[256]
Ixia Longiflora. Long-Flower'd Ixia
Class and Order
Triandria Monogynia
Generic Character
Cor. 6-partita, campanulata, regularis. Stigmata 3.
Specific Character and Synonyms
IXIA longiflora foliis ensiformibus linearibus strictis, tubo filiformi longissimo. Ait. Kew. v. 4. p. 58.
GLADIOLUS longiflorus caule tereti, tubo longissimo, spathis foliisque linearibus glabris. Linn. Suppl. p. 96. Gmel. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 86.
No256.
We are not acquainted with a tribe of plants which stand more in need of elucidation than those of this genus; of the vast numbers imported from the Cape within these few years, where they are chiefly natives, and that for the most part by way of Holland, few comparatively are well ascertained; some of them appear subject to great variation, both in the size and colour of their blossoms (whether in their wild state they are thus inconstant, or whether there are seminal varieties raised by the persevering industry of the Dutch Florists, we have not yet had it in our power satisfactorily to ascertain); others like the present one have their characters strongly marked, and less variable; in general they are plants of easy culture, requiring chiefly to be protected from the effects of frost, the least degree of which is presently fatal to most of them.
The treatment recommended for the Ixia flexuosa is applicable to this and the other Cape species.
According to the Hort. Kew. this species was introduced by Mr. Masson in the year 1774.
It flowers from April to June.
[257]
Lychnis Chalcedonica. Scarlet Lychnis
Class and Order
Decandria Pentagynia
Generic Character
Cal. 1-phyllus, oblongus, lævis. Petala 5-unguiculata. Limbo sub-bifido. Caps. 5-locularis.
Specific Character and Synonyms
LYCHNIS chalcedonica floribus fasciculatis fastigiatis. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 435. Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 16.
LYCHNIS hirsuta flore coccineo major. Bauh. Pin. 203.
FLOS Constantinopolitanus. Dod. Pempt. 178.
LYCHNIS chalcedonica flore simplici miniato. Single Nonsuch, or Flower of Bristow or Constantinople. Parkins. Parad. 253.
No257.
The Scarlet Lychnis appears to have been a great favourite with Parkinson, he calls it a glorious flower, and in a wooden print of him prefixed to his Paradisus Terrestris, we see him represented with a flower of this sort in his hand of the double kind.
It grows spontaneously in most parts of Russia, and is one of our most hardy perennials.
The extreme brilliancy of its flowers renders it a plant, in its single state highly ornamental; when double, its beauty is heightened, and the duration of it increased.
It flowers in June and July.
The single sort may be increased by parting its roots in autumn, but more abundantly by seeds, which should be sown in the spring; the double sort may also be increased by dividing its roots, but more plentifully by cuttings of the stalk, put in in June, before the flowers make their appearance; in striking of these, however, there requires some nicety.
This plant is found to succeed best in a rich, loamy, soil; and certain districts have been found to be more favourable to its growth than others.
A white and a pale red variety of it in its single state were known to Clusius, and similar varieties of the double kind are said to exist; it is of little moment whether they do or not, every variation in this plant from a bright scarlet is in every sense of the word a degeneracy.
[258]
Coronilla Varia. Purple Coronilla
Class and Order
Diadelphia Decandria
Generic Character
Cal. 2-labiatus: 2/3: dentibus superioribus connatis. Vexillum vix alis longius. Legumen isthmis interceptum.
Specific Character and Synonyms
CORONILLA varia herbacea, leguminibus erectis teretibus torosis numerosis, foliolis plurimis glabris. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 670. Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 59.
SECURIDACA dumetorum major, flore vario, siliquis articulatis. Bauh. Pin. p. 349.
SECURIDACA II. altera species. Clus. Hist. 2. ccxxxvij. The greater joynted Hatchet Vetch. Park. Theat. p. 1088.
No258.
Clusius, in his work above referred to, informs us that he found this plant growing wild in various parts of Germany, in meadows, fields, and by road sides; that it flowered in June, sometimes the whole summer through, and ripened its seeds in July and August; the blossoms he found subject to much variation of colour, being either deep purple, whitish, or even wholly white: Casp. Bauhine notices another variety, in which the alæ are white and the rostrum purple; this variety, which we have had the honour to receive from the Earl of Egremont is the most desirable one to cultivate in gardens, as it is more ornamental than the one wholly purple, most commonly met with in the nurseries, and corresponds also better with its name of varia; it is to be noted however that this variety of colour exists only in the young blossoms.
The Coronilla varia is a hardy, perennial, herbaceous plant, climbing, if supported, to the height of four or five feet, otherwise spreading widely on the ground, and frequently injuring less robust plants growing near it; on this account, as well as from its having powerfully creeping roots whereby it greatly increases, though a pretty plant, and flowering during most of the summer, it is not to be introduced without caution, and is rather to be placed in the shrubbery, or outskirts of the garden, than in the flower border.
It will grow in any soil or situation, but blossoms and seeds most freely in a soil moderately dry.
Parkinson in his Theater of Plants, mentions its being cultivated, as an ornamental plant. Ait. Kew.
Its bitterness, will be an objection to its being cultivated for the use of cattle, for which purpose it has been recommended.
[259]
Lilium Catesbæi. Catesby's Lily
Class and Order
Hexandria Monogynia
Generic Character
Cor. 6-petala campanulata: linea longitudinali nectarifera. Caps. valvulis pilo cancellato connexis.
Specific Character and Synonyms
LILIUM Catesbæi caule unifloro, petalis erectis unguiculatis. Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. Gmel. p. 545.
LILIUM Catesbæi foliis sparsis, bipedali, flore unico erecto, corolla campanulata, petalis unguibus angustis longis. Walt. Fl. Carol. p. 123.
LILIUM Spectabile foliis sparsis; floribus solitariis erectis; petalorum unguibus angustis, alternis extus utrinque sulcatis, laminis revolutis. Salisb. Ic. Stirp. rar. t. 5.
No259.
At the close of the year 1787, Mr. Robert Squibb, sent me from South-Carolina roots of the Lily here figured, many of which have since flowered with various persons in this kingdom.
Catesby in his Natural History of Carolina, gives a figure and short account of it; Walter in his Flora Caroliniana describes it under the name of Lilium Catesbæi; Mr. Salisbury in the first number of his very magnificent work, lately published, presents us with a very highly finished likeness of this lily, accompanied by a most accurate and minute description of it, and judging from some appearances in Catesby's figure, that it was not the Lilium Catesbæi of Walter, names it spectabile; but as we are assured by Mr. Squibb, who assisted his friend Walter in his publication, that it was the lily figured by Catesby, we have continued the name given in honour of that Naturalist.
Of the different Lilies cultivated in this country, this is to be numbered among the least, the whole plant when in bloom being frequently little more than a foot high; in its native soil it is described as growing to the height of two feet; the stalk is terminated by one upright flower, of the form and colour represented on the plate; we have observed it to vary considerably in the breadth of its petals, in their colour, and spots.
It flowers usually in July and August.
This plant may be raised from seeds, or increased by offsets, which, however, are not very plentifully produced, nor is the plant to be made grow in perfection without great care, the roots in particular are to be guarded against frost; the soil and situation may be the same as recommended for the Cyclamen Coum. p. 4. v. 1.
[260]
Metrosideros Citrina. Harsh-Leav'd Metrosideros
Class and Order
Icosandria Monogynia
Generic Character
Cal. 5-dentatus, sinu germen fovens. Petala 5, caduca. Stam. discreta, petalis multoties longiora. Caps. 3-4 locularis, polysperma. Banks. Gærtner.
Specific Character and Synonyms
METROSIDEROS citrina foliis lineari-lanceolatis rigentibus.
No260.
Though many species of this genus have been raised from seeds, brought within these few years from the South Seas, where they are said to be very numerous; this is, we believe, the only one that as yet has flowered in this country: our drawing was made from a plant which blossomed toward the close of last summer at Lord Cremornes, the root of which had been sent from Botany-Bay; previous to this period we have been informed, that the same species flowered both at Kew and Sion-House: as it is without difficulty raised both from seeds and cuttings, young plants of it are to be seen in most of the Nurseries near town; it would seem that they do not flower till they are at least five or six years old.
Metrosideros is a name given originally by Rumphius in Herb. Amboin to some plants of this genus, the term applies to the hardness of their wood, which by the Dutch is called Yzerhout (Ironwood): Forster in his Gen. Pl. figures this and another genus on the same plate, under the name of Leptospermum; Schreber in his edition of the Gen. Pl. of Linnæus, unites Metrosideros, Melaleuca, Leptospermum, and Fabricia, under the genus Melaleuca; Gærtner in his elaborate work on the seeds of plants, makes separate genera of these, agreeably to the ideas of Sir Joseph Banks and Mr. Dryander, who on this subject can certainly boast the best information.
We cannot, without transgressing the allotted limits of our letter-press, give a minute description of the plant figured; suffice it to say, that it is an ever-green shrub, growing to the height of from four to six or more feet, that its leaves on the old wood feel very harsh or rigid to the touch, and when bruised give forth an agreeable fragrance, the flowers grow in spikes on the tops of the branches, and owe their beauty wholly to the brilliant colour of the filaments.