_Generic Character._
_Corolla_ infundibuliformis, hexapetala: unguibus angustis staminiferis.
_Capsula_ supera.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
BULBOCODIUM _vernum_ foliis lanceolatis. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr.
p. 320._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 1. p. 421._ _Retz. Obs. Bot. Fasc. 2.
t. 1._
COLCHIc.u.m vernum hispanic.u.m. _Bauh. Pin. 69._ Medowe Saffron of the spring. _Park. Parad. p. 158-159. f. 7._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 153]
The excellent and learned CLUSIUS, in the second appendix to his history of rare plants, gives a very good figure of this plant, both in flower and seed, accompanied with its history; our PARKINSON also represents it in his _Parad. terr._ and gives such a minute description of it, as convinces us he must have cultivated it at the time he wrote: Mr. MILLER appears not to have been well acquainted with it, or he would not have described its root to be like that of the Snowdrop; had he said Colchic.u.m, he would not have misled: RETZIUS also in his Bot. Obs. gives a figure of it with the flower dissected.
The _Bulbocodium_, of which there is only one species, is a mountainous plant, a native of Spain, and flowers in the open ground at the same time as the Crocus, for a purple variety of which it might easily be mistaken at first sight; but it differs from the Crocus in having six stamina, and from the Colchic.u.m, to which it is very nearly allied, in having one style instead of three.
It is at present a rare plant in our gardens, which we attribute to its bulbs not admitting of much increase, as well as to its being liable to be killed by frost, and hence requiring more care than it may be thought ent.i.tled to from its appearance.
It varies in the colour of its flowers.
[154]
SAPONARIA OCYMOIDES, BASIL SOAP-WORT.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DECANDRIA DIGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 1-phyllus, nudus. _Petala_ 5 unguiculata. _Caps._ oblonga 1-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
SAPONARIA _Ocymoides_ calycibus cylindricis villosis, caulibus dichotomis proc.u.mbentibus. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr._ _Jacq.
Fl. Austr. v. 5. app. t. 23._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 2. p. 87._
LYCHNIS vel Ocymoides repens montanum. _Bauh. Pin. 206._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 154]
The _Saponaria Ocymoides_ has been figured in the appendix to the fifth volume of the _Flora Austriaca_ in its wild state, as in similar works every plant is expected to be; our figure represents a branch of it only, taken (as all ours in this work professedly are) from a garden specimen which grew on a wall of a particular construction in our garden at Brompton, and of which it was the princ.i.p.al ornament through the months of May, June, and July, during most of which time it was covered with a profusion of bloom[1].
Though it produces blossoms in abundance, it affords but little seed, but may be increased by slips or cuttings.
It is a hardy perennial, a native of France, Italy, Switzerland, and Carinthia, loves a pure air and a dry situation[2], grows best among rocks, stones, or out of a wall, and certainly is one of the best plants imaginable for ornamenting of rock-work.
I received seeds of it, and many other rare plants, from my very kind friend Mr. DAVAL, of Orbe, in Switzerland.
[155]
OXALIS VERSICOLOR. STRIPED-FLOWER"D WOOD-SORREL.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ unguibus connexa. _Caps._ angulis dehiscens, 5-gona.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
OXALIS _versicolor_ caule erecto hirto, pedunculis unifloris, foliis ternatis: foliolis linearibus callosis. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14.
Murr. p. 114. p. 434._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 2. p. 114._
OXYS Africana foliis tenuissimis, flore amplo versicolore. _Pluk.
Amalth. 169. t. 434. f. 5._
OXYS Africana foliis tenuissimis in summitate caulis. _Raii Suppl. 598._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 155]
The _Oxalis-versicolor_ is considered as one of the most beautiful of the many species cultivated in gardens; and, though well known to, and described by several of the older Botanists, has graced our collections but a few years, being introduced to the Royal Garden at Kew, from the Cape (where, as well as in Ethiopia, it grows spontaneously) by Mr.
Ma.s.sON, in the Year 1774.
Many of this genus flower early in the spring, the season in which this species also puts forth its blossoms, but by dexterous management it may be made to flower during most of the year; and this is effected by placing the pea-like tubera or k.n.o.bs which the root sends forth, and by which the plant is propagated, in pots filled with loam and bog-earth at stated distant periods.
Like most of the Cape plants, it is well adapted to the greenhouse, and succeeds best when placed on a front shelf of the house, where it can have plenty of light and air; some keep it in the stove, but there the plant is drawn up, and the flowers lose a part of their brilliancy: in no situation do they ever expand but when the sun shines on them; this is the less to be regretted, as they are most beautiful when closed.
[156]
COREOPSIS VERTICILLATA. WHORLED COREOPSIS.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA FRUSTRANEA.