The Botanical Magazine Volume Ii Part 5

IRIS _sibirica_ imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti, germinibus trigonis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab._ _p._ 91.

IRIS pratensis angustifolia, non foetida altior. _Bauh. Pin. 32._

IRIS _bicolor._ _Miller's Dict. ed. 6, 4to._

The greater blue Flower-de-luce with narrow leaves. _Parkins. Parad. p.

185. fig. 2._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 50]

This species of Iris is a native of Germany and Siberia, and is distinguished from those usually cultivated in our gardens by the superior height of its stems, and the narrowness of its leaves; from which last character it is often, by mistake, called _graminea_; but the true _graminea_ is a very different plant.

The _Iris sibirica_ is a hardy perennial, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; but grows most luxuriantly in a moist one, and flowers in June.

Is propagated most readily, by parting its roots in autumn.

[51]

~Narcissus major. Great Daffodil.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Petala_ 6 aequalia: _Nectario_ infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. _Stamina_ intra nectarium.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

NARCISSUS _major_ foliis subtortuosis, spatha uniflora, nectario campanulato patulo crispo aequante petala.

NARCISSUS _major_ totus luteus calyce praelongo. _Bauhin Pin. 52._

NARCISSI sylvestris alia icon. _Dodon. Stirp. p. 227._

The great yellow Spanish b.a.s.t.a.r.d Daffodil. _Parkins. Parad. t. 101.

fig. 1._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 51]

The present species of Daffodil is the largest of the genus, and bears the most magnificent flowers, but, though it has long been known in this country, it is confined rather to the gardens of the curious.

It is a native of Spain, and flowers with us in April. As its roots produce plenty of offsets, it is readily propagated.

It approaches in its general appearance very near to the _Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus_, but differs in being a much taller plant, having its leaves more twisted, as well as more glaucous, its flowers (but especially its Nectary) much larger, and its petals more spreading; and these characters are not altered by culture.

It answers to the _bicolor_ of LINNaeUS in every respect but colour, and we should have adopted that name, had not the flowers with us been always of a fine deep yellow; we have therefore taken BAUHIN's name as the most expressive.

It varies with double flowers.

[52]

~Gentiana acaulis. Large-Flowered Gentian, or Gentianella.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Pentandria Digynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ monopetala. _Capsula_ bivalvis, 1-locularis. _Receptaculis_ 2-longitudinalibus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GENTIANA _acaulis_ corolla quinquefida campanulata caulem excedente.

_Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 267._

GENTIANA alpina latifolia magno flore. _Bauh. Pin. 187._

Small Gentian of the Spring. _Park. Par. p. 352. t. 351. f. 3._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 52]

Plants growing in mountainous situations, where they are constantly exposed to strong-blowing winds, are always dwarfish; in such situations, the present plant has no stalk, whence its name _acaulis_, but cultivated in gardens it acquires one.

Most of the plants of this family are beautiful, and, cultivated in gardens, in brilliancy of colour none exceed the present species.

As most Alpine plants do, this loves a pure air, an elevated situation, and a loamy soil, moderately moist; it is however somewhat capricious, thriving without the least care in some gardens, and not succeeding in others; at any rate it will not prosper very near London.

It flowers usually in May, and sometimes in the autumn.

Is propagated by parting its roots at the close of summer; but MILLER says, the strongest and best plants are produced from seed.

[53]

~Cineraria lanata. Woolly Cineraria.~