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[210]

CELSIA LINEARIS. LINEAR-LEAV'D CELSIA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-part.i.tus. _Cor._ rotata. _Filamenta_ barbata, _Caps._ 2-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CELSIA _linearis_. _Jacq. Collect. v. 2. n. 210._ _Icon. v. 2. t.

13._

CELSIA _linearis_ foliis ternis linearibus denticulatis.

We here present our readers with the figure of a plant newly introduced from France by Mr. WILLIAMS, Nurseryman of Paris, collected originally in Peru by Mr. DOMBEY, whose flowers, if they do not equal those of the Fuchsia already figured in elegance of form and growth, surpa.s.s them somewhat in brilliancy of colour, whence it becomes a most desirable plant for the purpose of ornament.

Professor JACQUIN, who first gave a figure and description of this plant, informs us in his Collectanea, that he received seeds of it from Professor ORTEGA of Madrid, under the name of _Celsia linearis_, which name he has adopted; and we, from respect to such authority, have continued; at the same time we must observe, that it ill accords with that genus: the blossoms while in bud fold up somewhat in the same manner as those of the Celsia, but on expansion they appear widely different; their shape indeed then becomes truly singular, resembling a half-formed imperfect corolla, its filaments are short and want the hairs which in part characterise the Celsia; its seed-vessels also are far from being round: its antherae are large and close together, somewhat like those of the Solanum, and there is so little of inequality in them, that few students would be induced to refer its flowers to the cla.s.s Didynamia.

Being a native of a warm climate, it comes to the greatest perfection here when placed in a stove in which the heat is moderate; but it will succeed very well if treated as a tender green-house plant: it does not appear to be quite so hardy as the Fuchsia, nor to flower like that plant at all seasons, but usually produces its blossoms in the latter summer months, those are succeeded by seed-vessels producing perfect seeds, by which, as well as by cuttings, the plant is propagated.

Its leaves, which are not deciduous, are linear, and more or less toothed, growing three together; this character however is somewhat obscured by others growing from their bosoms.

[211]

SEDUM POPULIFOLIUM. POPLAR-LEAV'D STONECROP.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Cor._ 5-petala. _Squamae_ nectariferae 5 ad basin germinis. _Caps._ 5.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SEDUM _populifolium_ foliis planis cordatis dentatis petiolatis, corymbis terminalibus. _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 109._

SEDUM _populifolium_ foliis petiolatis cordatis dentatis, floribus paniculatis. _Linn. fil. suppl. p. 242._

SEDUM _populifolium_. _Pallas, it. 3. p. 730. t. O. fig. 2._

Professor PALLAS, the celebrated Russian naturalist, discovered this species of Sedum in Siberia, and in the year 1780, introduced it to the royal garden at Kew; the younger LINNaeUS describes it minutely in his _Suppl. Plantarum_, and observes, that in its general form it much resembles the _Saxifraga rotundifolia_.

Its leaves are flat as in many of the other species, and when the plant grows in an open situation, exposed to the sun, they become as well as the stalks of a bright red colour, which adds much to its beauty.

It is the only hardy Sedum cultivated; in our gardens with a shrubby stalk, its leaves however are deciduous, so that in the winter it loses its verdure, it flowers in July and August, and is readily increased by cuttings.

As most of this tribe grow readily, and many of them naturally on rocks and walls, they may be in general regarded as proper rock plants, some of them however are apt by the quickness of their growth to extend over and destroy plants of more value; this fault, if such it may be deemed, is not imputable to the _populifolius_.

Some not knowing its native place of growth, keep it in the green-house.

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[212]

TANACETUM FLABELLIFORME. FAN-LEAVED TANSY.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA.

_Generic Character._

_Recept._ nudum. _Pappus_ submarginatus. _Cal._ imbricatus, hemisphaericus. _Cor._ radii obsoletae, trifidae. _Linn. (interdum nullae omnesque flosculi hermaphroditi.) Murr._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

TANACETUM _flabelliforme_ corymbis simplicibus, foliis deltoidibus apice serratis. _L'Herit. Sert. Angl. t. 27._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V.

3. p. 169._

There is a neatness in the appearance of this plant, which joined to the singular form of its foliage, varying also from the general hue, ent.i.tles it to a place in the green-house.

Mr. Ma.s.sON discovered it at the Cape, and introduced it here in 1774.

_Ait. Kew._

It flowers from May to August, grows freely, and is usually propagated by cuttings.

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