Chapter III: Part 3

This species of Nicotiana is called the Spanish Tobacco; and although we cannot exactly ascertain whether it is cultivated for the purpose of manufacturing into tobacco or snuff, yet there is little doubt of that being the case. The general appearance of this species very much resembles the common Tobacco plant, so well known. The most ostensible difference appears to exist in the glutinous character of the present species, whose stalks, leaves, and flowers are beset by numerous little glands, that emit a viscid juice. There is not much beauty attached to it; but, as a scarce and unfigured species, it well deserves a representation, as would any species of a genus that forms so considerable a branch in the commerce of a mercantile country. Our figure was made from a fine specimen received from A. B. Lambert, esq.

PLATE CCCCLXXXV.

MELALEUCA SALICIFOLIA.

_Willow-leaved Melaleuca._

CLASS XVIII. ORDER IV.

_POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA._ Threads in many Sets. Many Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX quinquefidus, semisuperus. Petala quinque. Filamenta multa,
longissima, in quinque corpora connata. Pistillum unum. Capsula
3-locularis.

CUP five-cleft, half above. Petals five. Threads numerous, very
long, united into five bodies. Pointal one. Capsule 3-celled.

See Melaleuca Ericæfolia, Pl. 175. Vol. III.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

MELALEUCA foliis oppositis, lanceolatis, punctatis: floribus
paniculatis: corollis luteis, magnis, et patentibus: ramis
oppositis, alternatis: caulis erectus.

MELALEUCA with opposite lance-shaped leaves, dotted: flowers grow
in panicles: blossoms yellow, large, and spreading: branches
opposite, and alternate: stem upright.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A flower complete, spread open.
2. The same shown from the outside.
3. One of the bundles of chives.
4. Empalement, seed-bud, and pointal.

Very few species of plants revolt so much in appearance from their original genus as the present one, whose exterior bears very little resemblance to Melaleuca, although, upon examination, it perfectly accords in every particular. It is a native of New Holland, and, we are informed, was first raised from seed by Mr. Barr, nurseryman at Ball’s Pond, Islington.

Our figure was made from a plant in fine bloom at the nursery of Messrs. Whitley and Brames.

PLATE CCCCLXXXVI.

PÆONIA DAURICA.

_Dauric Pæony._

CLASS XIII. ORDER II.

_POLYANDRIA DIGYNIA._ Many Chives. Two Pointals.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX 5-phyllus. Petala 5. Stylus 0. Capsulæ polyspermæ.

CUP 5-leaved. Petals 5. Pointal none. Capsules many-seeded.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

PÆONIA foliis pinnatis: foliolis sub-ovatis, glaucis: floribus
rubro-purpureis: caulis herbaceus, bipedalis.

PÆONY with winged leaves: the leaflets are nearly egg-shaped, and
glaucous: flowers of a red purple: stem herbaceous, and about two
feet high.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement and seed-buds.
2. A chive.
3. The seed-buds as they appear when the seeds are nearly perfect.

This fine Pæony is at present a scarce plant; nor is there any figure of it extant, if not in the Flora Russica of Dr. Pallas. The specimen our figure represents was received from Mr. J. Bell, who raised it from seed, and with whom it has flowered for the first time in this country. It may with propriety be ranked among the most attractive of the herbaceous species. The flowers expand in the early part of summer; and from the cold climate whence it is indigenous, little doubt need be entertained of its resisting our winter, if it can but endure the sudden changes of weather to which this island is subject; a transition that frequently proves more fatal to plants the natives of a cold northern clime, than to those of southern origin.

PLATE CCCCLXXXVII.

XERANTHEMUM HERBACEUM.

_Herbaceous Eternal Flower._

CLASS XIX. ORDER II.

_SYNGENESIS POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA._ Tips united. Superfluous Pointals.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

RECEPTACULUM paleaceum, aut nudum. Pappus setaceus. Calyx
imbricatus, radiatus, radio colorato.

RECEPTACLE chaffy, or naked. Feather bristly. Empalement tiled,
rayed, the ray coloured.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

XERANTHEMUM herbaceum: foliis amplexicaulibus, oblongis, margine
revolutis, lanâ albâ tectis: floribus terminalibus, solitariis,
pallide aurantiis, nitidissimis: squamæ inferæ fulvescentes.

XERANTHEMUM with an herbaceous stem: leaves embracing the stem,
oblong, rolled back at the edges, and covered with a white wool:
flowers terminate the branches singly, are of a pale gold colour,
and very shining: the lower scales are of a foxy tint.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. One of the radiating scales.
2. A floret of the disk.
3. The chives and pointal.
4. Leaf of a variety.

This handsome species of Xeranthemum may be regarded as truly herbaceous, as the plant not only dies down annually, but even whilst living keeps constantly sending up fresh shoots from the root. The white appearance of the leaves is owing to their being enveloped by a kind of wool: but there are two varieties; the one whose foliage is almost without this woolly coat, and the other entirely divested of it, and of a rich green colour; but in every other particular the plants are all exactly alike.

Our figure was made from a small plant in fine flower in the conservatory of G. Hibbert, esq.

PLATE CCCCLXXXVIII.

BROUSSONETIA PAPYRIFERA.

_Paper Mulberry._

CLASS XXII. ORDER IV.

_DIŒCIA TETRANDRIA._ Chives and Pointals on different Plants. Four Chives.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

* _Masculi flores._

AMENTUM cylindraceum.

CALYX 4-partitus. Corolla nulla.

* _Feminei flores._

AMENTUM globosum, floribus undique tectum.

CALYX inferus, persistens, 3-seu 4-dentatus. Corolla nulla. Stylus
filiformis. Fructus cylindraceo-clavatus, apice bilabiatus.

SEMEN nudum ad apicem fructûs.

* _Male flowers._

CATKIN cylindrical.

EMPALEMENT 4-divided. Blossom none.

* _Female flowers._

CATKIN globular, covered all over by flowers.

EMPALEMENT beneath and remaining, 3-sometimes 4-toothed. Blossom
none. Shaft thread-shaped. Fruit cylindrically club-shaped, and
two-lipped at the point.

SEED naked at the point of the fruit.

_Broussonetia papyrifera. Vent. Tab. Veg. et Willd. Sp. Pl._

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

BROUSSONETIA foliis tri-vel quinque-lobis, acutis, serratis, supra
scabris, subtus pubescentibus.

BROUSSONETIA with leaves from 3-to 5-lobed, pointed, sawed, rough
on the upper surface, and softly haired beneath.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

_Male Plant._

1. An empalement and chives, in an infant state.
2. The same magnified.
3. An empalement and chives in perfection.
4. The same magnified.

_Female Plant._

1. The catkin with a pointal detached.
2. A section of the same when in fruit.
3. One of the florets with the seed detached.
4. A seed cut in two, and magnified.

This useful plant is the Morus papyrifera of Linnæus, but certainly would not have been so called by him, had both, the male and female plant come under his inspection, as it does not belong either to the class or order of the Mulberry. Neither of the plants, when in bloom, possesses much beauty, but they have rather a sombre aspect: yet the female plant, when in fruit, is certainly very handsome. In Japan and the South Sea Islands, where it is indigenous, the bark of it serves to make a clothing for the natives. In Japan, it not only makes cloth for them, but all the Japanese paper is made from the bark of it. There are four sorts. The first is a royal size, of a square form, very smooth, and painted on one side. The second is a fine letter paper, in sheets often three feet long. The third is used for covering their best varnished articles, and so fine as sometimes to look like a spider’s web. The fourth is a common writing-paper, varying in size and form. The process of its manufacture is by cutting off the shoots after the leaves fall, and boiling them till the bark separates. It is then peeled off, and steeped 3 or 4 hours in water, to purify, and the black outer cuticle, and green matter within, are scraped off and separated, according to their qualities. It is again boiled with a little ashes, and stirred with a bamboo stick; and the boiling is complete when its downy fibres can be separated with a touch of the finger. It is then agitated in water till it appears like a lump of tow, and again beat with camphor wood battens, and strained, for the coarser paper. An infusion of the roots of the Hibiscus manihot, or the leaves of Rivaria Japonica, with the flour of Japan rice, is then mixed with it, and poured on their moulds; which are not, like ours, formed of wire, but of fine rushes, and the sheets laid on a matted table with a fine shred of bamboo between each, and covered by a board with a stone upon it, to squeeze out the water, dried the next day singly on flat boards, and then packed up for sale.

Our figure was made from fine plants in the garden of J. Vere, esq.

PLATE CCCCLXXXIX.

GNAPHALIUM GRANDIFLORUM.

_Large-flowered Gnaphalium._

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.

GNAPHALIUM grandiflorum: floribus paniculatis, albis, lucidis:
pedunculis albis, lanatis: foliis ovato-acutis, albâ lanâ tectis.

GNAPHALIUM with large flowers: flowers grow in panicles, white, and
shining: footstalks white, and woolly: leaves are ovate-pointed,
and covered with a white wool.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A scale of the empalement.
2. The same shown from the under side.
3. A flower complete.
4. The same magnified.
5. The seed-bud, chives, and pointal magnified.
6. Seed-bud and pointal.
7. The same magnified.

This Gnaphalium is at present the largest flowering species (the G. eximium excepted). Its flowers are equally durable with those of any Xeranthemum, nor does it vary essentially in any particular from that genus (as a section of which it would have been much better understood). The genus Elychrisum we find, upon examination, to be built upon the same equivocal ground, and there is little doubt but at some future period those two superfluous genera will fall into the old Linnæan genus of Xeranthemum. Our figure was made from a fine plant in the Clapham collection, about a foot and a half high. We have seen it grow much taller, but it is not then so handsome. It is certainly not a new plant, but has not been as yet figured in any modern publication. The whiteness so prevalent in its flowers and leaves (by way of contrast to the green foliage of most other plants) would render it deserving a place in every collection, even if its long-lived shining flowers were not a sufficient recommendation.

PLATE CCCCXC.

PONTEDERIA DILATATA.

_Dilated Pontederia._

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

_HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Spatha communis, oblonga, latere dehiscens.

COROLLA monopetala, 6-fida.

STAMINA. Filamenta sex, corollæ inserta. Antheræ oblongæ.

PISTILLUM. Germen oblongum, inferum. Stylus simplex.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula trilocularis, triangularis.

SEMINA plurima.

OBS. In quibusdam speciebus germen est superum: in aliis inferum.

EMPALEMENT. Spathe common, oblong, opening sideways.

BLOSSOM one-petalled, 6-cleft.

CHIVES. Threads six, inserted into the blossom. Tips oblong.

POINTAL. Seed-bud oblong, beneath. Shaft simple.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule three-locular, three-angled.

SEEDS many.

OBS. In some species the seed-bud is above, in others beneath.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

PONTEDERIA germine supero: foliis sagittatis, obtusis, vel acutis:
floribus umbellatis, confertis, cæruleis.

Habitat in India Orientali.

PONTEDERIA with the seed-buds above: leaves arrow-shaped, obtuse,
or pointed: flowers in crowded umbels, of a blue colour.

Native of the East Indies.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A blossom spread open.
2. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.
3. The plant in miniature.

This handsome aquatic is a native of the East Indies, and figured in Col. Syms’s Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava, under the title of Pontederia dilatata. On examining some plants in the hot-house of J. Vere, esq. (whence our figure was taken) we observed so much variation in them, that we are inclined to think the P. hastata of Dr. Roxburgh’s Coromandel Plants represents (from a weak plant) the same species our figure delineates.

PLATE CCCCXCI.

GARDENIA RADICANS.

_Rooting Gardenia._

CLASS V. ORDER I.

_PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX 1-phyllus, 5-fidus, persistens.

COROLLA contorta, monopetala, 5-partita.

STAMINA. Filamenta nulla. Antheræ quinque. Bacca infera,
2-locularis, polysperma. Stylus elevatus, bilobus.

EMPALEMENT 1-leafed, 5-parted, and remaining.

BLOSSOM twisted, one-leafed, 5-parted.

CHIVES. Threads none. Tips 5. Berry beneath, 2 loculaments,
many-seeded. Shaft above, 2-lobed.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

GARDENIA foliis lanceolatis: corollis hypocrateriformibus, albis,
odoratissimis: calyce angulato: caule radicante.

GARDENIA with lance-shaped leaves: blossom pitcher-shaped, white,
and very sweet-scented: cup angular: stem rooting.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement.
2. The blossom spread open.
3. Seed-bud and pointal.

The Gardenia radirans is a native of Japan, and is figured by Thunberg in his Botanical Dissertation. The figure is small and coarse, but yet characteristic. We have represented a fine young plant, as its fragrant flowers are then much better relieved by the surrounding leaves. It is at present cultivated in the hot-house; but we are inclined to think it might succeed in the protection of the green-house. The luxuriance of its petals frequently absorbs nearly all the parts of fructification. But our specimen fortunately afforded three antheræ out of the five, and the pointal entire.

Our figure was made from a plant in the nursery of Messrs. Whitley and Brames.

PLATE CCCCXCII.

OXYLOBIUM CORDIFOLIUM.

_Heart-leaved Oxylobium._

CLASS X. ORDER I.

_DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Ten Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX simplex, quinquepartitus.

COROLLA papilionacea.

STYLUS subulatus. Stigma obtusum.

LEGUMEN ovato-acuminatum, apice compressum, polyspermum.

EMPALEMENT simple, five-parted.

BLOSSOM butterfly-shaped.

SHAFT awl-shaped. Summit blunt.

POD pointedly egg-shaped, compressed at the end, and many-seeded.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A leaf magnified.
2. The empalement.
3. The standard.
4. A back view of the same.
5. One of the wings.
6. The keel.
7. The chives.
8. The same spread open, one tip magnified.
9. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.
10. A ripe seed-vessel.
11. The same spread open.

Plants of a Papilionaceous character furnish the most frequent opportunity for generic divisions. Nine Genera have already been made by Dr. Smith and others to contain the Butterfly flowers of New Holland. Our little novelty agrees with neither. From Pultenæa, Aotus, Mirbelia, and Dillwynia, it differs in the pod not being two-seeded. The two last genera have also the cups two-lipped, and the first with appendages attached to it. Gompholobium has a globular pod, and Chorizema an oblong one and a bilabiate calyx. Daviesia, Viminaria, and Sphærolobium have pods one-seeded. Thus situated, we are under the necessity of adding one more to the number of genera, perhaps already too extended. We have never seen it exceed a foot in height. The foliage is mostly in whorls: and the stem, leaves, cups, and fruits are hairy.

Our figure represents one of the plants from the nursery of Messrs. Loddige, who first raised it from seed, and where we observed its brilliant little flowers in successive bloom for at least six months.

INDEX

TO THE PLANTS CONTAINED IN VOL. VII.

Plate 433 Agave Americana Great American Aloe G. H. Shrub. September. 434 Pultenæa nana Dwarf Pultenæa G. H. Shrub. All Summer. 435 Verbena mutabilis Changeable-flowered Vervain H. H. Shrub. All the Year. 436 Corræa viridiflora Green-flowered Corræa G. H. Shrub. March. 437 Protea canaliculata Channelled-leaved Protea G. H. Shrub. December. 438 Protea speciosa Showy Protea G. H. Shrub. December. 439 Stapelia orbicularis Orbicular Stapelia G. H. Shrub. December. 440 Sophora sericea Silky-leaved Sophora G. H. Shrub. December. 441 Epidendrum fuscatum Brown-flowered Epidendrum H. H. Shrub. June. 442 Protea pulchella, _Var. speciosa_ Waved-leaved Protea, _Specious Variety_ G. H. Shrub. April. 443 Erythrina speciosa Showy Erythrina H. H. Shrub. April. 444 Lobelia hirsuta Hairy Lobelia G. H. Shrub. March. 445 Epidendrum lineare Linear-leaved Epidendrum H. H. Shrub. July. 446 Dolichos hirsutus Hairy-stemmed Dolichos H. H. Shrub. August. 447 Protea argentiflora Silvery-flowered Protea G. H. Shrub. August. 448 Pæonia suffruticosa, _Var. flore purpureo_ Shrubby Pæonia, _Purple-flowered Variety_ G. H. Shrub. April. 449 Linum trigynum Three-styled Golden Flax G. H. Shrub. April. 450 Albuca fastigiata Level-topped Albuca G. H. Bulb. July. 451 Diosma ericæfolia Heath-leaved Diosma G. H. Shrub. All the Year. 452 Achania mollis Soft-haired-leaved Achania H. H. Shrub. July. 453 Protea repens Creeping Protea G. H. Shrub. June. 454 Urtica baccifera Berry-bearing Nettle H. H. Shrub. June. 455 Polygala mixta Mixt Polygala G. H. Shrub. All the Year. 456 Lachenalia flava Yellow-flowered Lachenalia G. H. Bulb. June. 457 Banksia spinulosa Thorny-leaved Banksia G. H. Shrub. All Summer. 458 Eugenia malaccensis Malay Apple-tree H. H. Tree. July. 459 Lasiopetalum ferrugineum Oak-leaved Lasiopetalum G. H. Shrub. June. 460 Lachenalia sessiliflora Sessile-flowered Lachenalia G. H. Bulb. July. 461 Protea teretifolia Cylindric-leaved Protea G. H. Shrub. June. 462 Malus Japonica Scarlet-flowering Japan Apple Har. Shrub. June. 463 Pæonia papavaracea Poppy-like Pæony G. H. Shrub. July. 464 Diosma ovata Oval-leaved Diosma G. H. Shrub. May. 465 Protea divaricata Straddling-leaved Protea G. H. Shrub. July. 466 Goodenia tenella Slender Goodenia G. H. Shrub. June. 467 Lythrum fruticosum Shrubby Lythrum G. H. Shrub. All Summer. 468 Aloe arborescens Tree Aloe H. H. Shrub. June. 469 Protea coronata Crown-flowered Protea G. H. Shrub. July. 470 Ophrys arachnoides Spider-like Ophrys G. H. Shrub. July. 471 Ophrys myodes Fly-like Ophrys G. H. Shrub. July. 472 Hibbertia crenata Scolloped-leaved Hibbertia G. H. Shrub. July. 473 Yucca gloriosa Superb Yucca Har. Shrub. July. 474 Psoralea pinnata Winged-leaved Psoralea G. H. Shrub. July. 475 Serapias cordigera Heart-bearing Serapias H. H. Shrub. June. 476 Melaleuca diosmæfolia Diosma-leaved Melaleuca G. H. Shrub. July. 477 Linum venustum Graceful Linum Har. Shrub. July. 478 Crinum latifolium Broad-leaved Crinum H. H. Bulb. August. 479 Fragaria indica Indian Strawberry Har. Herb. July. 480 Vaccinium nitidum Shining-leaved Whortle-berry Har. Shrub. June. 481 Cinchona caribæa West India Bark-tree H. H. Shrub. August. 482 Dianthus alpinus Alpine Pink G. H. Shrub. July. 483 Dahlia pinnata nana Dwarf winged-leaved Dahlia G. H. Herb. September. 484 Nicotiana glutinosa Clammy Tobacco G. H. Herb. August. 485 Melaleuca salicifolia Willow-leaved Melaleuca G. H. Shrub. July. 486 Pæonia Daurica Dauric Pæony Har. Herb. June. 487 Xeranthemum herbaceum Herbaceous Eternal Flower G. H. Herb. All Summer. 488 Broussonetia papyrifera Paper Mulberry Har. Shrub. June. 489 Gnaphalium grandiflorum Large-flowered Gnaphalium G. H. Shrub. August. 490 Pontederia dilatata Dilated Pontederia H. H. Aquatic. September. 491 Gardenia radicans Rooting Gardenia H. H. Shrub. August. 492 Oxylobium cordifolium Heart-leaved Oxylobium G. H. Shrub. July.

ERRATA.

Plate 438 read 433.
467 instead of Lythrum of Linnæus, read Lythrum _fruticosum_ of Linnæus.
468 line 4 from the bottom, instead of _height_ read _size_.