The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 3 | Page 6

treating it, will be to place the roots in a pot of loam
and bog earth mixed, and plunge the pot into a north border, where it
must be sheltered in the winter, or taken up and kept in a common
hot-bed frame.

[90]
GORTERIA RIGENS. RIGID-LEAV'D GORTERIA.
Class and Order.
SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA FRUSTRANEA.
Generic Character.
Receptaculum nudum. Pappus lanatus. Corollæ radii ligulatæ. Calyx
imbricatus, squamis spinosis.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
GORTERIA rigens foliis lanceolatis pinnatifidis, caule depresso, scapis
unifloris. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. _Murr. 783. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 1284._
ARCTOTIS ramis decumbentibus, foliis lineari-lanceolatis rigidis,
subtus argenteis. Mill. Dict. et Icon. t. 49.
ARCTOTHECA foliis rigidis leniter dissectis. Vaill. act. 1728. n. 9.
[Illustration: No 90]
The GORTERIA, of which there are several species, and most of them,
like the present, natives of the Cape, has been named in honour of
DAVID DE GORTER, author of the Flora Zutphanica and Ingrica; the

trivial name of rigens is given to this species from the rigidity of its
leaves, a term which it is sometimes apt to exchange for the more
common botanic name of ringens; an instance of such mistake occurs
in the 6th edition of MILLER's Gard. Dict.
The greenhouse, to which it properly belongs, can scarcely boast a
more shewy plant; its blossoms, when expanded by the heat of the sun,
and it is only when the sun shines on them that they are fully expanded,
exhibit an unrivalled brilliancy of appearance.
It flowers in June, but rarely brings its seeds to perfection in this
country, which is of the less consequence, as the plant is readily enough
increased by cuttings.
It requires the common treatment of a greenhouse plant.

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IRIS SURFING. CHALCEDONIAN IRIS.
Class and Order.
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Cor. 6-petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus.
Stigmata petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
IRIS Surfing barbata foliis ensiformibus glabris, scapo unifloro, petalis
rotundatis. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. p. 88.
IRIS Surfing flore maximo et albo nigricante. Bauh. Pin. 31.
The great Turkey Flower-de-luce. Park. Parad. 179.

[Illustration: No 91]
This species, by far the most magnificent of the Iris tribe, is a native of
Persia, from a chief city of which it takes the name of Surfing;
LINNÆUS informs us, that it was imported into Holland from
Constantinople in 1573.
Though an inhabitant of a much warmer climate than our own, it
thrives readily in the open borders of our gardens; and, in certain
favourable situations, flowers freely about the latter end of May or
beginning of June. It succeeds best in a loamy soil and sunny exposure,
with a pure air moisture, which favours the growth of most of the genus,
is injurious and sometimes even fatal to this species.
As it rarely ripens its seeds with us, it is generally propagated by
parting its roots in autumn. These are also usually imported from
Holland, and may be had of the importers of bulbs at a reasonable rate.
Being liable to be destroyed by seasons unusually severe, it will be
prudent to place a few roots of it in pots, either in the greenhouse or in
a hot-bed frame during the winter.
It bears forcing well.

[92]
SAXIFRAGA SARMENTOSA. STRAWBERRY SAXIFRAGE.
Class and Order.
DECANDRIA DIGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Calyx 5-partitus. Cor. 5-petala. Caps. 2-rostris, 1-locularis, polysperma.
Specific Character and Synonyms.

SAXIFRAGA sarmentosa foliis radicalibus subrotundis cordatis
crenatis, sarmentis axillaribus radicantibus, corolla irregulari, racemo
composito. Lin. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. p. 412. Suppl. p. 240.
[Illustration: No 92]
This species of Saxifrage differing so widely from the others, both in
its habit and fructification, as to create a doubt in the minds of some,
whether it ought not to be considered as a distinct genus, is a native of
China, and one of the many plants which have been introduced into our
gardens since the time of MILLER.
Its round variegated leaves, and strawberry-like runners, the uncommon
magnitude of the two lowermost pendant petals, joined to the very
conspicuous glandular nectary in the centre of the flower, half
surrounding the germen, render this species strikingly distinct.
It is properly a greenhouse plant; in mild winters indeed it will bear the
open air, especially if placed at the foot of a wall, or among rock-work;
but, in such situations, it is frequently killed in severe seasons.
It flowers in May and June, but does not produce its blossoms so freely
as some others.
No difficulty attends the propagation of it, for it increases so fast by its
runners, as to be even troublesome.

[93]
SEMPERVIVUM MONANTHES. DWARF HOUSELEEK.
Class and Order.
DODECANDRIA DODECAGYNIA.
Generic Character.

Calyx 12-partitus. Petala 12. Capsulæ 12. polyspermæ.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
SEMPERVIVUM monanthes foliis teretibus clavatis confertis,
pedunculis nudis subunifloris, nectariis obcordatis. Aiton. Hort. Kew.
[Illustration: No 93]