuberous species of this extensive tribe of plants, but of very rare occurrence in the other departments of it.

From the Clapham collection, incomparably rich in this description of plants, our figure was derived, so long since as the summer of the year 1803.

Like its congeners, it is a native of the Cape; requires the treatment of a green-house plant; and is increased, but very slowly, by carefully dividing the tubers of its roots, when quiescent; taking especial care that no moisture comes in contact with the wounded parts, until nature has healed them by drying, and formed what the gardeners call a callus; that is, a dry and hardened external skin.

PLATE CCCCXXIV.

POLYGALA MICRANTHA.

_Small-flowered Milkwort._

CLASS XVII. ORDER III.

_DIADELPHIA OCTANDRIA._ Two Brotherhoods. Eight Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX 5-phyllus, foliolis duobus alæformibus, coloratis. Legumen obcordatum, biloculare.

EMPALEMENT 5-leaved, with two of the leaves like wings, coloured. Pod inversely heart-shaped, two-celled.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.

POLYGALA, virgata, floribus imberbibus axillari-sessilibus solitariis subdistantibus folio brevioribus, foliis alternis subremotis internodio longioribus subulatisque.

MILKWORT, twiggy, with beardless axillary-sessile solitary rather distant flowers which are shorter than the leaf, and alternate remotish awl-shaped leaves, longer than the space they are distant from each other.

POLYGALA (micrantha) floribus imberbibus axillari-sessilibus, foliis linearibus mucronatis. _Thunb. Prod. 121._--_Willd. Sp. Pl. 3. 892._

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement.

2. The same magnified.

3. The keel magnified.

4. One of the wings.

5. The same magnified.

6. The chives.

7. The same magnified.

8. The pointal.

9. The same magnified.

There is an elegance and a grace in the habit and appearance of this Polygala, which in a great measure compensates for its trifling flowers. It forms a small, and but little branched, twiggy shrub; is a native of the Cape of Good Hope; and belongs to the Heisteria division of the genus. We do not know that it has ever been figured before; but, notwithstanding the short character given by Thunberg, have little doubt of its being the plant he intended for P. micrantha. The honour of introducing it, and also some other shrubby Polygalæ, into this country, is due to G. Hibbert, Esq., from whose choice collection at Clapham our figure was taken.

Polygala micrantha continues flowering the greatest part of the year, winter as well as summer, is a very hardy green-house plant, and is propagated by cuttings in the usual way.

If we were to consider the flowers as resupinate, and perhaps they really are so, what we have called the keel would become the standard, and the small appendage which is a part of it below would answer as its keel. The expanded flowers of this species, and also those of P. stipulacea of our 363d plate, viewed in front, very remarkably resemble in outline, and almost in size, the insects which I have named Tineæ Bombyciformes; but the wings of the flower, which answer to the pectinated horns of the insects, appear rather too large. P. alopecuroides of our 371st plate possesses this extraordinary resemblance still more completely; inasmuch as the ciliæ of its keel correspond exactly to the fringes of the insects’ wings! A more perfect similitude between objects in reality so remote and so different, I have very rarely, or never, beheld.

PLATE CCCCXXV.

MANGIFERA INDICA.

_Indian Mango Tree._

CLASS V. ORDER I.

_PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

FLORES pentapetali, inferi. Drupa reniformis. Corolla petalis lanceolatis. Nux lanuginosa.

FLOWERS 5-petalled, beneath the fruit. Drupe kidney-shaped. Blossom with lanceolate petals. Nut woolly.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.

MANGIFERA, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, floribus submonandris, drupa maxima reniformi. _Willd. Sp. Pl. 1. 1150._

MANGO, with oblong-lanceolate leaves, somewhat monandrous flowers, and a large kidney-shaped drupe.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A front view of a detached flower magnified.

2. A back view of the same.

The Mango tree very seldom produces its flowers, and, we believe, never perfects its fruit, or, as Miller calls it, its plum, in Europe. In India this tree acquires considerable size, with a rough bark, and luxuriant foliage, and its fruit is held in great esteem. For the sake of its fine leaves alone it is worthy cultivation in our hot-houses, where, according to Miller, it prospers better out of, than in the tan; yet I believe most of the horticulturists of the present day prefer the bark-bed for their Mangoes, planting them in rich earth and large pots. They are propagated by layers or cuttings, seldom by seeds, because these will not keep long after they are mature, and therefore perish before they reach this country and can be sown in it. The flowers are extremely trifling, but they are curious in their conformation, and remarkable in constantly having four out of their five chives abortive, imperfect, and destitute of anthers; wherefore the plant is monandrous. Our figure was taken at Whitley and Brames’s in the month of December last.

PLATE CCCCXXVI.

LIMODORUM TANKERVILLIÆ.

_Chinese Limodorum._

CLASS XX. ORDER I.

_GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA._ Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

NECTARIUM monophyllum, concavum, pedicellatum, intra petalum infimum.

NECTARY one-leafed, concave, on a pedicel, upon the lower petal.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.

LIMODORUM, floribus racemosis imberbibus. _Ait. Hort. Kew. 3. 302._--_Gmel. Syst. Nat. tom. 2. p. 60._

LIMODORUM, with beardless racemose flowers.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A miniature figure of the plant.

2. The spathe.

3. The honey-cup.

4. The parts of fructification as they stand in the plant. The upper part of the same with its lid elevated, and one chive detached and magnified.

No coloured representation of this magnificent plant within our knowledge has yet been published, either in this country or on the continent; but a large folio black print of it was given in Aiton’s Hortus Kewensis, along with the above specific character, and with the circumstance of its having been introduced into the British gardens by the late Dr. Fothergill, in the year 1778, from China; of which country it is a native. In England it requires the artificial heat of the tan-bed to make it flower, which it does annually, with good management, from the month of November to that of April. It requires rich earth, and in dry weather frequent waterings; when in bloom makes a very stately appearance, and is propagated pretty readily by parting the tubers of the roots. Our drawing was made from fine plants in the Hibbertian collection at Clapham last month.

PLATE CCCCXXVII.

GOMPHOLOBIUM MACULATUM.

_Maculated Air-pod._

CLASS X. ORDER I.

_DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Ten Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX campanulatus, simplex, alte 5-fidus. Corolla papilionacea. Stigma simplex, acutum. Legumen inflatum, sphericum, uniloculare, polyspermum.

EMPALEMENT bell-shaped, simple, deeply five-cleft. Blossom butterfly-shaped. Summit simple, acute. Pod inflated, spherical, one-celled, many-seeded.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

GOMPHOLOBIUM, foliis ternatis linearibus nudis, senioribus declinatis, pedunculis basin versus bibracteatis, ramulis teretibus nudis.

GOMPHOLOBIUM, with leaves in threes and naked, the older ones bent downwards, peduncles with 2 floral leaves near the base, and naked round branches.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A leaf.

2. The empalement, peduncle, and floral leaves.

3. A front view of the standard.

4. A back view of the same.

5. One of the wings.

6. The keel.

7. The chives and pointal.

8. The seed-bud and pointal.

The plant here represented is quite a new species, and is said to be a native of New Holland: it is a stiff little shrub, and prospers in the green-house; and its yellow flowers, deeply blotched with brown on the standard, make a good appearance.

In its habit, and in the generic characters, it comes nearer to Gompholobium of Dr. Smith in Exotic Botany, tab. 5, than to any other genus within our knowledge; yet the dissections here given, will be found to swerve from the characters there advanced, in several perhaps not unimportant particulars. The stamina appear more united. The stigma appears slightly capitated, instead of acute; and the infant pod somewhat too long. The bracteæ also differ in number as well as structure.

Our drawing was made from living plants in the Hibbertian collection in the year 1803, but the above description from the drawing only.

PLATE CCCCXXVIII.

ELYCHRISUM STÆHELINA.

_Stæhelina-like Eternal-flower._

CLASS XIX. ORDER II.

_SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA._ Tips united. Superfluous Polygamy.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

RECEPTACULUM nudum. Pappus pilosus, vel plumosus. Calyx imbricatus, radiatus, radio colorato.

RECEPTACLE naked. Down hairy, or feathery. Empalement imbricated, rayed, with the ray coloured.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c.

ELYCHRISUM, fruticosum, erectum, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis basi attenuatis sericeis, pedunculis nudis unifloris terminalibus. _Willd. Sp. Pl. 3. 1910._

ELYCHRISUM, shrubby, erect, with leaves oblong-lanced attenuated at the base and silky, and terminal naked one-flowered peduncles.

XERANTHEMUM (Stæhelina) pedunculis terminalibus exertis nudis unifloris, foliis lanceolatis tomentosis. _Syst. Veg. 624._

XERANTHEMUM foliis lanceolato-oblongis carinatis lanatis, caule erecto. _Thunb. Prod. 153._

OBS. Caulis lignosus, tener, paniculato-ramosus, ut tota herba albo-tomentosus. Pedunculi longi terminales. _Willd._ l. c.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A flower cut open.

2. An hermaphrodite floret with its down.

3. The same without the down.

4. The same spread open.

5. The seed-bud and pointal, with the summit detached and magnified.

In the last volume of Willdenow’s Species Plantarum, containing the great class Syngenesia, are found many valuable botanical alterations and amendments, respecting the division and distribution of the genera and species; and amongst others, we find the Linnæan genus Xeranthemum, and even its species the annuum, with its supposed variety the inapertum, divided and arranged exactly after the manner proposed in our account of X. bracteatum (Plate 375), now Elychrisum bracteatum: those few species only being now called Xeranthema which have a squamous receptacle: viz. the annuum, and inapertum, of European origin; and the orientale, a native of Armenia.

The plant here depicted was drawn from a living specimen in the Clapham collection, last December, where at first it only threw up one flower-stalk; but it has since become stronger, and shows a peduncle from the end of almost every branch.

Although this species comes nearer Elychrisum in its generic characters than to any other genus, Gnaphalium not excepted, yet still we cannot help remarking, how much it recedes from the external appearance of most of its congeners, in being quite destitute of radiating scales.

It is a green-house plant, a native of the Cape, and is propagated by cuttings; but is not at present in any collection we are acquainted with, except Mr. Hibbert’s.

PLATE CCCCXXIX.

PROTEA INCURVA.

_Incurved-leaved Protea._

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA quadrifida, sive quadripetala. Antheræ lineares, insertæ petalis infra apicem. Calyx proprius, nullus. Nux unisperma, supera.

BLOSSOM four-cleft, or four-petaled. Tips linear, inserted on the petals below the apex. Empalement proper, none. Nut one-seeded, above.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c.

PROTEA, foliis filiformibus incurvis glabris, capitulis racemoso-spicatis tomentosis. _Thunb. Prod. 26.--Diss. no. 22. tab. 3. fig. 2.--Willd. Sp. Pl. 1. 516._

PROTEA, with thread-shaped incurved smooth leaves, and heads of flowers racemose-spiked and woolly.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A flower.

2. A petal magnified.

3. The seed-bud and pointal, with the summit detached and magnified.

The Protea incurva is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, which is also the native country of by far the greater part of this extensive genus.

In this country it is considered and treated as a hardy green-house plant; and requires, like most of its congeners, a fresh loamy soil, and an airy situation in the winter. A very abundant supply of fresh air, indeed, is of essential consequence in the cultivation of most of the Cape plants; they benefit by it in the day time in most sorts of weather, even if rainy, provided the plants are not wetted by the rain, and the temperature of the atmosphere is not lower than forty degrees of Fahrenheit’s thermometer.

In many collections, we are of opinion, too little air is usually admitted in the green-house; especially in winter, and early spring: and we are also of opinion, that where we have seen the most given, the plants are the most healthy and robust. The fine collection at Mr. Hibbert’s is a powerful argument in favour of this theory.--In few places is air so freely given; in none are plants in finer health: therefore much air is essentially necessary; for plants, like animals, are now known to absorb from the atmosphere, through a process analogous to respiration, its oxygenous particles; thence deriving strength and vigour, and without which no animal or vegetable can at all maintain either health or life.

Our figure was made from the Clapham Collection last June. The plant is shrubby, erect, and is propagated by cuttings in the usual way.

PLATE CCCCXXX.

RICINUS ARMATUS.

_Prickly-capsuled Ricinus._

CLASS XXI. ORDER VIII.

_MONOECIA MONADELPHIA._ One House. One Brotherhood.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

MAS. Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla 0. Stamina numerosa.

FEMINA. Calyx 3-partitus. Corolla 0. Pistilli 3, bifidi. Capsula 3-locularis. Semen 1.

MALE. Empalement 5-parted. Blossom none Chives numerous.

FEMALE. Empalement 3-parted. Blossom none. Pointals 3, 2-cleft. Capsule 3-celled. Seed one.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

RICINUS, foliis peltatis alte palmato-novem-fidis serratis, petiolis glandulosis, capsulis undique spinis herbaceis.

RICINUS, with leaves peltated deeply palmate-9-cleft and serrated, with glandulose petioles, and capsules every where furnished with herbaceous spines.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A male flower.

2. The male empalement.

3. The pointals.

4. A capsule.

5. A seed.

The species of Ricinus here depicted, was raised in Lady Holland’s garden at Kensington last summer, from seeds sent by her ladyship from Malta, where the plant has been cultivated for medicinal purposes about four years; and where it is considered as a new sort. And such indeed it appears to us: for as a species, although it comes extremely near to R. communis, R. inermis, and perhaps R. medicus of Forskall, it appears to be sufficiently distinct; differing from the former and latter, in its deeper cloven, and more numerously lobed, and glandular petioled leaves; and from R. inermis, in having its capsules thickly beset with considerable, but herbaceous spines; whence our specific name of armatus, in contradistinction also to R. inermis, which has smooth capsules. The plant from which our drawing was taken was eight feet high and very much branched; and its ample yet elegant foliage, and red stalks and veins, communicated that kind of appearance to it which is often attributed to Asiatic plants--stately, and magnificent. Its root is biennial; it requires the protection of the green-house, and can be increased very readily by seeds, which should be raised on a hot-bed in spring, and afterwards transplanted into very large pots. There were two glands at the top of the petioles.

The valuable drug called castor oil is extracted from the seeds of this and other species of Ricinus.

PLATE CCCCXXXI.

CÆSULIA AXILLARIS.

_Axillary-flowered Cæsulia._

CLASS XIX. ORDER I.

_SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA ÆQUALIS._ Tips united. Æqual Polygamy.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

RECEPTACULUM paleaceum, paleis semina involventibus. Pappus nullus. Calyx triphyllus.

RECEPTACLE chaffy, with the chaff enveloping the seeds. Down none. Empalement three-leaved.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c.

CÆSULIA, foliis lanceolatis basi attenuatis serratis alternis. _Willd. Sp. Pl. 3. 1796._

CÆSULIA, with alternate lanceolate serrated leaves attenuated at the base.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A floret with its seed enveloped by the chaff.

2. The same divested of its seed and chaff.

3. The same spread open and magnified.

4. The seed-bud, pointal, and chaff.

5. and 6. The same in different states.

Novelty, oddity, and a very unusual appearance in every part, for a syngenesious plant, must in the present subject compensate for its trifling flowers.

Few of our cultivating friends, except those who are the most botanical, will be inclined to add this Cæsulia to their collections; although a very rare, and, in many respects, an interesting species.

It was first described and figured by Dr. Roxburgh, as a new genus, and by the name it here bears, in his sumptuous work on the plants of the coast of Coromandel, of which country it is a native; and it has since been taken up by Professor Willdenow, in his edition of Species Plantarum, and has had a new species (the _radicans_), from Guinea, added to it by that botanist.

The axillary-flowered Cæsulia is quite new in the gardens, and is said to have a perennial root, by the parting of which we suppose it may be increased; and must be considered as a hot-house plant in this country.

Our figure was taken from a living specimen, obligingly communicated to us last summer by the Marquis of Blandford, from White Knights, Berks; who, we believe, first raised it in this country, from East Indian seeds.

PLATE CCCCXXXII.

STRELITZIA REGINÆ.

_The Queen’s Strelitzia._

CLASS V. ORDER I.

_PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

SPATHA universalis, partialesque. Calyx 0. Corolla 3-petala. Nectarium 3-phyllum, genitalia involvens. Capsula 3-locularis; loculis polyspermis.

SPATHE a common one, and partial spathes. Empalement none. Blossom three-petalled. Nectary three-leaved, involving the organs of fructification. Capsule three-celled; with many seeds.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c.

STRELITZIA, foliis ellipticis basi undulatis parallelo-costatis.

STRELITZIA, with leaves elliptic undulated at the base, and ribbed in a parallel manner.

STRELITZIA Reginæ. _Willd. Sp. Pl. I. 1190.--Curt. Bot. Mag. tab. 119.--Ait. Hort. Kew. 1. 285. tab. 2._

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A miniature figure of the plant.

2. The two-petal-like nectary.

3. The upper short petal of the nectary.

4. The seed-bud, chives and pointal.

At the request of several of our subscribers, who compliment us in saying this work contains nearly all the more showy plants now in cultivation; and who moreover are desirous that it should not long want any of them: we here beg leave to present them with that queen of hot-house plants, the superb Strelitzia: although strictly against our rules and plan; a coloured quarto print of it having already been given in the Botanical Magazine.

Of this majestic genus, first established in the Hortus Kewensis, there are now living in the British gardens, not fewer than four species, and several varieties; all natives, we believe, of the Cape of Good Hope, and all hot-house plants: viz. 1st, Strelitzia alba (Hortulanorum), which, towering far above the rest, and quite erect, attains the kingly height of twenty feet or upwards: it ought to have been called S. Regis;--2nd, S. Reginæ, here delineated, of which there are three or four varieties, differing only in the undulation of the leaves, and in their length, which (including the petiole) is usually from three to five feet;--3d, A nondescript narrow-leaved species, with very long petioles; this should be called S. Principis;--and 4th, another nondescript, but smaller sort, whose leaves are mere petioles, and scarce ever expand in the slightest manner into laminæ: this should be called S. juncea: it is very rare, and we believe at present only in the royal collection at Kew. All the Strelitziæ are propagated, though slowly, by carefully dividing their perennial roots, which are usually planted either in very large pots, or small beds annexed to the tan-bed in hot-houses. Our figure was made from a plant at Messrs. Colvill’s, in the King’s Road, last autumn, but the plant flowers freely at various seasons.

INDEX

TO THE PLANTS CONTAINED IN VOL. VI.

Plate 361 Sanseviera carnea Flesh-coloured Sanseviera G. H. Herb March 362 Crocus biflorus Yellow-bottomed white Crocus Hard. Bulb February 363 Polygala stipulacea Stipuled Milkwort G. H. Shrub March 364 Iris pavonia Peacock Iris G. H. Bulb April 365 Scilla siberica Siberian Squill Hard. Bulb February 366 Geranium barbatum. _Var. undulatum._ Bearded-leaved Geranium _Var. waved-petaled._ G. H. Herb Septem. 367 Anagallis grandiflora Great-flowered Pimpernel G. H. Ann. April 368 Melanthium Massoniæfolium Massonia-leaved Melanthium G. H. Bulb March 369 Eucomis purpureocaulis Purple-stalked Eucomis G. H. Bulb March 370 Polygala teretifolia Cylindric-leaved Milkwort G. H. Shrub April 371 Polygala alopecuroides Fox-tail Milkwort G. H. Shrub April 372 Mimosa purpurea Soldier-bush Mimosa H. H. Shrub April 373 Pæonia suffruticosa Shrubby Pæony G. H. Shrub April 374 Xeranthemum proliferum Proliferous Eternal-flower G. H. Shrub May 375 Xeranthemum bracteatum Waved-leaved Eternal-flower Hard. Ann. Septem. 376 Neottia minor The Lesser Neottia H. H. Herb March 377 Allium Chamæ-Moly The Dwarf Moly G. H. Bulb February 378 Geranium fissifolium Cloven-leaved Geranium G. H. Herb Septem. 379 Rhododendron ponticum. _Var. deciduum._ Deciduous purple Rhododendron Hard. Shrub May 380 Achyranthes porrigens Divaricating Achyranthes H. H. Shrub May 381 Sarracenia flava Yellow side-saddle Flower G. H. Herb June 382 Liparia villosa Concave-leaved Liparia G. H. Shrub May 383 Pittosporum undulatum Waved-leaved Pittosporum G. H. Shrub May 384 Xeranthemum variegatum Variegated Eternal-flower G. H. Shrub May 385 Campanula laciniata Ragwort-leaved Bell-flower Hard. Herb July 386 Anthericum pugioniforme Dagger-leaved Anthericum Hard. Bulb Septem. 387 Xeranthemum rigidum Rigid-leaved Eternal-flower G. H. Shrub May 388 Mesembryanthemum inclaudens Unclosing-flowered Fig-marygold G. H. Shrub July 389 Dombeya Erythroxylon Saint Helena Red-wood H. H. Shrub June 390 Amaryllis spectabilis Waved-leaved Amaryllis H. H. Bulb July 391 Nymphæa Lotus The Ægyptian Lotus H. H. Herb July 392 Ixia columnaris. _Var angustifolia._ Narrow-leaved Columnar-chived Ixia G. H. Bulb June 393 Fumaria Formosa Beautiful Fumitory Hard. Herb June 394 Mimosa Linifolia Flax-leaved Mimosa G. H. Shrub May 395 Anthericum paniculatum Panicled Anthericum G. H. Herb July 396 Campanula versicolor Various-coloured Bell-flower Hard. Herb July 397 Stewartia marilandica Maryland Stewartia Hard. Shrub August 398 Wachendorfia villosa Villous Wachendorfia G. H. Herb June 399 Commelina tuberosa Tuberous-rooted Commelina H. H. Herb Septem. 400 Eucalyptus resinifera Resinous Eucalyptus G. H. Shrub July 401 Serratula spicata Spiked-flowered Saw-wort Hard. Herb July 402 Clematis florida Large-flowered Virgin’s Bower Hard. Shrub July 403 Ipomea grandiflora Great-flowered Ipomea H. H. Ann. Septem. 404 Morea miniata Red-lead-coloured Morea G. H. Bulb April 405 Primula dentiflora Toothed-flowered Primrose Hard. Herb Septem. 406 Aponogeton monostachyon Simple-spiked Aponogeton H. H. Herb July 407 Calendula dentata Toothed-leaved Marygold G. H. Shrub July 408 Dahlia pinnata Pinnated-leaved Dahlia G. H. Herb Septem. 409 Protea Scolymus Smooth-leaved Protea G. H. Shrub May 410 Cynanchum undatum Waved Cynanchum H. H. Shrub July 411 Psoralea spicata Spiked-flowered Psoralea G. H. Shrub July 412 Calendula viscosa Viscous Marygold G. H. Shrub October 413 Geranium hymenodes Ternate-leaved Geranium G. H. Herb May 414 Crassula obliqua Oblique-leaved Crassula H. H. Shrub October 415 Cantua Coronopifolia Coronopus-leaved Cantua H. H. Herb Novem. 416 Salvia Chamædrifolia Germander-leaved Sage G. H. Shrub July 417 Crotolaria pulchella Ternate large-flowered Crotolaria G. H. Shrub July 418 Gentiana Catesbæi Catesby’s Gentian Hard. Herb October 419 Genista lusitanica Portugal Genista Hard. Shrub March 420 Geranium floribundum Tuberous many-flowered Geranium G. H. Herb July 421 Renealmia calcarata Upright-flowering Renealmia H. H. Herb Septem. 422 Crotolaria juncea Rushy-stalked Crotolaria H. H. Ann. August 423 Geranium luteum Dwarf yellow-flowered Geranium G. H. Herb Septem. 424 Polygala micrantha Small-flowered Milkwort G. H. Shrub April 425 Mangifera indica Indian Mango-tree H. H. Shrub Decem. 426 Limodorum Tankervilliæ Chinese Limodorum H. H. Herb Decem. 427 Gompholobium maculatum Maculated Air-Pod G. H. Shrub July 428 Elychrisum Stæhelina Stæhelina-like Eternal-flower G. H. Shrub Decem. 429 Cæsulea axillaris Axillary-flowered Cæsulea H. H. Herb August 430 Ricinus armatus Prickly-capsuled Ricinus G. H. Bien. October 431 Protea incurva Incurved-leaved Protea G. H. Shrub June 432 Strelitzia Reginæ The Queen’s Strelitzia H. H. Herb August

ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA IN VOL. VI.

Plate
361, line 20, for brevioribus, read _breviora_.
-------- 21, for antheris, read _antheras_.
362, ---- 7, after longissimo add _partim_, and after long add _and partly_.
-------- 11, after cochleariformibus, add _circumscissis_.
-------- 16, for antheris, read _antheras_.
-------- after line 21, add 4. _The Seed-bud and Pointal_.
365, ---- 21, for antheris, read _antheras_.
375, ---- 19, for the Pointal, &c. read _one of the Scales of the Empalement_.
-------- 10, for prinnate, read _pinnate_.
378, ---- 3, from the bottom, for Erodium, read _Pelangonium_.
383, After the Specific Character, add _P. undulatum, Vent. Pl. nouv. 76._
389, line 25, for retuse, read _undulatim retusa_.
390, ---- 20, after tubulosi, add _ante anthesin inflati_.
395, ---- 18, after is, read _a new species_.
396, ---- 24, for and, read _it_.
397, ---- 13, strike out the letter _l_.
399, ---- 4, from the bottom, for double, read _but half_.
404, ---- 9, for Monadelphia, read _Monadelpha_.
-------- 22, for east, read _least_.
405, ---- 22, for affords, read _afford_.
410, ---- 11, after waved, add _and_.
-------- 27, for known, read _unknown_.
415, ---- 22, for 4 read 3.
417, ---- 10, strike out the _two hyphens_ and the _comma_ between them.
418, ---- 7, from bottom, for purple read _blue_.
420, ---- 19, for Erodium, read _Pelangonium_.
424, ---- 27, for compensates, read _compensate_.
426, ---- 16, after plant, add _5_.