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Like most alpine plants, it requires a pure air, and succeeds best in a situation moderately moist and shady; is a hardy perennial, and may be increased by parting its roots in autumn.
In all seasons, with us, its foliage, as well as that of most other Crowfoots, is liable to be disfigured, and sometimes nearly destroyed, by a very small maggot which feeds betwixt, the coats of the leaf, and which ultimately produces a small fly, called by us _Musca Ranunculi_.
[205]
ANTIRRHINUM ALPINUM. ALPINE TOAD-FLAX.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Cor._ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera.
_Caps._ 2-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ANTIRRHINUM _alpinum_ foliis quaternis lineari-lanceolatis glaucis, caule diffuso, floribus racemosis, calcari recto. _Linn. Syst.
Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 556._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. v. 2. p 335._ _Jacq. Fl. Austr. v. 1. t. 58._
ANTIRRHINUM caule proc.u.mbente breviter spicato, foliis verticillatis. _Hall. Hist. p. 338._
LINARIA quadrifolia supina. _Bauh. Pin. p. 213._
LINARIA tertia styriaca. _Clus. Hist. 1. p. 322._
Professor JACQUIN, in describing the flowers of this plant, calls them _elegantissimi_; and to one of its varieties HALLER applies the epithet _pulcherrima_: such testimonies in its favour will, we presume, be sufficient to recommend it to our readers.
It is a native of various mountainous parts of Europe, affecting moist, stony situations,[5] and flowers during most of the summer: is a hardy perennial[6], according to the celebrated author of the _Fl. Austriaca_; Mr. AITON, in his _Hort. Kew._ marks it as a biennial. It is nevertheless apt to be lost, like other small alpine plants, for want of proper treatment and care.
Mr. AITON informs us on the authority of LOBEL, that it was cultivated here by Mr. HUGH MORGAN, in 1570.
May be propagated by cuttings, as well as by seeds, which however are not very plentifully produced with us.
Succeeds best when kept in a pot, or on rock-work, which it is well suited to decorate.
[Footnote 5: In saxosis udis alpium. _Jacq._]
[Footnote 6: Radix perennis. _Jacq._]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[206]
GERANIUM ANEMONEFOLIUM. ANEMONE-LEAV'D GERANIUM.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Cor._ 5-petala, regularis. _Nect._ glandulae 5 melliferae basi longiorum filamentorum adnatae. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus; _rostra_ simplicia nec spiralia nec barbata. _L. Herit.
Geran._
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
GERANIUM _anemonefolium_ foliis palmatis; foliolis pinnatifidis, caule fruticoso. _L. Herit. n. 6. t. 36._
GERANIUM palmatum. _Cavan. Diss. 4. p. 216. t. 84. f. 2._
Before the appearance of the _Hortus Kewensis_, _laevigatum_ was the term usually applied to this species of Geranium, by Botanists here, and that on account of the smooth and glossy appearance of its leaves; in that work Mr. AITON adopts the word _anemonefolium_, by which Mons. L.
HERITIER had distinguished this species, from an idea that their shape afforded a more expressive character than their smoothness. We regret that the small size of our plate will not admit of our giving representation of those leaves, and of their mode of growth, which so strikingly characterizes the plant and adds so considerably to its beauty.
Mr. AITON informs us that this species is a native of Madeira, from whence it was introduced here by Mr. FRANCIS Ma.s.sON in 1778.
It flowers from May to September, is usually and readily raised from seeds, nor is it so tender as many other green-house plants.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[207]
DIANTHUS BARBATUS. BEARDED PINK OR SWEET WILLIAM.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DECANDRIA DIGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ cylindricus 1-phyllus: basi squamis 4. _Petala_ 5 unguiculata. _Capsula_ cylindrica, 1-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
DIANTHUS _barbatus_ floribus aggregatis fasciculatis: squamis calycinis ovato-subulatis tub.u.m aequantibus, foliis lanceolatis.
