[99]

ANTIRRHINUM PURPUREUM. PURPLE TOAD-FLAX.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-phyllus. _Corollae_ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera.

_Capsula_ 2-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ANTIRRHINUM purpureum foliis quaternis linearibus, caule erecto spicato.

_Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 555._

LINARIA purpurea major odorata. _Bauh. Pin. 213._

LINARIA altera purpurea. _Dod. Pempt. 183._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 99]

Though not so beautiful as many of the genus, this species is a common inhabitant of the flower-garden, in which it continues to blossom, during most of the summer.

It is a native of Italy, and delights in a dry soil and situation; it will even flourish on walls, and hence will serve very well to decorate the more elevated parts of rock-work.

When once introduced it comes up spontaneously from seeds.

[100]

LATHYRUS TINGITa.n.u.s. TANGIER PEA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Stylus_ pla.n.u.s, supra villosus, superne latior, _Cal._ laciniae superiores 2-breviores.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LATHYRUS _tingita.n.u.s_ pedunculis bifloris, cirrhis diphyllis, foliolis alternis lanceolatis glabris, stipulis lunatis. _Lin. Syst.

Vegetab. p. 663._

LATHYRUS tingita.n.u.s, filiquis orobi, flore amplo ruberrimo. _Moris, hist. 2. p. 55._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 100]

The Tangier Pea, a native of Morocco, cannot boast the agreeable scent, or variety of colours of the sweet Pea; nor does it continue so long in flower; nevertheless there is a richness in the colour of its blossoms, which ent.i.tles it to a place in the gardens of the curious, in which it is usually sown in the spring, with other hardy annuals.

It flowers in June and July.

The best mode of propagating it, is to, sow the seeds on the borders in patches, where the plants are to remain; thinning them when they come up, so as to leave only two or three together.

[101]

ALYSSUM HALIMIFOLIUM. SWEET ALYSSUM.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

TETRADYNAMIA SILICULOSA.

_Generic Character._

_Filamenta_ quaedam introrsum denticulo notata. _Silicula_ emarginata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ALYSSUM _halimifolium_ caulibus suffruticosis, diffusis, foliis lineari-lanceolatis integerrimis, villosiusculis, staminibus simplicibus, siliculis subrotundis integris. _Hort. Kew. V. 2. p.

381._

ALYSSUM halimifolium caulibus proc.u.mbentibus, perennantibus, foliis lanceolato-linearibus, acutis, integerrimis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab.

p. 590._

Thlaspi halimi folio sempervirens. _Herm. lugd. 594. t. 595._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 101]

Grows spontaneously in dry situations, in the southernmost parts of Europe, where it is shrubby; and in similar situations it is so in some degree with us; but on our flower-borders, where it is usually sown, it grows so luxuriantly, that the stalks becoming juicy and tender, are generally destroyed by our frosts; hence it is an annual from peculiarity of circ.u.mstance; as such, it is very generally cultivated; the flowers exhibit a pretty, innocent appearance, and strongly diffuse an agreeable honey-like smell. They continue to blow through most of the summer months.

It is a very proper plant for a wall or piece of rock-work; care must be taken, however, not to sow too much of the seed in one pot, as it spreads wide, but it may easily be reduced at any period of its growth, as it does not creep at the root.

The specific description in the _Hortus Kewensis_ above referred to, admirably characterizes the plant, but surely at the expence of its generic character.