flowers

Flowers

A flower known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants.
61. Iris Ochroleuca
Of the several species of Iris cultivated in our gardens, this excels in point of height, we have taken our English name therefore from this character, and not from the term ochroleuca, which, if translated, would be too expressive of the colour of the blossoms of the Iris Pseudacorus, with which the ochroleuca has some affinity in point of size as well as colour.
Notwithstanding Mr. Millers description of his orientalis accords very badly with that of Linnaeuss ochroleuca, they have been generally considered in this country as one and the same plant, distinguished by the name of Pocockes Iris, Dr. Pococke being the person who, according to Miller, in his time first introduced it from Carniola (by inadvertence spelt Carolina, in the 6th 4to edition of the Dictionary). There are grounds, however, for suspecting some error in the habitat of this plant, for had it grown spontaneously in Carniola, it is not probable that Scopoli would have omitted it in his Flora Carniolica.
Leaving its place of growth to be more accurately ascertained hereafter, we shall observe, that it appears perfectly naturalized to this country, growing luxuriantly in a moist rich soil, and increasing, like most of the genus, very fast by its roots. It flowers later than most of the others.
62. Centaurea Glastifolia
Assumes the name of glastifolia from the similitude which the leaves bear to those of the Isatis tinctoria, or Woad, Glastum of the old Botanists.
In this plant we have an excellent example of the Folium decurrens and Calyx scariosus of Linnaeus, the leaves also exhibit a curious phenomenon, having veins prominent on both their sides, the scales of the calyx are moreover distinguished by a beautiful silvery appearance, which it is difficult to represent in colours.
It is a native of the East, as well as of Siberia, flowers with us in July, in the open border, and is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, which are of the creeping kind requires no particular treatment.
Miller, in the last 4to edition of his Dictionary, enumerates a Cent. glastifolia, but his description in detail, by no means accords with the plant.
63. Fragaria Monophylla
The first mention made of this Strawberry, we find in Duchesnes Histoire naturelle des Fraisiers, where we have its complete history, and from which we learn, that it was originally raised by him at Versailles, in the Year 1761, from seeds of the Wood Strawberry.
From France this plant has been conveyed to most parts of Europe, how it has happened we know not, but it is certainly very little known in this country in the 14th edit of the Syst. Veg. of Linnaeus, it appears as a species under the name of monophylla, originally imposed on it by Duchesne, Linnaeus, however, has his doubts as to its being a species distinct from the vesca, and, in our humble opinion, not without reason, for it can certainly be regarded as a very singular variety only, its origin indeed is a proof of this, in addition to which we may observe, that plants raised from the runners will sometimes, though very rarely indeed, have three leaves instead of one and it is observed by the very intelligent author of the Hist. nat. abovementioned, that seedling plants sometimes produced leaves with three divisions, like those of the Wood Strawberry. Besides the remarkable difference in the number of the leaves in this plant, the leaves themselves are observed to be much smaller in the winter season, and their ribs less branched, the runners also are slenderer and more productive, and the fruit in general more oblong or pyramidal. As an object of curiosity, this plant is deserving a place in every garden of any extent, nor is its singularity its only recommendation, its fruit being equal to that of the finest Wood Strawberry, with which it agrees in the time of its flowering, fruiting, and mode of treatment.
64. Hemerocallis Fulva
According to Linnaeus, this species is a native of China.
It has long been inured to our climate, and few plants thrive better in any soil or situation, but a moist soil suits it best, its leaves on their first emerging from the ground, and for a considerable time afterwards, are of the most delicate green imaginable, the appearance which the plant assumes at this period of its growth is, indeed, so pleasing, that it may be said to constitute one half of its beauty, its blossoms which appear in July and August, are twice the size of those of the flava, of a tawny orange colour, without gloss or smell, the Petals waved on the edge, the flowers are rarely or never succeeded by ripe Capsules as in the flava, which is a circumstance that has been noticed by Parkinson, when these several characters, in which the fulva differs so essentially from the flava, are attentively considered, we shall wonder that Linnaeus could entertain an idea of their being varieties of each other.
The Hemerocallis fulva, from its size, and from the great multiplication of its roots, is best adapted to large gardens and plantations.
May be propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.
65. Clematis Integrifolia
The Clematis integrifolia is not an uncommon plant in the nurseries about London, and is deserving a place in gardens, if not for the beauty of its flowers, at least for their singularity.
It is a native of Germany, flowers in July, and is one of those hardy perennials which suit most people, requiring little more than an introduction.
Is propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.
66. Passiflora Alata
This species of Passion flower is one of those which have been introduced into the English gardens since the time of Miller, if it does not equal the c339,rulea in elegance, it excels it in magnificence, in brilliancy of colour, and in fragrance, the blossoms being highly odoriferous as yet, it is by no means so general in this country, as its extraordinary beauty merits, we have seen it flower this year, both summer and autumn, in great perfection in the stove of our very worthy friend James Vere, Esq. Kensington Gore, at the Physic Garden, Chelsea, and at Mr. Malcoms, Kennington, at Chelsea, in particular, it afforded the richest assemblage of foliage and flowers we ever saw.
It appears to the greatest advantage, when trained up an upright pole, nearly to the height of the back of the stove, and then suffered to run along horizontally.
By some it has been considered as a variety only of the Passiflora quadrangularis, others, with whom we agree in opinion, have no doubt of its being a very distinct species, it differs from the quadrangularis, in having leaves more perfectly heart shaped, and less veiny, in having four glands on the foot stalks of the leaves, instead of six, and in not producing fruit with us, which the quadrangularis has been known frequently to do.
The Nursery men report, that this species was first raised in this country, by a gentleman in Hertfordshire, from West India seeds.
The usual mode of propogating it here, is by cuttings.
67. Mesembryanthemum Pinnatifidum
This species of Mesembryanthemum, so different in the shape of its foliage from all the others hitherto introduced into this country, is first described in the Supplementum Plantarum of the younger Linnaeus, from which we learn that it grew in the Upsal Garden, into which it was most probably introduced by professor Thunberg, as on his authority it is mentioned as a native of the Cape of Good Hope.
Mr. Zier, Apothecary, of Castle Street, was so obliging as to present me this summer with the seeds of this curious plant, I sowed them in a pot of earth, plunged in a tan pit, whose heat was nearly exhausted, they quickly vegetated, and though the summer was far advanced, they proceeded rapidly into flower, and bid fair to produce ripe seeds, as the Capsules have long since been formed.
The whole plant is sprinkled over with glittering particles like the ice plant, to which it bears some affinity in its duration, being an annual and requiring the same treatment.
The blossoms are small and yellow, and if the weather be fine, open about two or three oclock in the afternoon, the stalks are of a bright red colour, and the foliage yellowish green.
68. Sempervivum Arachnoideum
By the old Botanists, this plant was considered as a Sedum, and to this day it is generally known in the gardens by the name of the Cobweb Sedum, though its habit or general appearance, independent of its fructification, loudly proclaims it a Houseleek.
In this species the tops of the leaves are woolly, as they expand they carry this woolly substance with them, which being thus extended, assumes the appearance of a cobweb, whence the name of the plant.
Like most of the Houseleeks it is best kept in a pot, or it will grow well and appear to great advantage on a wall or piece of rock work, the more it is exposed to the sun, the more colour will enliven its stalks and foliage, and the more brilliant will be its flowers, the latter make their appearance in July.
It is propagated by offsets which it sends forth in abundance.
It is no uncommon practice to treat this beautiful species of Houseleek, as a native of a warm climate, under such an idea we have seen it nursed up in stoves, while the plant spontaneously braves the cold of the Switzerland Alps.
69. Rosa Muscosa
If there be any one genus of plants more universally admired than the others, it is that of the Rose—,where is the Poet that has not celebrated it? where the Painter that has not made it an object of his imitative art?
In the opinion of Miller, the Moss Rose, or Moss Province, as it is frequently called, is a perfectly distinct species, Linnaeus considers it as a variety only of the centifolia as it is found in our Nurseries in a double state only, and as we are ignorant of what country it is the produce, the decision of this matter must be left to future observation and inquiry.
Though it may not increase so fast by suckers, nor be increased so readily by layers, as the centifolia, there is no difficulty in propagating it either way, the latter mode is usually adopted.
70. Mesembryanthemum Barbatum
The leaves of this species have small hairs, issuing like rays from their points, whence its name of barbatum, there are two others figured by Dillenius, whose leaves have a great similarity of structure, and which are considered by Linnaeus as varieties of this species, our plant is the Stellatum Like most of this tribe it inhabits the Cape, flowers in July, and is readily propagated by cuttings.