The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 3 | Page 2

in the present
instance, this species of Potentilla, becoming in every respect much
larger, as well as much smoother than in its natural state. Vid. VAILL.
above quoted.
It is a hardy herbaceous plant, a native of Switzerland, Siberia, and
other parts of Europe, and flowers in July.
LINNÆUS considers it as an annual; MILLER, as a biennial; we
suspect it to be, indeed have little doubt of its being a perennial; having
propagated it by parting its roots, but it may be raised more
successfully from seed.

[76]
EPILOBIUM ANGUSTISSIMUM. NARROWEST LEAV'D
WILLOW-HERB.
Class and Order.
OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Cal. 4-fidus. Petala 4. Caps. oblonga, infera. Sem. papposa.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
EPILOBIUM angustifolium, foliis sparsis linearibus obsolete
denticulatis aveniis, petalis æqualibus integerrimis, Ait. Hort. Kew. 2. p.
5.
EPILOBIUM angustifolium, var. Lin. Sp. Pl.

EPILOBIUM flore difformi, foliis linearibus. _Hall, Hist. Helv. p. 427.
n. 1001._
[Illustration: No 76]
Though the Epilobium here figured has not been many years introduced
into this country, it is a plant which has long been well known, and
described.
LINNÆUS makes it a variety only of the _Epilobium angustifolium_;
HALLER, a distinct species, and in our opinion, most justly.
Those who have cultivated the Epilobium angustifolium have cause to
know that it increases prodigiously by its creeping roots. The present
plant, so far as we have been able to determine from cultivating it
several years, in our Garden, Lambeth-Marsh, has not shewn the least
disposition to increase in the same way, nor have any seedlings arisen
from the seeds which it has spontaneously scattered: we have, indeed,
found it a plant rather difficult to propagate, yet it is highly probable
that at a greater distance from London, and in a more favourable soil,
its roots, though not of the creeping kind, may admit of a greater
increase, and its seeds be more prolific.
It is a native of the Alps of Switzerland, from whence it is frequently
dislodged, and carried into the plains by the impetuosity of torrents.
It flowers with us in July and August, and being a hardy perennial, and
perhaps the most elegant species of the genus, appears to us highly
deserving a place in the gardens of the curious.

[77]
CENTAUREA MONTANA. GREATER BLUE-BOTTLE.
Class and Order.
SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA FRUSTRANEA.

Generic Character.
Receptaculum setosum. Pappus simplex. Corollæ radii
infundibuliformes, longiores, irregulares.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
CENTAUREA montana calycibus serratis, foliis lanceolatis
decurrentibus caule simplicissimo. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 785.
CYANUS montanus latifolius S. Verbasculum cyanoides. Bauh. Pin.
273.
CYANUS major. Lobel. icon. 548.
[Illustration: No 77]
It has been suggested by some of our readers, that too many common
plants, like the present, are figured in this work. We wish it to be
understood, that the professed design of the Botanical Magazine is to
exhibit representations of such. We are desirous of putting it in the
power of all who cultivate or amuse themselves with plants, to become
scientifically acquainted with them, as far as our labours extend; and
we deem it of more consequence, that they should be able to ascertain
such as are to be found in every garden, than such as they may never
have an opportunity of seeing. On viewing the representations of
objects of this sort, a desire of seeing the original is naturally excited,
and the pleasure is greatly enhanced by having it in our power to
possess it. But, while we are desirous of thus creating Botanists, we are
no less anxious to gratify the wishes of those already such; and we
believe, from a perusal of the Magazine, it will appear that one-third of
the plants figured, have some pretensions to novelty.
The Centaurea montana is a native of the German Alps, flowers during
the greatest part of the summer, is a hardy perennial, and will grow in
any soil or situation, some will think too readily.

[78]
NARCISSUS ODORUS. SWEET-SCENTED, OR GREAT JONQUIL.
Class and Order.
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Petala 6-æqualia. Nectario infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. Stamina intra
nectarium.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
NARCISSUS odorus spatha sub-biflora, nectario campanulato sexfido
lævi dimidio petalis breviore, foliis semicylindricis. _Lin. Syst.
Vegetab. p. 317._
NARCISSUS angustifolius, five juncifolius maximus amplo calice.
The Great Jonquilia with the large flower or cup. _Park Parad. p. 89. fig.
5._
[Illustration: No 78]
We shall be thought, perhaps, too partial to this tribe of plants, this
being the fifth species now figured; but it should be remembered, that
as the spring does not afford that variety of flowers which the summer
does, we are more limited in our choice; the flowers of this delightful
season have also greater claims to our notice, they present themselves
with double charms.
This species, which, as its name implies, possesses more fragrance than
many of the others, is a native of