The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 07

[229]
Primula Acaulis Fl. Pleno Carneo. Double Lilac Primrose

Class and Order

Pentandria Monogynia

Generic Character

Involucr. umbellulæ. Corollæ tubus cylindricus ore patulo.

Specific Character and Synonyms

PRIMULA acaulis foliis rugosis dentatis, subtus hirsutis; scapis unifloris. Jacq. Misc. Austr. p. 158. Curt. Flor. Lond. Fasc. 6.

N^o229.

The Primrose in its wild single state is frequently introduced into shrubberies and plantations, for the purpose of enlivening them in the spring months; in its double state it has been deemed peculiarly worthy of cultivation by the curious in flowers. Of the double yellow Primrose, which seems to have been the first known, we meet with a figure in the Hort. Eyst. and in the Parad. Terrestr. of Parkinson, since those publications many new and perfectly double varieties have been introduced, as

The double white, rarely met with.

The double deep red or velvet, the blossoms of this will sometimes come single.

The double pink or lilac, here figured, a plant much admired.

The double crimson, a new variety, which, in brilliancy of colour, far surpasses all the others.

The red, commonly called the Scotch Primrose, less ornamental than any of the preceding: besides these, we have observed a variety with blossoms of a dingy yellow inclining to red, not worth cultivating.

These several varieties of Primrose are admirably adapted to the decoration of the shrubbery, plantations, or even the north side of rock-work; they delight to grow in a stiff loam, a moist and somewhat shady situation, so planted they thrive admirably, the double succeeding almost as well as the single; every second or third year their roots should be divided, which may be done either in spring or autumn, they may be cultivated also in pots for the convenience of removing them when in blossom.

[230]
Plumbago Rosea. Rose-Coloured Leadwort

Class and Order

Pentandria Monogynia

Generic Character

Corolla infundibuliformis: Stamina squamis basin corollæ claudentibus inserta. Stigma 5-fidum. Sem. 1. oblongum tunicatum.

Specific Character and Synonyms

PLUMBAGO rosea foliis petiolatis ovatis glabris, subdenticulatis caule geniculis gibbosis. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 199. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 215. Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 205.

PLUMBAGO zeylanica, folio splendento ocymastri, flore rubro. Burm. Zeyl. 195.

RADIX vesicatoria. Rumph. Amboin. 5. p. 453. t. 168.

N^o230.

The Plumbago rosea, one of the most ornamental plants which we keep in our stoves, is a native of India, from whence it was introduced to this country by the late Dr. Fothergill, in the year 1777, posterior to the publication of the last edition of Mr. Miller's Dictionary.

It is a shrubby plant, which frequently grows to the height of four or five feet, and is perpetually putting forth flowering spikes; these continue a long while in blossom, and hence, with proper management, it may be had to flower during most of the year, a very desirable circumstance in a plant of such singular beauty.

The usual mode of increasing it is by cuttings, which strike freely.

Its parts of fructification, whether we regard their colour or structure, are highly deserving of notice.

[231]
Fumaria Solida. Solid-Rooted Fumitory

Class and Order

Diadelphia Pentandria

Generic Character

Cal. diphyllus. Cor. ringens. Filam. 2 membranacea, singula Antheris 3.

Specific Character and Synonyms

FUMARIA solida, caule simplici, bracteis brevioribus multifidis, radice solida. Mill. Dict. ed. 6. 4to.

FUMARIA bulbosa, caule simplici, bracteis longitudine florum. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 636. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 983. Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 1.

FUMARIA bulbosa radice non cava major. Bauh. Pin. p. 144. Small hollow roote. Park Parad. p. 275. 279. f. 2.

N^o231.

By the old Botanists this species of Fumaria, whose root is constantly solid, was considered as a distinct species from another similar to it of larger growth, whose root is as constantly hollow, and which will be figured in the next number of this work; Caspar Bauhine in particular, in his Pinax, describes the characters in which they differ: Linnæus nevertheless makes them varieties of each other, uniting them under the name of bulbosa; from this union we have taken the liberty to dissent, choosing rather to follow Miller, who regards them as distinct, and the Botanists preceding him.

The Fumaria solida, a very old inhabitant of our gardens, is a plant of very humble growth, rarely exceeding three or four inches in height, and producing its spike of purple flowers in April, which continue in blossom about a fortnight.

In point of colour the flowers of this plant are not subject to much variation, we possess a variety of it with blossoms of a much brighter colour than those of the common sort, and which, on that account, is much more worthy of cultivation.

As a spring plant, it deserves a place in the garden; in point of ornament, it is applicable to the same purposes as the Primrose, will grow in almost any soil or situation, requires to be taken up in the autumn, and fresh-planted every two or three years; if suffered to remain in the same spot for a great length of time, it becomes smaller, produces few or no flowers, and is so altered in its appearance, as to look like another species.

[232]
Fumaria Cava. Hollow-Rooted Fumitory

Class and Order

Diadelphia Hexandria

Generic Character

Cal. diphyllus. Cor. ringens. Filamenta 2 membranacea singula Antheris 3.

Specific Character and Synonyms

FUMARIA cava, caule simplici, bracteis longitudine florum integris, radice cava.

FUMARIA bulbosa radice cava major. Bauh. Pin. p. 143.

RADIX cava major. Park. Parad. p. 275.

N^o232.

The hollow-rooted Fumitory differs from the solida, already figured, and that constantly, in a variety of particulars; its root is always, as far as we have observed, hollow, appearing sometimes, as Parkinson informs us, "like a shell, every part of which when broken will grow;" frequently acquiring a very great size; the plant itself usually grows to twice the height of the solida, bearing foliage and flowers proportionably large; its bracteæ or floral leaves, which in the solida assume a kind of finger'd appearance from the manner in which they are divided, in this are entire or but slightly indented; it flowers also about three weeks earlier.

Of the Fumaria cava there are three principal varieties in point of colour, viz. the white, the blush-coloured, and the purple, which, though plentiful in our gardens formerly, are now rarely met with; Mr. Chappelow informs me, that he found them all this spring, in an old plantation at Teddington, where they produced the most pleasing effect.

It begins to flower in March and continues in bloom three weeks or a month, rarely produces any seed, so that it is to be propagated only by dividing its roots; it is a hardy herbaceous plant, a native of Germany, and will grow in almost any soil provided it be planted in a shady situation.

[233]
Chironia Baccifera. Berry-Bearing Chironia

Class and Order

Pentandria Monogynia

Generic Character

Cor. rotata. Pistillum declinatum. Stamina tubo corollæ infidentia. Antheræ demum spirales. Peric. 2-loculare.

Specific Character and Synonyms

CHIRONIA baccifera frutescens baccifera. Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 229. Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 258.

CENTAURIUM minus arborescens pulpiferum. Comm. rar. 9. t. 9.

CENTAURIUM minus africanum arborescens angustifolium. Old. afr. 26.

N^o233.

The Chironia baccifera, a native of Africa, is a plant not unfrequent in our greenhouses; its flowers are curious in their structure, of a lively hue, and suceeded by round seed-vessels, which, when ripe, have the appearance of red berries, whence its name of baccata; if we carefully examine these seed-vessels, we shall find that they are not properly berries, for on cutting them transversly, they are found to be hollow and to be divided into two cells (vid. Pl.) in which are contained small black seeds, whose surface is beautifully reticulated with impressed dots; the sides of the seed-vessel are fleshy, and do not appear to divide or split in any regular manner for the discharge of the seed; they must however be regarded rather as capsules than berries: in the genus Hypericum, the seed-vessels are found to vary in a somewhat similar manner; in this part of the fructification there is not, therefore, that deviation which has been supposed, but there is a very great one in the antheræ, which do not ultimately become spiral.

This plant, which grows to the height of a foot and a half or two feet, becomes very bushy, rather too much so in point of ornament, and produces both flowers, and fruit, during most of the summer.

Though regarded as a greenhouse plant, it does not ripen its seeds well unless kept in the stove; is with difficulty raised from cuttings, from seeds readily, by which it requires to be frequently renovated.

Was cultivated by Mr. Miller in 1759. Ait. Kew.