DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 2-l.a.b.i.atus. _Antherae_ 5, oblongae 5, subrotundae. _Legumen_ coriaceum.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
LUPINUS _perennis_ calycibus alternis inappendiculatis: labio superiore emarginato; inferiore integro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed.
14. Murr. p. 655._ _Ait. Kew. v. 3. p. 28._
LUPINUS calycibus alternis, radice perenni repente. _Fl. Virg.
172._
LUPINUS caeruleus minor perennis virginia.n.u.s repens. _Moris. hist.
2. p. 87. s. 2. t. 7. f. 6._
LUPINUS floribus caeruleis inodoris, in spicas longas digestis, radice reptatrice. _Clayt. n. 779._
Every species of Lupine described in the _Species Plantarum_ of LINNaeUS, and in the _Hortus Kewensis_ of Mr. AITON, except the one here figured, are annuals; till another perennial one therefore shall be discovered, the term _perennis_ will be strictly applicable to the present plant.
Its root is not only of the kind just mentioned, but creeping also; Mr.
_Miller_ informs us, that he traced some of them belonging to plants of a year old, to the depth of three feet, they also spread out far and wide; hence the roots even of young plants are with difficulty taken up entire, and as they do not succeed well by transplanting, if the root be cut or broken, our excellent author prefers raising this elegant plant from seed, which, though not very plentifully produced, ripen in July and August; care must be taken to gather them as soon as ripe.
It is a native of Virginia, and appears to have been cultivated in the Botanic Garden at Oxford, as long since as 1658.
Flowers from May to July.
Is a hardy perennial, succeeding best in a dry situation, with a loam moderately stiff.
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[203]
GERANIUM ANGULATUM. ANGULAR-STALKED CRANE"S-BILL.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Cor._ 5-petala, regularis. _Nect._ glandulae 5, melliferae, basi longiorum filamentorum adnatae. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ simplicia, nuda, (nec spiralia nec barbata).
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
GERANIUM _angulatum_ foliis radicalibus subpart.i.tis incisis hirsutis, caule erecto subangulato, petalis venosis.
Having cultivated the Geranium here figured for a series of years, we are perfectly satisfied of its being a species altogether distinct from any of the hardy and more ornamental plants of that genus usually cultivated in our gardens.
It is obviously distinguished by two characters, the angular appearance of its stalk (whence our name of _angulatum_) and its flesh-coloured blossoms, marked with veins of a deeper red.
In size it stands between _pratense_ and _aconitifolium_, in its blossoms it has some affinity to _striatum_ and _lancastriense_, but veins are not so strongly marked as in the former, and it differs from the latter in having an upright stalk.
It usually flowers in May, and frequently again in autumn; is a hardy perennial, and easily increased either by seeds or parting its roots.
Of what country it is a native, or when it was first introduced, we have yet to learn; we first observed it in a nursery near town, where it is regarded as a very different species.
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[204]
RANUNCULUS ACONITIFOLIUS. MOUNTAIN CROWFOOT, or FAIR MAIDS OF FRANCE.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5-intra ungues poro mellifero. _Sem._ nuda.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
RANUNCULUS _aconitifolius_ foliis omnibus quinatis lanceolatis inciso-serratis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 516._ _Ait.
Kew. v. 1. p. 267._
RANUNCULUS folio aconiti, flore albo multiplici. _Bauh. Pin. 179._
RANUNCULUS monta.n.u.s albus flore pleno. The double white mountain Crowfoot. _Park. Parad. p. 219. f. 9._
Double white Bachelors b.u.t.tons. _Ger. Herb. p. 812. f. 1._
This is one of those plants which derives its beauty from the multiplication of its petals; in its single state no one would think it deserving of culture as an ornamental plant: when double, few plants come in for a greater share of admiration.
It is a native of the Alps of Europe, and flowers in May and June.
Was very generally cultivated in our gardens in the times of GERARD and PARKINSON.