[81]

COLUTEA ARBORESCENS. TREE COLUTEA, OR BLADDER SENNA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-fidus. _Legumen_ inflatum, basi superiore dehiscens.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

COLUTEA _arborescens_ arborea foliolis obcordatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab.

p. 668._

COLUTEA vesicaria. _Bauh. Pin. 396._

The greater b.a.s.t.a.r.d Senna with bladders. _Park. Par. 440._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 81]

The Bladder Senna, a native of the South of France and Italy, produces a profusion of bloom from June to August, when its inflated pods please from the singularity of their appearance; on these accounts, it is one of the most common flowering shrubs cultivated in gardens and plantations.

"It is propagated by sowing its seeds any time in the spring in a bed of common earth; and when the plants are come up, they must be kept clear from weeds, and the Michaelmas following they should be transplanted either into nursery-rows, or in the places where they are designed to remain; for if they are let grow in the seed-bed too long, they are very subject to have tap roots, which render them unfit for transplanting; nor should these trees be suffered to remain too long in the nursery before they are transplanted, for the same reason." _Miller's Gard.

Dict._

We have learned by experience, that a very wet soil will prove fatal to these shrubs.

[82]

LACHENALIA TRICOLOR. THREE-COLOURED LACHENALIA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ subtriphyllus, inferus, coloratus. _Corolla_ 3-petala, receptaculo inferta. _Jacquin jun. in act. helv. vol. 9._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LACHENALIA _tricolor_. _Lin. Syst, Vegetab. ed. 14. p. 314._ _Jacq.

Icon. pl. rarior, t. 3._

PHORMIUM _Aloides_. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. p. 336. Suppl. 205._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 82]

To Mr. LEE, of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, the first, and as we understand, the only Nurseryman as yet in possession of this plant, which has but lately been introduced into this country from the Cape, we are indebted for the present specimen.

Mr. JACQUIN, jun. who has figured and described it in the _Acta Helvetica_, gives it the name of _Lachenalia_, in honour of WARNERUS de la CHENAL, a very eminent Swiss Botanist, and the particular friend of the late ill.u.s.trious HALLER. Our readers should be informed, that it had before been called by two other different names, viz. _Hyacinthus orchiodes_, and _Phormium aloides_, under the latter of which it now stands in the 14th edition of the _Systema Vegetabilium_, as well as that of _Lachenalia_.

Its trivial name of _tricolor_ it receives from the three colours observable in the flowers; but it must be noticed, that it is only at the middle period of its flowering, that these three colours are highly distinguishable; as it advances, the brilliant orange of the top flowers dies away; the spots on the leaves also, which when the plant is young, give it the appearance of an orchis, as it advances into bloom become less and less conspicuous.

Like most of the Cape plants, the _Lachenalia_ requires to be sheltered in the winter; during that season it must therefore be kept in a greenhouse, or hot-bed frame, well secured.

It flowers in the spring, but its blowing may be accelerated by the warmth of the stove, for it bears forcing well enough.

It is increased by offsets from the bulbs.

[83]

HIBISCUS SYRIACUS. SYRIAN HIBISCUS; commonly called ALTHaeA FRUTEX.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ duplex, exterior polyphyllus. _Capsula_ 5-locularis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

HIBISCUS _syriacus_ foliis cuneiformi ovatis superne incise-serratis, caule arboreo. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 630._

ALCEA arborescens syriaca. _Bauh. Pin. p. 316._

ALTHaeA frutex flore albo vel purpureo. _Park. Par. p. 369._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 83]

The _Hibiscus syriacus_, known generally by the name of _Althaea frutex_, is a native of Syria, and forms one of the chief ornaments of our gardens in autumn; we view it, however, with less delight, as it is a sure indication of approaching winter.

There are many varieties of it mentioned by authors, as the _purple, red-flowered, white-flowered, variegated red and white flowered_, and the _striped-flowered_, to which may be added, another variety, lately introduced, with double flowers: it varies also in its foliage, which is sometimes marked with white, sometimes with yellow.