The lesser purple dwarf Flower-de-luce. _Park. Parad. p._ 186.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 9]

Gardeners, in former days, not having that profusion of plants to attend to and cultivate, which we can at present boast, appear to have been more solicitous in increasing generally the varieties of the several species; accordingly, we find in the _Paradisus terrestris_ of the venerable PARKINSON, no less than six varieties of this plant[C], most of which are now strangers to the Nursery Gardens. We may observe, that varieties in general not being so strong as the original plant, are consequently much sooner lost.

The Iris pumila grows wild in many parts of Hungary, affects open and hilly situations, and flowers in our gardens in the month of April; it is a very hardy plant, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; is propagated by parting its roots in autumn.

[Footnote C: The lesser purple dwarf Flower-de-luce with white blossoms, -- ---- ---- --- ---- --- straw colour ditto.

-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- pale blue ditto.

-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- blush-coloured ditto.

-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- yellow variable ditto.

-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- blue variable ditto, and the purple dwarf Sea Flower-de-luce of the same author, is probably no other than a variety.]

[10]

~Anemone Hepatica. Hepatica, or n.o.ble Liverwort.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Polyandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

Calyx nullus. Petala 6. 9. Semina plura.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ANEMONE Hepatica foliis trilobis integerrimis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 424. _Sp. Pl. p._ 758. _Fl. Suec. n._ 480.

TRIFOLIUM hepatic.u.m flore simplici et pleno. _Bauh. Pin._ 339.

Red Hepatica or n.o.ble Liverwort. _Park. Parad. p._ 226.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 10]

Dillenius, Miller, and some other authors, make a distinct genus of the _Hepatica_: Linnaeus unites it with the _Anemone_, observing, that though it differs from the _Anemone_ in having a calyx, yet that calyx is at some distance from the flower, and partakes more of the Nature of an Involucrum, which is not uncommon to the Anemonies.

The Hepaticas, as Parkinson observes, flower soon after the winter h.e.l.lebore, "and making their pride appear in winter, are the more welcome early guests."

It is found wild in its single state, with red, blue, and white flowers, in the woods and shady mountains of Sweden, Germany, and Italy; the red variety with double flowers is the one most commonly cultivated in our gardens; the double blue is also not unfrequent; the single white is less common; and the double white Miller never saw, yet admits that it may exist spontaneously, or be produced from seed: Parkinson mentions a white variety with red threads or stamina.

According to Miller, this plant delights in a loamy soil, and in an eastern position where it may have only the morning sun: the single sorts are easily raised from seed; the double, increased by parting the roots, which ought to be done in March when they are in bloom; they should not be divided into very small heads: these plants, if often removed and parted, are apt to die, but left undisturbed for many years, they will thrive exceedingly, and become very large roots.

[11]

~Erica herbacea. Herbaceous Heath.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Octandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

Calyx 4-phyllus. Corolla 4-fida. Filamenta receptaculo inserta. Antherae bifidae. Capsula 4-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ERICA _herbacea_ antheris muticis exsertis, corollis oblongis, stylo exserto, foliis quaternis, floribus secundis, _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 306. _carnea Sp. Pl. ed._ 3. _p._ 504.

ERICA _carnea_. _Jacq. Fl. Austr. v._ 1. _tab._ 32

ERICA proc.u.mbens herbacea. _Bauh. Pin. p._ 486.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 11]

Since the days of Mr. Miller, who, with all his imperfections, has contributed more to the advancement of practical gardening than any individual whatever, our gardens, but more especially our green-houses, have received some of their highest ornaments from the introduction of a great number of most beautiful Heaths: the present plant, though a native of the Alps and mountainous parts of Germany, is of modern introduction here, what renders it particularly acceptable, is its hardiness and early flowering; its blossoms are formed in the autumn, continue of a pale green colour during the winter, and expand in the spring, flowering as early as March, especially if kept in a green-house, or in a common hot-bed frame, which is the more usual practice.

It may be propagated by seeds or cuttings, the latter is the most ready way of increasing this and most of the other species of the genus: when the cuttings have struck root, they should be planted in a mixture of fresh loam and bog earth, either in the open border, under a wall, or in pots.

The name of _herbacea_, which Linnaeus has given to this plant, is not very characteristic, but it should be observed, that Linnaeus in this, as in many other instances, has only adopted the name of some older botanist; and it should also be remembered, that in genera, where the species are very numerous, it is no easy matter to give names to all of them that shall be perfectly expressive.

This species does not appear to us to be specifically different from the _mediterranea_.

[12]

~Dodecatheon Meadia. Mead's Dodecatheon, or American Cowslip.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Pentandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ rotata, reflexa. _Stamina_ tubo insidentia. _Capsula_ unilocularis, oblonga.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

DODECATHEON _Meadia_. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 163. _Sp. Plant. p._ 163.

MEADIA _Catesb. Car._ 3. _p._ 1. _t._ 1. _Trew. Ehret. t._ 12.