The Botanical Magazine Volume I Part 4

AURICULA ursi virginiana floribus boraginis instar rostratis, cyclaminum more reflexis. _Pluk. alm._ 62. _t._ 79. _f._ 6.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 12]

This plant grows spontaneously in Virginia and other parts of North America, from whence, as Miller informs us, it was sent by Mr. Banister to Dr. Compton, Lord Bishop of London, in whose curious garden he first saw it growing in the year 1709.

It is figured by Mr. Catesby, in his Natural History of Carolina, among the natural productions of that country, who bestowed on it the name of _Meadia_, in honour of the late Dr. Mead, a name which Linnaeus has not thought proper to adopt as a generic, though he has as a trivial one.

"It flowers the beginning of May, and the seeds ripen in July, soon after which the stalks and leaves decay, so that the roots remain inactive till the following spring.

"It is propagated by offsets, which the roots put out freely when they are in a loose moist soil and a shady situation; the best time to remove the roots, and take away the offsets, is in August, after the leaves and stalks are decayed, that they may be fixed well in their new situation before the frost comes on. It may also be propagated by seeds, which the plants generally produce in plenty; these should be sown in autumn, soon after they are ripe, either in a shady moist border, or in pots, which should be placed in the shade; in the spring, the plants will come up, and must then be kept clean from weeds; and, if the season proves dry, they must be frequently refreshed with water: nor should they be exposed to the sun; for while the plants are young, they are very impatient of heat, so that I have known great numbers of them destroyed in two or three days, which were growing to the full sun. These young plants should not be transplanted till the leaves are decayed, then they may be carefully taken up and planted in a shady border, where the soil is loose and moist, at about eight inches distance from each other, which will be room enough for them to grow one year, by which time they will be strong enough to produce flowers, so may then be transplanted into some shady borders in the flower-garden, where they will appear very ornamental during the continuance of their flowers." _Miller's Gard. Dict._

[13]

~Coronilla glauca. Sea-green, or Day-smelling Coronilla.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Diadelphia Decandria.~

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ bil.a.b.i.atus: 2/3: dentibus superioribus connatis. _Vexillum_ vix alis longius. _Legumen_ isthmis interceptum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CORONILLA _glauca_ fruticosa, foliolis septenis, obtusissimis, stipulis lanceolatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 557. _Sp. Pl._ 1047.

CORONILLA maritima, glauco folio. _Tournef. inst._ 650.

COLUTEA scorpioides maritima, glauco folio. _Bauh. Pin._ 397. _prodr._ 157.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 13]

This charming shrub, which is almost perpetually in blossom, and admirably adapted for nosegays, is a native of the south of France, and a constant ornament to our green-houses.

Linnaeus has observed, that the flowers, which in the day time are remarkably fragrant, in the night are almost without scent.

"It is propagated by sowing the seeds in the spring, either upon a gentle hot-bed, or on a warm border of light earth: when the plants are come up about two inches high, they should be transplanted either into pots, or into a bed of fresh earth, at about four or five inches distance every way, where they may remain until they have obtained strength enough to plant out for good, which should be either in pots filled with good fresh earth, or in a warm situated border, in which, if the winter is not too severe, they will abide very well, provided they are in a dry soil." _Miller's Gard. Dict._

[14]

~Primula villosa. Mountain Primula.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Pentandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Involucrum_ umbellulae. _Corollae_ tubus cylindricus: ore patulo.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PRIMULA _villosa_ foliis obovatis dentatis villosis, scapo brevissimo multifloro.

PRIMULA _villosa_. _Jacquin Fl. Austr. app. t._ 27.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 14]

Mr. Miller, in the Sixth Edition of the Abridgment of his Gardener's Dictionary, mentions only four Primulas, exclusive of the Auricula, the two first of which are named erroneously, and of the two last not a syllable is said either as to their place of growth or culture.

The plant here figured, has been introduced pretty generally into the Nursery-Gardens in the neighboured of London within these few years: Mr.

Salisbury informs me, that a variety of this plant with white flowers, brought originally from the Alps of Switzerland, has for many years been cultivated in a garden in Yorks.h.i.+re.

It is not noticed by Linnaeus: Professor Jacquin, in his Flora Austriaca, has figured and described a Primula, which, though not agreeing so minutely as could be wished with the one we have figured, is nevertheless considered by some of the first Botanists in this country as the same species; he gives it the name of _villosa_, which we adopt, though with us it is so slightly villous as scarcely to deserve that epithet.

It varies in the brilliancy of its colours, flowers in April, and will succeed with the method of culture recommended for the Round-Leaved Cyclamen.

[15]

~Narcissus Jonquilla. Common Jonquil.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Petala_ s.e.x. _Nectario_ infundibuliformi, monophyllo.

_Stamina_ intra nectarium.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

NARCISSUS _Jonquilla_ spatha multiflora, nectario hemisphaerico crenato, breviore petalis, foliis semiteretibus. _Lin. Spec. Pl. p._ 417.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 15]

The fragrant Jonquil is a native of Spain, flowers in the open ground, about the latter-end of April, or beginning of May, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation, but prefers, as most bulbs do, a fresh loamy earth; indeed such a soil is favourable to the growth of most plants, as being exempt from a variety of subterraneous insects, which are apt to infest ground which has been long cultivated.