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Narcissus medio purpureus praec.o.x, } Narcissus medio purpureus serotinus,} Park Parad.
Narcissus medio luteus vulgaris, }
The first of these, the one here figured is evidently the _poeticus_ of _Linnaeus_, judging by the authors to whom he refers in the third edition of his _Spec. Pl._ which are indeed few in number, and confined chiefly to _Bauh. Pin._ _Dodonaeus_; of the second, and third, he takes no notice.
The two former ones of these have the greatest affinity, inasmuch as they both produce for the most part only one flower, of a white colour, having a very short nectary, edged with orange; to both of these LINNaeUS'S specific description is equally applicable, as well as the trivial name of _poeticus_, given them indiscriminately by several of the old Botanists, some regarding the first, some the second as the plant mentioned by THEOCRITUS[2], VIRGIL[3], and OVID[4]; unfortunately both of them are found to grow in the same meadows, and have the same obvious appearances, it is therefore utterly impossible to say which of the two was the Narcissus of the poets; if we have the greatest difficulty in ascertaining what the plants were of the _Botanists_ of those times, how are we to discover what the _Poets_ meant, who with very few exceptions have been unpardonably inattentive to the appearances of nature. Since then the term _poeticus_ is equally suitable to both, and as there cannot be two with the same name, we have thought it best to get rid of it altogether, and subst.i.tute others which tend in a certain degree to discriminate the several species, denominating the
1st. _angustifolius._ 2d. _majalis._ 3d. _biflorus._
The _angustifolius_ here figured is a native of the South of Europe, and said by MAGNOL and CLUSIUS to grow spontaneously in the meadows about Narbonne and Montpelier.
It flowers in our gardens early in April, about a month before the _biflorus_, and full six weeks sooner than the _majalis_, increases readily by offsets, and succeeds best in a soil that is moderately moist. In what respects it differs from the two others, will be mentioned when they come to be figured.
[Footnote 2:
Florida sed postquam venere in prata puellae, His illa, haec aliis se floribus oblectabant; Narcisso illa quidem bene olente, atq; illa Hyacintho.]
[Footnote 3:
Pro molli Viola, pro purpureo Narcisso, Carduus et spinis surgit Paliurus acutis.]
[Footnote 4:
Nusquam corpus erat, croceum pro corpore florem Inveniunt, foliis medium cingentibus albis.]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[194]
FRITILLARIA IMPERIALIS. CROWN IMPERIAL.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ 6-petala, campanulata, supra ungues cavitate nectarifera.
_Stam._ longitudine corollae.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
FRITILLARIA _imperialis_ racemo comoso inferne nudo, foliis integerrimis. _Linn, Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 324._ _Ait.
Kew. v. 1. p. 432._
LILIUM sive Corona Imperialis. _Bauh. Pin. p. 79._
TUSAI sive Lilium Persic.u.m. _Cl.u.s.t. Hist. 1. p. 127._
CORONA IMPERIALIS. The Crowne Imperiall. _Park. Par. p. 27. tab.
29. f. 1._
The Crown Imperial, a native of the East, most probably of Persia, was introduced according to DODONaeUS, into the gardens of the emperor and some of the n.o.bility at Vienna in 1576; it appears to have been cultivated here as early as 1596: both GERARD and PARKINSON describe it minutely, the latter on account of its "stately beautifulness, gives it the first place in his garden of delight."
It flowers usually in the beginning of April; the whole plant sends forth a strong unpleasant smell, compared by most writers to that of a fox, perceptible when you approach it; to this effluvia PARKINSON endeavours to reconcile us by saying that it is not unwholesome; it is so disagreeable however, that few choose to have many of these plants, or those in the most frequented parts of their gardens, yet it ought not to be proscribed, for independent of its beauty, there is much in it to admire, and especially its singular Nectaria, which in the form of a white glandular excavation decorate the base of each petal; in these usually stands a drop of clear nectareous juice; the peduncle or flower-stalk which bends downwards when the plant is in flower, becomes upright as the seed ripens.
Of this plant, as of all others which have long been objects of culture, there are many varieties; those most generally cultivated in our gardens are the common orange-flowered single and double, yellow single and double, gold-striped leaved, and silver-striped leaved; the Dutch in their catalogues enumerate thirteen varieties.
Luxuriant plants will sometimes produce a second and even a third whorl or crown of flowers, and the flat-stalked ones which are monsters, have been known to produce seventy-two blossoms, but none of these are found to be constant.
The Crown Imperial, though a native of a much warmer climate than ours, is a hardy bulb, and not very nice in regard to soil, succeeds best in such as is stiffish, enriched with manure, and placed in a sheltered situation.
Is propagated by offsets, which are produced in tolerable abundance.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[195]
CHEIRANTHUS MUTABILIS. CHANGEABLE WALL-FLOWER.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA.
_Generic Character._
_Germen_ utrinque denticulo glandulato. _Cal._ clausus foliolis duobus basi gibbis. _Sem._ plana.
_Specific Character._
CHEIRANTHUS _mutabilis_ foliis lanceolatis ac.u.minatis argute serratis, caule frutescente, siliquis pedunculatis. _Ait. Hort.
Kew. v. 2. p. 395._
The present species of _Cheiranthus_, unknown both to MILLER and LINNaeUS, was first described in the _Hortus Kewensis_ of Mr. AITON, who informs us that it was introduced to the Royal Garden in 1777, and found wild in the Island of Madeira by Mr. Ma.s.sON.
Its chief merit as an ornamental plant consists in its early flowering; its blossoms which are shewy contribute to enliven the green-house in March and April; on their first expanding, they are white, in some plants (for they are subject to great variation) inclined to yellow, in a few days they become purple; to this change of colour observable also in the _Cheiranthus maritimus_ already figured, it owes its name of _mutabilis_.
In sheltered gardens at the foot of a wall, we have known this species survive a mild winter; it seems indeed to be almost as hardy as the common stock; it is most commonly however kept in the green-house.
The usual way of propagating this species, which is of ready and quick growth, is by cuttings, which should be put into the ground as soon as the plant has done flowering; these if properly treated will become handsome plants to place in the green-house at the approach of Winter, and to decorate it the ensuing Spring; in like manner may the green-house be annually recruited with many similar plants to great advantage.
