The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 3 | Page 8

greatly in the colour of their blossoms, and the
prickliness of their stalks; the prickles are seldom found on the young
shoots.
This plant will bear to be placed abroad in the warmest summer months,
the rest of the year it requires artificial heat. It is usually placed in the
dry stove, to which, as it is seldom without flowers, it imparts great
brilliancy.

[97]
FUCHSIA COCCINEA. SCARLET FUCHSIA.
Class and Order.
OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Calyx 1-phyllus, coloratus, corollifer, maximus. Petala 4, parva, Bacca
infera, 4-locularis, polysperma.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
FUCHSIA coccinea foliis oppositis ovatis denticulatis; petalis obovatis,
obtusis. Hort. Kew.
THILCO Feuillée it. 3. p. 64. t. 47.
[Illustration: No 97]
The present plant is a native of Chili, and was introduced to the royal
gardens at Kew, in the year 1788, by Capt. FIRTH; it takes the name of
Fuchsia from Fuchs a German Botanist of great celebrity, author of the
Historia Stirpium in folio, published in 1542, containing five hundred

and sixteen figures in wood; and which, though mere outlines, express
the objects they are intended to represent, infinitely better than many
laboured engravings of more modern times.
Every person who can boast a hot-house will be anxious to possess the
Fuchsia, as it is not only a plant of peculiar beauty, but produces its
rich pendant blossoms through most of the summer; the petals in the
centre of the flower are particularly deserving of notice; they somewhat
resemble a small roll of the richest purple-coloured ribband.
Though this plant will not succeed well in the winter, nor be easily
propagated unless in a stove, it will flower very well during the
summer months, in a good greenhouse or hot-bed frame, and though at
present from its novelty it bears a high price, yet as it is readily
propagated, both by layers, cuttings, and seeds, it will soon be within
the purchase of every lover of plants.
Mr. LEE, of Hammersmith, we understand first had this plant for sale.

[98]
TROPÆOLUM MINUS. SMALL TROPÆOLUM, OR
INDIAN-CRESS.
Class and Order.
OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Cal. 1-phyllus, calcaratus. Petala 5, inæqualia. Bacca tres, siccæ.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
TROPÆOLUM minus foliis peltatis repandis, petalis
acuminato-setaceis. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 357.

Indian-Cresses, or yellow Larke's-heeles. Park. Parad. p. 280.
[Illustration: No 98]
This species of Tropæolum (which like the majus already figured in
this work, is a native of Peru) has long been an inhabitant of our
gardens; it was the only species we had in the time of PARKINSON,
by whom it is figured and described; it appears indeed to have been a
great favourite with that intelligent author, for he says this plant "is of
so great beauty and sweetnesse withall, that my garden of delight
cannot bee unfurnished of it, and again the whole flower hath a fine
small sent, very pleasing, which being placed in the middle of some
Carnations or Gilloflowers (for they are in flower at the same time)
make a delicate Tussimusie, as they call it, or Nosegay, both for sight
and sent."
As the Passiflora cærulea, from its superior beauty and hardiness, has
in a great degree supplanted the incarnata, so has the _Tropæolum
majus the minus_; we have been informed indeed that it was entirely
lost to our gardens till lately, when it was reintroduced by Dr. J. E.
SMITH, who by distributing it to his friends, and the Nurserymen near
London, has again rendered it tolerably plentiful.
Like the majus it is an annual, though by artificial heat it may be kept
in a pot through the winter, as usually is the variety of it with double
flowers; but as it will grow readily in the open air, in warm sheltered
situations, it should be raised on a hot-bed, like other tender annuals, if
we wish to have it flower early in the summer, continue long in
blossom, and produce perfect seeds.

[99]
ANTIRRHINUM PURPUREUM. PURPLE TOAD-FLAX.
Class and Order.
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.

Generic Character.
Calyx 5-phyllus. Corollæ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera.
Capsula 2-locularis.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
ANTIRRHINUM purpureum foliis quaternis linearibus, caule erecto
spicato. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 555.
LINARIA purpurea major odorata. Bauh. Pin. 213.
LINARIA altera purpurea. Dod. Pempt. 183.
[Illustration: No 99]
Though not so beautiful as many of the genus, this species is a common
inhabitant of the flower-garden, in which it continues to blossom,
during most of the summer.
It is a native of Italy, and delights in a dry soil and situation; it will
even flourish on walls, and hence will serve very well to decorate the
more elevated parts of rock-work.
When once introduced it comes up spontaneously from seeds.

[100]
LATHYRUS TINGITANUS. TANGIER PEA.
Class and Order.
DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
Generic Character.
Stylus planus, supra villosus, superne latior, Cal.