SOPHORA _tetraptera_. _Job. Miller ic. tab. 1._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 167]
The magnificent and highly curious species of Sophora here represented, is one of the many plants discovered by Sir JOSEPH BANKS at New-Zealand, where it forms a tree of a considerable size.
A finer sight can scarcely be imagined than a tree of this sort, extending to a great breadth on a wall with a western aspect, in the Apothecaries Garden at Chelsea, where it was planted by Mr.
FORSYTH about the year 1774, and which at this moment (April 28, 1791) is thickly covered with large pendulous branches of yellow, I had almost said golden flowers; for they have a peculiar richness, which it is impossible to represent in colouring; in the winter care is taken to cover it carefully with mats, least it should suffer from any extraordinarily severe weather.
It usually produces a few seed vessels of an uncommon form, having four wings, whence its name of _tetraptera_; from some of the seeds which have ripened in this country plants have been raised, and by these the plant is found to be propagated with the most success; it may also be increased by cuttings and layers.
[168]
IRIS PAVONIA. PEAc.o.c.k 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.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
IRIS _pavonia_ imberbis folio lineari glabro, scapo subunifloro. _Linn.
Syst. Vegetab. p. 92._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 168]
We have our doubts whether the plant here figured be the _pavonia_ of the _Systema Vegetabilium_, as it does not accord so well with the description there given, as we could wish; as such however it has been regarded by some here, and it must be allowed to answer extremely well to the name.
It is a small delicate Iris, about a foot and a half high, with very narrow leaves, bearing on the top of the stalk one or at most two flowers, three of the petals are large and white, with a brilliant blue spot at the base of each, edged on the outer side with deep purple; the delicacy of the flower, and the eye-like spot at the base of three of the petals, render at one of the most striking plants of the genus.
The figure here given was drawn from a plant which flowered with Messrs.
GRIMWOOD and Co. last June, who received it from Holland, and treat it in the same way as their Cape bulbs, of which country it is said to be a native.
It is not mentioned either in Mr. MILLER"S _Gardener"s Dictionary_, or the _Hortus Kewensis_.
[169]
IXORA COCCINEA. SCARLET IXORA.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ 1-petala, infundibuliformis, longa, supera, _Stamina_ supra faucem. _Bacca_ 4-sperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
IXORA _coccinea_ foliis ovalibus semiamplexicaulibus, floribus fasciculatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr._ _Ait. Hort. Kew.
p. 148._
JASMINUM indic.u.m, lauri folio, inodorum umbellatum, floribus coccineis.
_Pluk. alm. 196. t. 59. s. 2._
CERASUS zeylanica humilis sylvestris, floribus holosericeis intense rubris umbellatim congestis, fructibus nigris. _Mus. Zeyl. p. 15._
FLAMMA SYLVARUM _Rumph. Amb. 4. p. 105. t. 46._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 169]
It will appear strange, we presume, to most of our readers, when they are informed, that the _Ixora coccinea_, a plant at present in few hands, and which a short time since was sold in some of our nurseries for five guineas, should have been known in this country a hundred years ago; and yet Mr. AITON, who has so laudably exerted himself, in ascertaining the precise period, when most of the exotics cultivated in the royal garden at Kew first made their appearance in Great-Britain, informs us on very respectable authority, that this plant was introduced by Mr. BENTICK in 1690.
There is every reason to suppose, that this splendid exotic did not long survive its introduction; on inquiry, we learn that it was reintroduced about fifteen years ago, by the late Dr. JOHN FOTHERGILL, a name, to medicine and botany ever dear, in whose rich and magnificent collection at Upton was first known to flower; about the same time, the late Mr. THOBURN, Nurseryman at Brompton, raised a few Ixoras from foreign seeds, and from these (an accident having happened to the plant which was Dr. FOTHERGILL"S) are said to have arisen the plants at present in this country.
Both RHEEDE and RUMPHIUS describe and figure this plant in their respective works, the _Hortus Malabaricus_ and _Herbarium Amboinense_; it is mentioned also by several other authors: from their various accounts we discover, that in different parts of India, where it grows wild, it forms a slender shrub, or tree, about six feet high, rising generally with a single stem; that its cl.u.s.ters of flowers, seen from afar are so brilliant as to resemble a burning coal, especially in a dark wood, whence its name of _Flamma Sylvarum_; that it grows in the woods, and flowers in September and October, producing a black fruit, the size of small cherries, on which the peac.o.c.ks are supposed to feed, and from whence they have obtained the name of _Cerasa Pavonina_. The Chinese call it _Santanhoa_; with them it produces flowers and fruit the year through, and they hold the blossoms in such veneration, as to use them in the sacrifices they make to their idol IXORA, whence LINNaeUS has taken the name applied by him to this genus. The root is said to possess some acrimony, and to be made use of by the natives in curing the toothach.
It is customary in this country, to treat the _Ixora_ as a stove plant; perhaps it may be less tender than we are aware of; it flowers in July and August, but has not been known to produce fruit; is increased from cuttings, without much difficulty.
Our drawing was taken from a small but very healthy plant in the stove of Mr. WHITLEY (late THOBURN and WHITLEY, Brompton).
LINNaeUS describes, and some authors figure this plant with stipulae, which our plant had not, not being arrived at an age, perhaps, to produce them.
[170]
DRABA AIZOIDES. SENGREEN DRABA, or WHITLOW-GRa.s.s.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
TETRADYNAMIA SILICULOSA.
_Generic Character._
_Silicula_ integra, ovali-oblonga: valvis planiusculis, dissepimento parallelis. _Stylus_ nullus.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._