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The _Hyacinthus racemosus_ and _botryoides_ are both cultivated in gardens, but the former here figured is by far the most common; _racemosus_ and _botryoides_, though different words, are expressive of the same meaning, the former being derived from the Latin term _racemus_, the latter from the Greek one [Greek: votrus], both of which signify a bunch of grapes, the form of which the inflorescence of these plants somewhat resembles, and hence they have both been called Grape Hyacinths, but as confusion thereby arises, we have thought it better to call this species the Starch Hyacinth, the smell of the flower in the general opinion resembling that substance, and leave the name of Grape Hyacinth for the _botryoides_.
The _Hyacinthus racemosus_ grows wild in the corn fields of Germany, in which it increases so fast by offsets from the root as to prove a very troublesome weed, and on this account it must be cautiously introduced into gardens.
It flowers in April and May.
We have found the Nurserymen very apt to mistake it for the _botryoides_, a figure of which it is our intention to give in some future number.
[123]
ANEMONE HORTENSIS. STAR ANEMONE, or BROAD-LEAV'D GARDEN ANEMONE.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
Cal. 0. Petala 5-9. Semina plura.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ANEMONE _hortensis_ foliis digitalis, feminibus lanatis. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. ed Murr. p. 510._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. vol. 2. p. 256._
ANEMONE Geranii rotundo folio, purpurascens. _Bauh. Pin. 173._
ANEMONE prima. _Dodon. Pempt. 434._
ANEMONE latifolia purpurea stellata sive papaveracea. The purple Star-Anemone or Windflower. _Park. Parad. p. 204._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 123]
We are more and more convinced, that in our eagerness, for novelties, we daily lose plants by far more ornamental than the new ones we introduce; the present, a most charming spring plant, with which the Gardens abounded in the time of PARKINSON, is now a great rarity; its blossoms, which are uncommonly brilliant, come forth in April, and, like those of many other plants, appear to advantage only when the sun s.h.i.+nes.
It may be propagated either by seeds, or by parting its roots in Autumn, in the former way we may obtain many beautiful varieties.
It prefers a light loamy soil and moderately exposed situation.
Roots of a variety of this plant with scarlet double flowers are imported from Holland, under the name, of _Anemonoides_, and sold at a high price.
[124]
IBERIS GIBRALTARICA. GIBRALTAR CANDY-TUFT.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
TETRADYNAMIA SILICULOSA.
_Generic Character._
_Corolla_ irregularis: Petalis 2 exterioribus majoribus. _Silicula_ polysperma, emarginata.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
IBERIS _Gibraltarica_ frutescens foliis apice dentatis. _Linn. Syst.
Veg. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 589._
THLASPIDIUM Hispanic.u.m, ampliore flore folio cra.s.so dentato. _Dill.
Elth. 382. t. 287. f. 37._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 124]
The flowers of this plant, a native of Gibraltar, bear some resemblance to those of the Common Candy-Tuft, but when they blow in perfection, they are usually twice as large; hence they are highly ornamental in the green-house, which early in the Spring, the time of their coming forth, stands in need of some such shewy flowers.
This plant is easily raised from cuttings, and easily preserved; it may be kept through the Winter in a common hot-bed frame, and in mild Winters will stand abroad, especially if sheltered amongst rock-work; its greatest enemy is moisture in the Winter season, this often proves fatal to it, as indeed a long continued damp atmosphere does to many others; the Nurserymen about London complain of losing more plants the last mild Winter, from this cause, than they generally do from severe frosts. In a little green-house which I had in my late garden, Lambeth-Marsh, most of the plants became absolutely mouldy; in such seasons then, though in point of cold the plants may not require it, we must dissipate the superfluous moisture by a gentle heat.
[125]
ALSTROEMERIA LIGTU. STRIPED-FLOWER'D ALSTROEMERIA.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Corolla_ 6-petala, sub-bil.a.b.i.ata: petalis 2 inferioribus basi tubulosis. _Stamina_ declinata.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ALSTROEMERIA _Ligtu_ caule erecto, foliis spathulato-oblongis, pedunculis umbellae involucro longioribus, corolla bil.a.b.i.ata.
_Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14._ _Murr. Suppl. p. 207._ _Amoen.
Acad. V. 6. p. 247._
HEMEROCALLIS floribus purpurascentibus striatis. _Few. Peruv. 2. p. 710.
t. 4._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 125]
