white wild broad-leafed Wind-Flower. Park. Par. 202.
[Illustration: 54]
PARKINSON very accurately notices the striking characters of this species of Anemone, which are its creeping roots, its large white flowers standing on the tops of the flower-stalks, which sometimes grow two together, but most commonly singly; the leaves on the stalk, he observes, are more finely divided than those of the root, and its seeds are woolly.
MILLER describes it as having little beauty, and therefore but seldom planted in gardens; it is true, it does not recommend itself by the gaudiness of its colours, but there is in the flowers, especially before they expand, a simple elegance, somewhat like that of the Snowdrop, and which affords a pleasing contrast to the more shewy flowers of the garden.
It flowers in May, and ripens its seeds in June.
It will grow in almost any soil or situation, is propagated by offsets from the root, which it puts out most plentifully, so as indeed sometimes to be troublesome. Is a native of Germany.
[55]
Geranium striatum. Striped Geranium.
Class and Order.
Monadelphia Decandria.
Generic Character.
Monogynia. Stigmata 5. Fructus rostratus 5-coccus.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
GERANIUM striatum pedunculis bifloris, foliis quinquelobis: lobis medio dilatatis, petalis bilobis venosoreticulatus. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 616._
GERANIUM striatum pedunculis bifloris, foliis caulinis trilobis, obtuse crenatis. Miller's Dict.
GERANIUM Romanum versicolor sive striatum.
The variable striped Cranesbill. Park. Parad. p. 229.
[Illustration: 55]
This species is distinguished by having white petals, finely reticulated with red veins, and the corners of the divisions of the leaves marked with a spot of a purplish brown colour, which PARKINSON has long since noticed.
Is said by LINN?US to be a native of Italy, is a very hardy plant, flowers in May and June, and may be propagated by parting its roots in Autumn, or by seed; prefers a loamy soil and shady situation.
[56]
Geranium lanceolatum. Spear-Leaved Geranium.
Class and Order.
Monadelphia Decandria.
Generic Character.
Monogyna. Stigmata 5. Fructus rostratus 5-coccus.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
GERANIUM glaucum calycibus monophyllis, foliis lanceolatis integerrimis glaucis, caule erecto suffruticoso. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 614. Supp. Pl. p. 306._
[Illustration: 56]
This elegant and very singular species of Geranium appears to have been first cultivated in this country; its introduction was attended with circumstances rather unusual. Mr. LEE, Nurseryman of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, in looking over some dried specimens in the Possession of Sir JOSEPH BANKS, which he had recently received from the Cape of Good Hope, was struck with the singular appearance of this Geranium, no species having before been seen in this country with spear-shaped leaves; on examining the specimens attentively, he perceived a few ripe seeds in one of them, those he solicited, and obtained; and to his success in making them vegetate, we are indebted for the present species.
The shape of the leaf readily suggested the name of lanceolatum, an epithet by which it has been generally distinguished in this country, and which, from its extreme fitness, we have continued, notwithstanding young Professor LINN?US has given it that of glaucum, though, at the same time, his illustrious father had distinguished another species by the synonymous term of glaucophyllum.
This species rarely ripens its seeds with us, and is therefore to be raised from cuttings, which however are not very free to strike.
It has been usual to keep it in the stove, but we have found by experience, that it succeeds much better in a common green-house, in which it will flower during the whole of the summer. Small young plants of this, as well as most other Geraniums, make the best appearance, and are therefore to be frequently obtained by cuttings.
[57]
Papaver orientale. Eastern Poppy.
Class and Order.
Polyandria Monogynia.
Generic Character.
Cor. 4-petala. Cal. 2-phyllus. Capsula, 1-locularis sub stigmate persistente poris dehiscens.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
PAPAVER orientale capsulis glabris, caulibus unifloris scabris foliosis pinnatis serratis. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 490.
Papaver orientale hirsutissimum, magno flore. _Tournes. cor. 17. itin. 3. p. 127. t. 127._
[Illustration: 57]
Most of the plants of this tribe are distinguished by the splendour of their colours, most of them also are annuals, in gaiety of colour none exceed the present species; but it differs in the latter character, in having not only a perennial root, but one of the creeping kind, whereby it increases very much, and by which it is most readily propagated.
Though a native of the East, as its name imports, it bears the severity of our climate without injury, flowers in May, and as its blossoms are extremely shewy, it gives great brilliancy to the flower-garden or plantation; prefers a dry soil.
[58]
Iris spuria. Spurious Iris.
Class and Order.
Triandria Monogynia.
Generic Character.
Corolla 6-petala, in?qualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. Stigmata petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. Conf. Thunb. _Diss. de Iride._
Specific Character and Synonyms.
IRIS spuria imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti, germinibus hexagonis. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 91. _Jacq. Fl. austr. tab. 4._
IRIS pratensis angustifolia, folio foetido. Bauh. Pin. 32.
The greater blue Flower-de-luce with narrow leaves. _Park. Parad. p. 184._
[Illustration: 58]
Some plants afford so little diversity of character,
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