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[Ill.u.s.tration: No 113]
"Is an annual plant which grows naturally in Asia and America, but has been long cultivated for ornament in the English gardens, and is generally known by the t.i.tle of Convolvulus major. Of this there are three or four lasting varieties; the most common hath a purple flower, but there is one with a white, another with a red, and one with a whitish-blue flower, which hath white seeds. All these varieties I have cultivated many years, without observing them to change. If the seeds of these sorts are sown in the spring, upon a warm border where the plants are designed to remain, they will require no other culture but to keep them clear from weeds, and place some tall stakes down by them, for their stalks to twine about, otherwise they will spread on the ground and make a bad appearance. These plants, if they are properly supported, will rise ten or twelve feet high in warm Summers: they flower in June, July, and August, and will continue till the frost kills them. Their seeds ripen in Autumn." _Miller's Gard. Dict. ed. 4to. 1771._
[114]
SILENE PENDULA. PENDULOUS CATCHFLY.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DECANDRIA TRIGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
Calyx ventricosus. Petala 5, unguiculata coronata ad faucem, Capsula 3-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
SILENE _pendula_ calycibus fructiferis pendulis inflatis: angulis decem scabris. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 421._
VISCAGO hirsuta sicula, lychnidis aquaticae facie, supina. _Dill. Hort.
Elth. 421. t. 312. f. 404._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 114]
Grows spontaneously in Sicily and Crete; is an annual of humble growth, and hence a suitable plant for the borders of the flower garden, or the decoration of Rock-work, as its blossoms are shewy, and not of very short duration.
It flowers in June and July, and if once permitted to scatter its seeds, will come up yearly without any trouble.
[115]
LATHYRUS SATIVUS. BLUE-FLOWER'D LATHYRUS, or CHICHLING-VETCH.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
_Stylus_ pla.n.u.s, supra villosus, superne latior. _Calycis_ laciniae superiores 2 breviores.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
LATHYRUS _sativus_ pedunculis unifloris, cirrhis diphyllis tetraphyllisque, leguminibus ovatis compressis dorso bimarginatis.
_Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 662._
LATHYRUS sativus, flore fructusque albo. _Bauh. Pin. 343._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 115]
A native of France, Spain, and Italy, and distinguishable when in flower by the blue colour of its blossoms, which are sometimes, however, milk-white; but its seed-pods afford a more certain mark of distinction, being unusually short, broad, and winged on the back.
This species grows to the height of about two feet, and is usually sown in the spring with other annuals; though not so beautiful, it forms a contrast to the sweet and Tangier Pea, and may be introduced where there is plenty of room, or a desire of possessing and knowing most of the plants of a genus.
It flowers in June and July.
Cultivated 1739, by Mr. PHILIP MILLER. _Ait. Hort. Kew._
[116]
LIMODORUM TUBEROSUM. TUBEROUS-ROOTED LIMODORUM.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
Nectarium monophyllum, concavum, pedicellatum, intra petalum infimum.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
LIMODORUM _tuberosum_ floribus subspicatis barbatis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. p.
301._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 116]
For this rare plant I am indebted to the very laudable exertions of a late Gardener of mine, JAMES SMITH, who, in the spring of the year 1788, examining attentively the bog earth which had been brought over with some plants of the _Dionaea Muscipula_, found several small tooth-like k.n.o.bby roots, which being placed in pots of the same earth, and plunged into a tan-pit having a gentle heat, produced plants the ensuing summer, two of which flowered, and from the strongest of those our figure was taken.
From this circ.u.mstance we learn, that this species is a native of South Carolina, and properly a bog plant, growing spontaneously with the _Dionaea Muscipula_.
Both Mr. DRYANDER and Dr. J. E. SMITH a.s.sure me, that it is the true _Limodorum tuberosum_ of LINNaeUS; the one usually called by that name is a native of the West-Indies, and treated as a stove plant.
From the little experience we have had of the management of this species, it appears to us to be scarcely hardy enough for the open border, yet not tender enough to require a stove. We have succeeded best by treating it in the manner above mentioned; we may observe, that the tan-pit spoken of was built in the open garden, not in a stove, and was for the purpose of raising plants or seeds by a gentle heat, as well as for striking cuttings and securing plants from cold in the winter.
Our figure will make a description of the plant unnecessary, its flowering stem with us has arisen to the height of a foot and a half, the number of flowers has not exceeded five. In its most luxuriant state it will probably be found much larger, and to produce more flowers.
