The Botanic Garden. Part II. | Page 9

with arms for their protection; these are either aculei, prickles, as in rose and barberry, which are formed from the outer bark of the plant; or spin?, thorns, as in hawthorn, which are an elongation of the wood, and hence more difficult to be torn off than the former; or stimuli, stings, as in the nettles, which are armed with a venomous fluid for the annoyance of naked animals. The shrubs and trees, which have prickles or thorns, are grateful food to many animals, as goosberry, and gorse; and would be quickly devoured, if not thus armed; the stings seem a protection against some kinds of insects, as well as the naked mouths of quadrupeds. Many plants lose their thorns by cultivation, as wild animals lose their ferocity; and some of them their horns. A curious circumstance attends the large hollies in Needwood-forest, they are armed with thorny leaves about eight feet high, and have smooth leaves above; as if they were conscious that horses and cattle could not reach their upper branches. See note on Meadia, and on Mancinella. The numerous clumps of hollies in Needwood-forest serve as landmarks to direct the travellers across it in various directions; and as a shelter to the deer and cattle in winter; and in scarce seasons supply them with much food. For when the upper branches, which are without prickles, are cut down, the deer crop the leaves and peel off the bark. The bird-lime made from the bark of hollies seems to be a very similar material to the elastic gum, or Indian rubber, as it is called. There is a fossile elastic bitumen found at Matlock in Derbyshire, which much resembles these substances in its elasticity and inflammability. The thorns of the mimosa cornigere resemble cow's horns in appearance as well as in use. System of Vegetables, p. 782.]
A thousand steely points on every scale?Form the bright terrors of his bristly male.--?165 So arm'd, immortal Moore uncharm'd the spell,
And slew the wily dragon of the well.--?Sudden with rage their injur'd bosoms burn,?Retort the insult, or the wound return;?Unwrong'd, as gentle as the breeze that sweeps?170 The unbending harvests or undimpled deeps,
They guard, the Kings of Needwood's wide domains,?Their sister-wives and fair infantine trains;?Lead the lone pilgrim through the trackless glade,?Or guide in leafy wilds the wand'ring maid.
175 So WRIGHT's bold pencil from Vesuvio's hight
Hurls his red lavas to the troubled night;?From Calpè starts the intolerable flash,?Skies burst in flames, and blazing oceans dash;--?Or bids in sweet repose his shades recede,?180 Winds the still vale, and slopes the velvet mead;
On the pale stream expiring Zephyrs sink,?And Moonlight sleeps upon its hoary brink.
Gigantic Nymph! the fair KLEINHOVIA reigns,?The grace and terror of Orixa's plains;
[Hurls his red lavas. l. 176. Alluding to the grand paintings of the eruptions of Vesuvius, and of the destruction of the Spanish vessels before Gibraltar; and to the beautiful landscapes and moonlight scenes, by Mr. Wright of Derby.]
[Kleinhovia. l. 183. In this class the males in each flower are supported by the female. The name of the class may be translated "Viragoes," or "Feminine Males."
The largest tree perhaps in the world is of the same natural order as Kleinhovia, it is the Adansonia, or Ethiopian Sour-gourd, or African Calabash tree. Mr. Adanson says the diameter of the trunk frequently exceeds 25 feet, and the horizontal branches are from 45 to 55 feet long, and so large that each branch is equal to the largest trees of Europe. The breadth of the top is from 120 to 150 feet. And one of the roots bared only in part by the wasting away of the earth by the river, near which it grew, measured 110 feet long; and yet these stupendous trees never exceed 70 feet in height. Voyage to Senegal.]
O'er her warm cheek the blush of beauty swims,?And nerves Herculean bend her sinewy limbs;?With frolic eye she views the affrighted throng,?190 And shakes the meadows, as she towers along,
With playful violence displays her charms,?And bears her trembling lovers in her arms.?So fair THALESTRIS shook her plumy crest,?And bound in rigid mail her jutting breast;?195 Poised her long lance amid the walks of war,
And Beauty thunder'd from Bellona's car;?Greece arm'd in vain, her captive heroes wove?The chains of conquest with the wreaths of love.
When o'er the cultured lawns and dreary wastes?200 Retiring Autumn flings her howling blasts,
Bends in tumultuous waves the struggling woods,?And showers their leafy honours on the floods,?In withering heaps collects the flowery spoil,?And each chill insect sinks beneath the soil;?205 Quick flies fair TULIPA the loud alarms,
And folds her infant closer in her arms;?In some lone cave, secure pavilion, lies,?And waits the courtship of serener skies.--?So, six cold moons, the Dormouse charm'd to rest,?210 Indulgent Sleep! beneath thy eider breast,
In fields of Fancy climbs the kernel'd groves,?Or