It is a hardy greenhouse plant, and may be kept well enough through the winter in a common hot-bed frame, or planted against a south wall, and matted as myrtles usually are in such situations; we have known the _glauca_, treated in prove a charming ornament.

It is a native of Spain, growing, as CLUSIUS informs us, by road-sides, in sandy places, and on the declivities of hills.

Cultivated here in 1656, by J. TRADESCANT, jun. H. K.

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[186]

SELAGO OVATA. OVAL-HEADED SELAGO.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Cor._ tubus capillaris; limbus subaequalis, _Sem._ 1.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SELAGO _ovata_ spicis strobilinis ovatis terminalibus, foliis sparsis linearibus, caule fruticoso. _L'Herit. Stirp. nov. tom. 2.

t. 33._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. p. 355._

LIPPIA _ovata_ capitulis ovatis, foliis linearibus integerrimis.

_Linn. Mant. p. 89._

LINNaeUS in his _Mantissa_ has somewhat largely described this plant under the name of _Lippia ovata_, evidently from a dried specimen, which may account for the flowers being described of a dark violet colour; he recommends it to such as might have an opportunity of seeing the living plant, to observe if it was not referable to some other genus; accordingly Mons. L'HERITIER, who, when lately in England, saw it in the royal garden at Kew, joined it to the genus _Selago_, retaining the trivial name of _ovata, bractaeata_ would perhaps have been a better name; for though its ovate inflorescence may be peculiar to the species, its bracteae or floral leaves are so very singular that they const.i.tute the most prominent feature of the plant.

Mr. AITON informs us, that it was introduced to the royal garden at Kew, from the Cape, by Mr. Ma.s.sON, in 1774.

It recommends itself not so much on account of its beauty, curious structure of its flowering spikes, and the fragrance of its blossoms.

It is a greenhouse plant, and flowers during most of the summer; its blossoms are white with a yellow spot on the two uppermost, and sometimes on all the segments of the corolla, and an orange spot at the mouth of the tube.

Is propagated by cuttings.

[187]

IRIS SAMBUCINA. ELDER-SCENTED IRIS.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-petala, inaequalis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus.

_Stigmata_ petaliformia cucullato-bil.a.b.i.ata. _Thunb. Diss. de Iride._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IRIS _sambucina_ barbata, foliis ensiformibus glabris erectis brevioribus scapo multifloro, petalis deflexis planis. _Linn. Syst.

Vegetab, ed. 14. Murr._ _Thunb. loc. cit. n. 10._ _Ait. Hort. Kew.

v. 1. p. 69._

IRIS latifolia germanica, sambuci odore. _Bauh. Pin. 31._

IRIS Camerarii sive purpurea versicolor major. The greater variable coloured purple Flower-de-Luce. _Park. Par. p. 181._

This species of Iris, said to be a native of the South of Europe, derives its name from the smell of its flowers, which very much resembles that of elder in bloom.

It is one of the tallest and handsomest of the genus, in a rich moist soil acquiring the height of three feet or more; it is therefore more proper for the shrubbery than the flower-garden.

It flowers about the latter end of May, and is readily increased by parting its roots in autumn.

The Iris of PARKINSON, referred to in the synonyms, accords so exactly with our plant, in every circ.u.mstance but smell, which is not mentioned, that we have no doubt but it was cultivated in our gardens in his time.

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[188]

CONVOLVULUS NIL. AZURE CONVOLVULUS.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ Campanulata, plicata. _Stigmata_ 2. _Caps._ 2-locularis: loculis dispermis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._