The Botanical Magazine Volume Iii Part 8

Such as are partial to this tribe, will no doubt wish to have this species in their collection; the blossoms are pretty, and the foliage is singular, but it remains but a short time in flower.

It is readily propagated by cuttings.

[96]

LANTANA ACULEATA. p.r.i.c.kLY LANTANA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 4-dentatus obsolete. _Stigma_ uncinato-refractum. _Drupa_ nucleo 2-loculari.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LANTANA _aculeata_ foliis oppositis, caule aculeato ramoso spicis hemisphaericis. _Lin. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. p. 566._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 96]

According to MILLER, this species grows naturally in _Jamaica_, and most of the other Islands in the _West-Indies_, where it is called _wild Sage_; the flowers, which are very brilliant, are succeeded by roundish berries, which, when ripe, turn black, having a pulpy covering over a single hard seed.

It is readily propagated by cuttings.

Different plants vary greatly in the colour of their blossoms, and the p.r.i.c.kliness of their stalks; the p.r.i.c.kles are seldom found on the young shoots.

This plant will bear to be placed abroad in the warmest summer months, the rest of the year it requires artificial heat. It is usually placed in the dry stove, to which, as it is seldom without flowers, it imparts great brilliancy.

[97]

FUCHSIA COCCINEA. SCARLET FUCHSIA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 1-phyllus, coloratus, corollifer, maximus. _Petala_ 4, parva, _Bacca_ infera, 4-locularis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

FUCHSIA _coccinea_ foliis oppositis ovatis denticulatis; petalis obovatis, obtusis. _Hort. Kew._

THILCO _Feuillee it. 3. p. 64. t. 47._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 97]

The present plant is a native of _Chili_, and was introduced to the royal gardens at Kew, in the year 1788, by Capt. FIRTH; it takes the name of _Fuchsia_ from _Fuchs_ a German Botanist of great celebrity, author of the _Historia Stirpium_ in _folio_, published in 1542, containing five hundred and sixteen figures in wood; and which, though mere outlines, express the objects they are intended to represent, infinitely better than many laboured engravings of more modern times.

Every person who can boast a hot-house will be anxious to possess the _Fuchsia_, as it is not only a plant of peculiar beauty, but produces its rich pendant blossoms through most of the summer; the petals in the centre of the flower are particularly deserving of notice; they somewhat resemble a small roll of the richest purple-coloured ribband.

Though this plant will not succeed well in the winter, nor be easily propagated unless in a stove, it will flower very well during the summer months, in a good greenhouse or hot-bed frame, and though at present from its novelty it bears a high price, yet as it is readily propagated, both by layers, cuttings, and seeds, it will soon be within the purchase of every lover of plants.

Mr. LEE, of Hammersmith, we understand first had this plant for sale.

[98]

TROPaeOLUM MINUS. SMALL TROPaeOLUM, OR INDIAN-CRESS.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 1-phyllus, calcaratus. _Petala_ 5, inaequalia. _Bacca_ tres, siccae.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

TROPaeOLUM _minus_ foliis peltatis repandis, petalis ac.u.minato-setaceis.

_Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 357._

Indian-Cresses, or yellow Larke's-heeles. _Park. Parad. p. 280._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 98]

This species of _Tropaeolum_ (which like the _majus_ already figured in this work, is a native of _Peru_) has long been an inhabitant of our gardens; it was the only species we had in the time of PARKINSON, by whom it is figured and described; it appears indeed to have been a great favourite with that intelligent author, for he says this plant "is of so great beauty and sweetnesse withall, that my garden of delight cannot bee unfurnished of it, and again the whole flower hath a fine small sent, very pleasing, which being placed in the middle of some Carnations or Gilloflowers (for they are in flower at the same time) make a delicate Tussimusie, as they call it, or Nosegay, both for sight and sent."

As the _Pa.s.siflora caerulea_, from its superior beauty and hardiness, has in a great degree supplanted the _incarnata_, so has the _Tropaeolum majus_ the _minus_; we have been informed indeed that it was entirely lost to our gardens till lately, when it was reintroduced by Dr.

J. E. SMITH, who by distributing it to his friends, and the Nurserymen near London, has again rendered it tolerably plentiful.

Like the _majus_ it is an annual, though by artificial heat it may be kept in a pot through the winter, as usually is the variety of it with double flowers; but as it will grow readily in the open air, in warm sheltered situations, it should be raised on a hot-bed, like other tender annuals, if we wish to have it flower early in the summer, continue long in blossom, and produce perfect seeds.