The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 3 | Page 6

greenhouse plant.

[91]
IRIS SURFING. CHALCEDONIAN IRIS.
Class and Order.
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Cor. 6-petala, in?qualis, 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; LINN?US 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. Capsul? 12. polysperm?.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
SEMPERVIVUM monanthes foliis teretibus clavatis confertis, pedunculis nudis subunifloris, nectariis obcordatis. Aiton. Hort. Kew.
[Illustration: No 93]
It appears from the Hortus Kewensis, the publication of which is daily expected, that the plant here figured was first brought to this country from the Canary Islands, by Mr. FRANCIS MASSON, in the year 1777.
It is highly deserving the notice of the Botanist, not only as being by far the least species of the genus, but on account of its Nectaria; these, though not mentioned by LINN?US in his character of the genus, have been described by other authors, particularly JACQUIN and HALLER; and though not present in most, and but faintly visible in a few species of Sempervivum, in this plant form a principal part of the fructification; they are usually seven in number, but vary from six to eight.
In the specimens we have examined, and which perhaps have been rendered luxuriant by culture, the number of stamina has been from twelve to sixteen; of styles, from six to eight; of flowers on the same stalk, from one to eight.
It flowers during most of the summer months, succeeds very well with the common treatment of a greenhouse plant in the summer, but does best in a dry stove in the winter.
Is readily increased by parting its roots.

[94]
SISYRINCHIUM IRIOIDES. IRIS-LEAV'D SISYRINCHIUM.
Class and Order.
GYNANDRIA TRIANDRIA.
Generic Character.
Monogyna. Spatha diphylla. Petala 6 plana. Capsula tri-locularis, infera.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
SISYRINCHIUM iridioides foliis ensiformibus; petalis oblongo-obcordatis, venosis; germinibus pyriformibus, subhirsutis.
SISYRINCHIUM Bermudiana. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 820. var. 2. Spec. Pl. p. 1353._
BERMUDIANA iridis folio, radice fibrosa. Dill. Elth. 48. t. 41. f. 48.
SISYRINCHIUM Bermudiana foliis gladiolatis amplexicaulibus, pedunculis brevioribus. Miller's Dict. ed. 6. 4to.
[Illustration: No 94]
On comparing the present plant with the _Bermudiana graminea flore minore coeruleo_ of DILLENIUS, both of which I have growing, and now in pots before me, the difference appears so striking, that I am induced with him and MILLER to consider them as distinct species; especially as, on a close examination, there appear characters sufficient to justify me in the opinion, which