The Botanist's Companion Part 61

GYNANDRIA TRIANDRIA.

205 Sisyrinchum anceps Small Sisyrinchum c.m.

206 Arum tenuifolium Fine-leaved Arum c.m.

CRYPTOGAMIA FILICES.

207 Polypodium marginale Margin-flowered Polypody b.l.

208 ---------- auriculatum Eared ditto b.l.

209 Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern b.

210 Equisetum filiforme Fine Horse-tail l.

APPENDIX

BRITISH PLANTS CULTIVATED FOR ORNAMENTAL PURPOSES.

1. ALISMA Plantago. I cannot pa.s.s over this beautiful aquatic without giving it a place amongst the ornamental plants with which our country abounds. In pieces of water this is of considerable interest both as to flowers and foliage, and no place of the kind should ever be dest.i.tute of such a beauty. It is of easy culture; the plant taken from its place of growth and sunk into the water with a stone to keep it in its place, is a ready and easy mode of planting it, and there is no fear when once introduced but it will succeed.

2. ANDROMEDA polifolia. This is a beautiful little shrub, and grown in gardens for the sake of its flowers; it is also an evergreen. This plant will not succeed unless it is planted in bog earth,--for a description of which see page 152 of this volume.

3. AQUILEGIA vulgaris. COLUMBINE.--We have scarcely a plant affording more beauty or greater variety than this. It is commonly, when found wild, of a blue colour, but when the seeds are sown in the garden a variety of tints is produced. It is a perennial, but easily raised from seed, which should be sown in the spring.

4. ANTHEMIS maritima. A double-flowering variety of this plant used to be common in the gardens near London, but is now scarce: it is very beautiful, and constantly in bloom during summer. It is propagated by planting the roots in the spring and autumn.

5. ANTIRRHINUM linaria, v. Peloria.--I cannot pa.s.s over this singular and beautiful flower without notice. There is a fine figure of it in the Flora Londinensis: it is very ornamental, and the structure of the bloom is truly interesting. It is easily propagated by planting the roots in the spring months, but it is not common.

6. ANTIRRHINUM majus. SNAPDRAGON.--This is also a plant deserving the attention of the lover of flowers: it is capable of culture into many very beautiful and interesting varieties.

7. BELLIS perennis. DAISY.--This plant affords us many very beautiful varieties for the flower garden. The large Red Daisy and all the other fine kinds are only this plant improved by culture.

8. BUTOMIS umbellatus. This is an aquatic, and well adapted to ornament pieces of water. Its beautiful flowers in the summer months are inferior to scarcely any plants growing in such places, and its foliage will form protection for any birds, &c., which are usually kept in such places. It is easily propagated by planting it in such places.

9. CALTHA pal.u.s.tris. MARSH MARIGOLD.--This fine yellow flower is also made double by culture, and finds a place in the flower garden.

10. CHEIRANTHUS fruticulosus. WALLFLOWER.--Is a plant possessing great beauty, and very interesting on account of its fine scent. We have this plant also improved by culture, making many fine double varieties. It is a biennial, and easily raised from seeds, which should be sown in June.

The double varieties are cultivated by cuttings of the branches.

11. CYPRIPEDIUM Calceolus. LADIES SLIPPER.--A flower of the most uncommon beauty, but is now become scarce; it is a native of the woods near Skipton in Yorkshire, but has been so much sought for by the lovers of plants as to become almost extinct. It is difficult to propagate; but when the plants have been for some years growing, will admit of being parted, so that it may be increased in that way: it will not bear to be often removed, and should be left to grow in the same place for several years without being disturbed. It succeeds best in bog earth or rotten leaves.

12. DELPHINIUM Ajacis. LARKSPUR.--This is also an annual flower, affording a pleasing variety in the flower garden in the summer months.

For it culture, see p. 188.

13. DIANTHUS Caryophyllus. THE CARNATION.--All our fine varieties of the carnation are the produce of this plant.

The common single variety produces seed in great abundance, but the improved double varieties are sparing in produce: the fine kinds of this flower are reared by layers put down about the month of July; they may also be propagated by cuttings, but the other is the most eligible and certain mode.

14. EPILOBIUM angustifolium. A plant of singular ornament. There is also a white variety of this found in gardens.

15. ERICA vulgaris. There is now in cultivation in the gardens a double-flowering variety of this plant, which is highly interesting and of singular beauty. It grows readily in bog earth, and is raised by layers.

16. ERICA Daboeica. IRISH HEATH.--A plant of singular beauty and of easy culture; and being of small growth and almost constantly in bloom, has also obtained a place in the shrubbery.

17. FRITILLARIA Meleagris. A very ornamental bulbous plant, of which the Dutch gardeners have many improved varieties, varying in the colour and size of the blossoms: these are usually imported in August, and should be immediately planted, as the bulbs will not keep long when out of ground, unless they are covered with sand.

18. GALANTHUS nivalis. SNOWDROP.--The first of the productions of Flora which reminds us of the return of spring after the dark and dreary days of winter. This plant is also made double by cultivation, but is not handsomer than the common wild one. The best time for planting the bulbs of Snowdrops is in the month of September.