The Botanical Magazine Volume Iii Part 7

No difficulty attends the propagation of it, for it increases so fast by its runners, as to be even troublesome.

[93]

SEMPERVIVUM MONANTHES. DWARF HOUSELEEK.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

DODECANDRIA DODECAGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 12-part.i.tus. _Petala_ 12. _Capsulae_ 12. polyspermae.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SEMPERVIVUM _monanthes_ foliis teretibus clavatis confertis, pedunculis nudis subunifloris, nectariis obcordatis. _Aiton. Hort. Kew._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 93]

It appears from the _Hortus Kewensis_, the publication of which is daily expected, that the plant here figured was first brought to this country from the Canary Islands, by Mr. FRANCIS Ma.s.sON, in the year 1777.

It is highly deserving the notice of the Botanist, not only as being by far the least species of the genus, but on account of its Nectaria; these, though not mentioned by LINNaeUS in his character of the genus, have been described by other authors, particularly JACQUIN and HALLER; and though not present in most, and but faintly visible in a few species of _Sempervivum_, in this plant form a princ.i.p.al part of the fructification; they are usually seven in number, but vary from six to eight.

In the specimens we have examined, and which perhaps have been rendered luxuriant by culture, the number of stamina has been from twelve to sixteen; of styles, from six to eight; of flowers on the same stalk, from one to eight.

It flowers during most of the summer months, succeeds very well with the common treatment of a greenhouse plant in the summer, but does best in a dry stove in the winter.

Is readily increased by parting its roots.

[94]

SISYRINCHIUM IRIOIDES. IRIS-LEAV'D SISYRINCHIUM.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

GYNANDRIA TRIANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

Monogyna. _Spatha_ diphylla. _Petala_ 6 plana. _Capsula_ tri-locularis, infera.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SISYRINCHIUM _iridioides_ foliis ensiformibus; petalis oblongo-obcordatis, venosis; germinibus pyriformibus, subhirsutis.

SISYRINCHIUM _Bermudiana._ _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 820. var. 2.

Spec. Pl. p. 1353._

BERMUDIANA iridis folio, radice fibrosa. _Dill. Elth. 48. t. 41. f. 48._

SISYRINCHIUM _Bermudiana_ foliis gladiolatis amplexicaulibus, pedunculis brevioribus. _Miller's Dict. ed. 6. 4to._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 94]

On comparing the present plant with the _Bermudiana graminea flore minore coeruleo_ of DILLENIUS, both of which I have growing, and now in pots before me, the difference appears so striking, that I am induced with him and MILLER to consider them as distinct species; especially as, on a close examination, there appear characters sufficient to justify me in the opinion, which characters are not altered by culture.

It is a native of the Bermudian Islands, and flowers in the open border from May to the end of July; it is not uncommon to keep it in the greenhouse, for which, from its size &c. it is very well adapted; but it is not necessary to treat it tenderly, as it will bear a greater degree of cold than many plants usually considered as hardy.

It may be propagated most readily by seeds, or by parting its roots in the autumn; should be planted on a border with an eastern aspect; soil the same as for bulbs.

[95]

GERANIUM RADULA. RASP-LEAV'D GERANIUM.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

Monogyna. _Stigmata_ 5. _Fructus_ rostratus, 5-coccus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GERANIUM _revolutum_ pedunculis subbifloris, foliis multifidis linearibus scabris ad oras revolutis, caule arboreo. _Jacq. ic.

133. collect. 1. p. 84._

GERANIUM _Radula._ _Cavanill. Diss. 4. p. 262. t. 101. f. 1._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 95]

This is one of the numerous tribe of _Geraniums_ introduced from the Cape since the time of MILLER: it takes the name of _Radula_, which is the Latin term for a rasp or file, from the rough rasp-like surface of the leaves.

There are two varieties of it, a _major_ and a _minor_, which keep pretty constantly to their characters; and as this species is readily raised from seeds, it affords also many seminal varieties.

As a Botanist, desirous of seeing plants distinct in their characters, we could almost wish it were impossible to raise these _foreign Geraniums_ from seeds; for, without pretending to any extraordinary discernment, we may venture to prophecy, that in a few years, from the multiplication of seminal varieties, springing from seeds casually, or perhaps purposely impregnated with the pollen of different sorts, such a crop will be produced as will baffle all our attempts to reduce to species, or even regular varieties.