The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 09 / Or, Flower-Garden Displayed

N.B. Those marked with an asterisk have tubular flowers.

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The Hermannia here figured is a plant of humble growth, forming a small bushy shrub, a foot or a foot and a half in height, and producing numerous flowers thinly scattered over the branches, the greatest part of the summer; it is this disposition which it has of flowering so freely, that renders it a desirable plant for the greenhouse, in which it is commonly kept, and of which it is an old inhabitant.

Dillenius has figured it in his admirable work the Hortus Elthamensis, published in 1732; hence we learn that it was cultivated in Mr. Sherard's celebrated garden at Eltham prior to that date.

It is a native of the Cape, and is readily increased by cuttings.

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Mr. Aiton, in his Hortus Kewensis, has inserted this species of Amaryllis, as named and described by the younger Linnæus; he informs us, that it is a native of the West-Indies, and was introduced by Dr. William Pitcairn, in 1778: as its time of flowering is not mentioned, we may presume, that it had not blossomed in the royal garden when the publication before mentioned first made its appearance; it no doubt has since, as we have seen it in that state in the collections of several Nurserymen, particularly those of Mr. Grimwood and Mr. Colvill.

It flowers towards the end of April.

The flowering stem rises above the foliage, to the height of about a foot or more, produces from one to three flowers, similar to, but not quite so large as those of the Mexican Amaryllis, to which it is nearly related; it differs however from that plant essentially in this, that the lower part of the flower projects further than the upper, which gives to its mouth that obliquity which Linnæus describes.

The spatha is composed of two leaves, which standing up at a certain period of the plant's flowering like ears, give to the whole flower a fancied resemblance of a horse's head; whether Linnæus derived his name of equestris from this circumstance or not, he does not condescend to inform us.

Mr. Aiton regards it as a greenhouse plant; like those of many of the Ixias, however, the bulbs are of the more tender kind.

It is propagated by offsets, but not very readily.

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The Othonna pectinata is a native of Africa, a long-established and common plant in greenhouses, having been cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 1731; it recommends itself chiefly on account of its foliage, which forms a pleasing contrast to the darker greens of other plants.

It flowers in May and June, is moderately hardy, and readily increased by cuttings.

In many collections we meet with old plants of it three or four feet high; formerly, when greenhouse plants were few in numbers and the houses large, it might be proper to keep such; but now there is not that necessity, especially since the vast accession of plants from the Cape and New-Holland, made within these few years.

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The Hermannia althæifolia, a native of the Cape, is a plant of much larger growth than the lavendulifolia, rising to the height, if suffered to do so, of three, four, or more feet; its blossoms are proportionably large, and of a deep yellow colour, inclined to orange.

It is a plant of free growth, much disposed to produce flowers during most of the summer months; hence it is kept very generally in collections of greenhouse plants: is propagated readily by cuttings.

Was cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 1728. Ait. Kew.

Our readers will see, that the specific description of Linnæus has been altered in the Hortus Kewensis, and that it now comprizes all the striking features of the plant.

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It has fallen to the lot of this plant to have an unusual degree of attention bestowed on it by various botanists, and after being regarded as a distinct genus by several, to be finally classed with the Verbena; in the Supplementum Plantarum of the younger Linnæus it is minutely described.

We learn from the Hortus Kewensis of Mr. Aiton that it is a native of North-America, introduced by Mons. Richard in 1774, and that it flowers in June and July.

The extreme brilliancy of its colours renders it a very ornamental greenhouse plant, it seldom grows above the height of two feet; in favourable seasons ripens its seeds readily, by which it is usually propagated, being a biennial.

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This singular and most beautiful species of Pelargonium, recently introduced to this country, this Summer flowered with Mr. Colvill, Nurseryman, in the King's-Road, Chelsea, from one of whose plants our figure and description have been taken.

Stalk green, surface smooth and somewhat glossy, fleshy, beset with spines which bend back and terminate in brownish somewhat weak points; these appear to have been primarily the stipulæ, which become thus fleshy and rigid, and from this circumstance not altogether peculiar to this species, it takes the name of echinatum; the leaves stand on long footstalks, are somewhat heart-shaped, mostly roundish, divided into three or five lobes, veiny, soft, and downy, especially on the under side, which is of a much lighter colour than the upper, the flowering stem proceeds from the summit of the stalk, and is a foot or more in height; as it advances it throws out its branches, or peduncles, ultimately about five in number, each of which has a leaf at its base, similar to the other leaves of the plant, but smaller, and terminates in an umbel of seven or eight flowers; as the umbels blossom in succession, a period of several months usually intervenes betwixt the blowing of the first and the last; when the flower is expanded, the hindmost leaf of the calyx continues upright, the others are reflexed as in other species of this genus, they are all beset with fine long hairs; the three lowermost petals are pure white, with a little gibbosity at the base of each, the two uppermost are marked each with three irregular spots, of a rich purple colour, inclining to carmine, the two lowermost spots narrowest and of the deepest colour; of the stamina there are six filaments which have antheræ, and four of which have none; stigma red, divided into five parts, and a little longer than the fertile filaments.

In its habit this plant resembles somewhat the Pelargonium cordifolium, is a native of the Cape, flowers from May to September, in favourable seasons has produced seeds here, but is more usually increased by cuttings.

Varies with petals of a rich purple colour, in which the spots are similar, though not so conspicuous.

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The Erinus alpinus is a native of Switzerland, Germany, and France; inhabiting the more mountainous parts of those countries.

It is a very desirable little plant for the decoration of rock work, growing in close tufts, and producing numerous flowers of a lively purple colour during most of the summer months.

Is increased without difficulty by parting its roots in Autumn, or from seed; in the winter some plants of it should be kept in pots under a frame or hand-glass, as it is liable to be injured by wet and frost.

Was cultivated here by Mr. Miller in 1759.

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There are few trees or shrubs which have contributed more to adorn our plantations, and shrubberies, than those of this genus, nine species of which are enumerated in the Hort. Kew. of Mr. Aiton, most of these are natives either of North-America, or Siberia: the present species, an inhabitant of Carolina, is perhaps the most ornamental of the whole: its large pendant bunches of rose-coloured flowers load the branches in May and June, and sometimes a second crop will be produced late in the season, these with us usually fall off without producing any seed-vessels.

This shrub is not disposed to grow very tall in America, it is most prudent indeed to keep it humble, to the height of four or five feet, and to plant it in a sheltered part of the garden, as its branches are liable to be broken by high winds: Marshall (Arb. Amer.) describes it as spreading much from its running roots; we have not observed it to do so in any great degree here; it is propagated by layers, by cuttings of the roots, and by grafting; it is of ready growth, disposed to blow even when young, and not nice as to soil, or situation; the flowers afford a good example of the class Diadelphia, they are large and beautiful, but without scent.

Was cultivated by Mr. Miller in 1758. Ait. Kew.

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There is a considerable similarity betwixt the representation of the present plant and that of the Linum arboreum figured on the 234th plate of this work, they are nevertheless two species widely differing, the flavum being a hardy herbaceous perennial, a native of Germany, the arboreum a greenhouse shrub from the Levant, both possessing considerable beauty, and highly worthy a place in all collections of ornamental plants.

The Linum flavum is not mentioned either in the Dictionary of Mr. Miller, or the Hortus Kewensis of Mr. Aiton, and as far as our knowledge extends was a stranger in this country, till we raised it the year before last from seeds sent us by Mr. Daval, of Orbe in Switzerland; Clusius gives us a representation of it in flower, and Prof. Jacquin another much superior; according to the latter, it grows by the sides of hedges and among shrubs in mountainous situations, and rarely exceeds a foot in height.

From the little experience we have had of this plant, it appears to be easy of culture, and to succeed best in a soil moderately stiff and moist; the flowers expand most in a morning when the sun shines, and continue in succession during June, July, and part of August; it appears as if it would ripen its seeds in my garden; these vegetate freely: the plant may also be increased by parting its roots in autumn, or by cuttings of the young shoots.

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This charming little shrub is a native of Switzerland and Austria: Clusius informs us that it grows in great abundance on many of the mountains near Vienna, so much so that women gather it when in flower and sell it in the markets; its beautiful and fragrant blossoms come forth in April and May, the principal season for its flowering, but it frequently blows during most of the Summer, and even in the Autumn; it varies with white blossoms.

It is extremely hardy, thrives remarkably well in road sand in almost any situation; is propagated by seeds, which very rarely ripen with us, by layers, and by grafting it on the stock of the Mezereon, whereby it acquires an elevation superior to what it has naturally.

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Mons. L'Heritier, author of many modern publications in Botany, distinguished for their accuracy and elegance, was the first who described and figured this species of Genista, a native of Corsica, and cultivated here by John Ord, Esq. as long since as the year 1770.

It is a hardy, evergreen, trailing shrub, producing a vast profusion of bloom; which renders it eminently conspicuous in May and June; its flowers are rarely succeeded by seed-vessels, so that it is usually propagated by layers.

When tied up properly, and carefully trained to stake, it may vie with most of our ornamental shrubs: for covering a wall, or paling, where the situation is not too shady, it probably would succeed very well, at least it is deserving of trial.

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Mr. Aiton informs us that this species of Pelargonium, which is one of the more fleshy kinds, is a native of the South-West Coast of Africa, and was introduced to the Royal Garden at Kew by Mr. Anthony Hove in 1786.

It flowers during most of the Summer months, and ripens its seeds, by which it may be increased, as also by cuttings; it is found to be more tender than many others, and more liable to be injured by damps, and hence it will require a treatment more applicable to a dry stove plant.

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Clusius, in his Hist. Pl. rar. gives an accurate description and good figure of the present plant, before unnoticed (as he observes) by any author; it has since been particularly described by Haller and Jacquin; the former makes a distinct genus of it, by the name of Polygaloides.

It is an elegant little evergreen shrub of low growth, rarely exceeding a foot in height, with leaves like those of box, producing flowers from May to October, but most plentifully in May and June; each flower stands on a peduncle proceeding from a kind of triphyllous cup, formed of floral leaves, the true calyx is composed of three leaves, which are nearly white; the two outermost petals, similar to the wings of a papilionaceous flower, are also white, or nearly so; the third petal which forms a kind of tube and contains the eight stamina with the pistillum, is white at the base, but yellow towards the extremity, where it changes by degrees to a bright bay colour: both Clusius and Jacquin observed a variety of this plant, in which the calyx and wings were of a beautiful purple; this variety, we believe, has not yet been introduced to this country: the common sort was cultivated in the garden at Oxford, in 1658.

Miller describes it as a plant difficult of cultivation; it is not now regarded as such; both Clusius and Jacquin describe it as having creeping roots; such plants are generally increased without difficulty, and so is this; planted in bog earth on a shady border, it thrives extremely well, and spawns much, so that there is no necessity for having recourse to its seeds. It grows spontaneously on the Alps of Austria and Switzerland.

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This charming little shrub, highly deserving of being more generally known, is a native of the South of France; and was cultivated here by Miller in 1748.

In favourable situations, it produces blossoms in great profusion during most of the Summer, and ripens seed in abundance: the situation it affects is dry and sandy, but it is a shrub by no means nice, as to soil or place of growth, and so hardy as to have borne the severity of last Winter, 1795, without injury.

In the collections about town we frequently find it in pots, kept with greenhouse plants.

It is said to vary with white flowers.

The best mode of raising it is from seed.

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Botanists are divided in their opinions respecting the genus of this plant; Linnæus considers it as an Anthericum, Haller and Miller make it an Hemerocallis.

It is a native of Switzerland, where, Haller informs us, it grows abundantly in the Alpine meadows, and even on the summits of the mountains; with us it flowers in May and June.

It is a plant of great elegance, producing on an unbranched stem about a foot and a half high, numerous flowers of a delicate white colour, much smaller but resembling in form those of the common white lily, possessing a considerable degree of fragrance, their beauty is heightened by the rich orange colour of their antheræ; unfortunately they are but of short duration.

Miller describes two varieties of it differing merely in size.

A loamy soil, a situation moderately moist, with an eastern or western exposure, suits this plant best; so situated, it will increase by its roots, though not very fast, and by parting of these in the autumn, it is usually propagated.

Parkinson describes and figures it in his Parad. Terrest. observing that "divers allured by the beauty of its flowers, had brought it into these parts."

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In Italy and Spain, where this plant grows spontaneously, it is an annual, producing seed in abundance; with us (as far at least as we have observed) it produces no seed, but like the Senecio elegans, and some other annuals, is renewed, and rendered perennial by cuttings, which strike freely, and by which the plant requires to be renovated once or twice in a season; though described as growing with an upright stem, it requires to be tied up to a stick; and if this be neatly and dexterously done, its brilliant azure flowers springing from every side of the stem, render it a charming ornament for the greenhouse or window: it flowers during most of the year.

Clusius called it Anagallis Monnelli, the first knowledge he had of the plant being from his friend Johannes Monnellus.

On the same plant we find the leaves grow two, three, or four together, with flowers corresponding.

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This species of Lobelia, so eminently distinguished for the richness of its scarlet blossoms, is a native of the colder as well as warmer parts of North-America. Parkinson, who cultivated it in 1629, informs us that he received plants of it from France for his garden, and that "it groweth neere the river of Canada, where the French plantation in America is seated."

It is a hardy herbaceous plant, growing in favourable situations to the height of three or four feet; the main spike of flowers which terminates the stalk, is often a foot in length; by the time that most of its flowers are blown, side branches shoot out, and flower; so that the plant continues in bloom six weeks or two months: if the Autumn prove favourable, the plant with us produces plenty of seed in the open ground; to insure its ripening, some place pots of it, when blowing, in the greenhouse or stove.

Beautiful and hardy as this plant is, and long as it has been introduced to this country, we do not find it generally in gardens; we attribute this to its having, in a greater degree than many other plants, a partiality for a particular soil; in certain districts, where the soil is stiff and moist, it grows as freely as any weed, in other soils it is perpetually going off: it is also one of those plants whose roots require to be often parted; if this be done every Autumn, and they be planted in a stiff loam, the situation somewhat moist and shady, this very desirable plant may be had to grow and blossom in perfection.

It flowers from the latter end of July to October.

Is increased by parting its roots, by cuttings of the stalk and from seed.

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