[162]

SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. CANADA PUCc.o.o.n, or BLOODWORT.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 8-petala. _Cal._ 2-phyllus. Siliqua ovata, 1-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SANGUINARIA _Canadensis_. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 489._

CHELIDONIUM majus Canadense acaulon. _Corn. Canad. 212._

RANUNCULUS Virginiensis albus. _Park. Theat. 226._

SANGUINARIA flore simplici. _Dill. Elth. t. 252._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 162]

Though the Sanguinaria cannot be considered as a handsome shewy plant, yet we scarcely know its equal in point of delicacy and singularity; there is something in it to admire, from the time that its leaves emerge from the ground, and embosom the infant blossom, to their full expansion, and the ripening of its seed vessels.

The woods of Canada, as well as of other parts of North-America, produce this plant in abundance with us it flowers in the beginning of April: its blossoms are fugacious, and fully expand only in fine warm weather.

It is a hardy perennial, and is usually propagated by parting its roots in autumn; a situation moderately shady, and a soil having a mixture of bog-earth or rotten leaves in it suits it best.

Its k.n.o.bby roots, when broken asunder, pour forth a juice of a bright red or orange colour, whence its name of Sanguinaria: with this liquid the Indians are said to paint themselves.

DILLENIUS, has figured it in his admirable work, the Hortus Elthamensis, where three varieties of it are represented, viz. a large one, a small one, and one in which the petals are multiplied, but which can scarcely be called double.

It appears from MORISON[4], that the Sanguinaria was cultivated in this country in 1680, the date of his work.

[163]

PHLOX DIVARICATA. EARLY-FLOWERING LYCHNIDEA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ hypocrateriformis. _Filamenta_ inaequalia. _Stigma_ 3-fidum.

_Cal._ prismaticus. _Caps._ 3-locularis, i-sperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PHLOX _divaricata_ foliis lato-lanceolatis: superioribus alternis, caule bifido, pedunculis geminis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab, p. 199._ _Ait.

Hort. Kew. p. 206._

LYCHNIDEA virginiana, alsines aquaticae foliis, floribus in ramulis divaricatis. _Pluk. Mant. 121?_

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 163]

Most of the plants of this genus are natives of North-America, and remarkable for their beauty; they were first introduced under the name of _Lychnidea_, which, though a Latin term, is now familiarized to the English ear.

Mr. AITON has given to this species the name of early-flowering, it coming much sooner into blossom than any of the others, beginning to flower in May with the yellow Alyssum; its blossoms, however, are not of so long duration, nor so ornamental as some others of the same family.

It seldom exceeds a foot in height, and, on this account, may be regarded as a suitable rock-plant.

It rarely ripens its seeds with us, but is readily increased either by cuttings or layers; succeeds best in a pure air and a situation moderately dry.

Like most other American plants, it is of modern introduction, was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1758, and figured in his Icones.

[164]

RANUNCULUS GRAMINEUS. GRa.s.s-LEAVED CROWFOOT.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

POLYANDRIA POLYGNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5 intra ungues poro mellifero. _Semina_ nuda.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

RANUNCULUS _gramineus_ foliis lanceolato linearibus indivisis, caule erecto laevissimo paucifloro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p.

515._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 265._

RANUNCULUS gramineo folio bulbosus. _Bauh. Pin. 181?_

RANUNCULUS monta.n.u.s folio gramineo. _Bauh. Pin. 180._

RANUNCULUS gramineus. Gra.s.se leafed Crowfoot. _Park. Parad. p. 218. 221.

f. i._