AITONIA _Capensis_. _Linn. Suppl. Pl. p. 303._ _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed.
14. Murr. p. 612._
COTYLEDON foliis linearibus, flore quadrifido, fructu subrotundo. _Burm.
Afric. 53. t. 21. s. 2._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 173]
This genus, of which there is only one known species, has been named by the younger LINNaeUS, in honour of Mr. WILLIAM AITON, author of the _Hortus Kewensis_, and Botanic Gardener to his Majesty. The great length of time[5], Mr. AITON has been engaged in the cultivation of plants, the immense numbers which have been the constant objects of his care through every period of their growth, joined to his superior discernment, give him a decided superiority in the _prima facie_ knowledge of living plants over most Botanists the present day; his abilities in the other line of his profession, are displayed in the eulogies of all who have seen the royal collection at Kew, which he has the honour to superintend.
The Aitonia is a native of the Cape, and was introduced by Mr.
Ma.s.sON, in the year 1774.
It is a greenhouse shrub of slow growth, seldom exceeding three feet in height; producing, when of sufficient age, flowers and fruit through most of the year; the fruit is a large dry angular berry, of a fine red colour.
Our drawing was made from a very fine plant, formerly Dr. FOTHERGILL"S, now in the collection of Messrs. GRIMWOOD and Co. Kensington.
It is only to be raised from seeds, which are sparingly produced in this country.
[174]
BUDDLEA GLOBOSA. ROUND-HEADED BUDDLEA.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 4-fidus. _Cor._ 4-fida. _Stamina_ ex incifuris. _Caps._ 2-fulca, 2-locularis, polysperma.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
BUDDLEA _globosa_ foliis lanceolatis, capitulis solitariis. _Ait. Hort.
Kew. p. 150. V. 1._
BUDLEJA _globosa_. _Hope in Act. Harlem, V. 20. part. 2. p. 417. t. 11._
PALQUIN _Feuil. it. 3. p. 51. t. 38._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 174]
Mr. ADAM BUDDLE, in honour of whom the present genus has been originally named by Dr. HOUSTON, was an ingenious English Botanist, cotemporary with, and the friend of PETIVER; his name is often mentioned in the _Synopsis_ of Mr. RAY and his _Hortus Siccus_, or dried collection of British plants, preserved in the British Museum, still resorted to in doubtful cases.
The present species not enumerated either by LINNaeUS or MILLER, is a native of Chili, and according to the _Hort. Kew._ was introduced by Messrs. KENNEDY and LEE, in 1774.
It has been customary, in consideration of its native place of growth, to treat it here as a greenhouse plant, for which situation it soon becomes unfit from its magnitude; some have ventured to plant it in the open borders in warm sheltered situations, where it has been found to succeed very well, producing its beautiful yellow blossoms in abundance; care must be taken, however, to guard it carefully from severe frosts, which are apt to destroy it.
It flowers in May and June, and is usually propagated by cuttings or layers.
[175]
KALMIA LATIFOLIA. BROAD-LEAV"D KALMIA.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Calyx_ 5-part.i.tus. _Cor._ hypocrateriformis: limbo subtus quinquecorni.
_Caps._ 5-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
KALMIA _latifolia_ foliis ovato-ellipticis ternis sparsisque, corymbis terminalibus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 64. ed. 14. Murr._ _Ait.
Hort. Kew. V. 2. p. 64._
ANDROMEDA foliis ovatis obtusis, corollis corymbosis infundibuliformis, genitalibus declinatis. _Fl. Virg. 160._
CHAMaeDAPHNE foliis tini, floribus bullatis. _Catesb. Car. 11. t. 98._
CISTUS chamaerhododendros Mariana laurifolia, floribus expansis, summo ramulo in umbellam plurimis. _Pluk. mant. 49. t. 379. s. 6._ The common Laurel, vulgarly called Ivy.
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 175]
Professor KALM (in honour of whom LINNaeUS, as before has been observed, named this genus of plants) in his travels into North-America, published in English by Mr. FORSTER, relates that he found this species in various provinces of that extensive continent, as Pensylvania, New-Jersey, and New-York, growing most commonly on the sides of hills, sometimes in woods; that it flourished most on the northern sides of the hills, especially where they were intersected by rivulets; he observes, that when all the other trees had lost their ornaments, this enlivened the woods by the verdure of its foliage, and that about the month of May, it was covered with a profusion of blossoms of unrivalled beauty.
[176]
CYTISUS LABURNUM. COMMON LABURNUM.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 2-l.a.b.i.atus: 2/3. _Legumen_ basi attenuatum.