Produced by Jason Isbell, Janet Blenkinship and the Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net THE ~Botanical Magazine~; OR, ~Flower-Garden Displayed~: IN WHICH The most Ornamental Foreign Plants, cultivated in the Open Ground, the Green-House, and the Stove, are accurately represented in their natural Colours. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, Their Names, Class, Order, Generic and Specific Characters, according to the celebrated Linnaeus; their Places of Growth, and Times of Flowering: TOGETHER WITH THE MOST APPROVED METHODS OF CULTURE. A WORK Intended for the Use of such Ladies, Gentlemen, and Gardeners, as wish to become scientifically acquainted with the Plants they cultivate. ~By WILLIAM CURTIS~, Author of the Flora Londinensis. ~VOL. III.~ "The spleen is seldom felt where Flora reigns; The low'ring eye, the petulance, the frown, And sullen sadness, that o'ershade, distort, And mar the face of beauty, when no cause For such immeasurable woe appears; These Flora banishes, and gives the fair Sweet smiles and bloom, less transient than her own." COWPER. LONDON: Printed by Couchman and Fry, Throgmorton-Street, For W. CURTIS, at his Botanic-Garden, Lambeth-Marsh; And Sold by the principal Booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland. M DCC XC. * * * * * [73] MONSONIA SPECIOSA. LARGE-FLOWER'D MONSONIA. _Class and Order._ POLYADELPHIA DODECANDRIA. _Generic Character._ _Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Cor._ 5-petala. _Stam._ 15. connata in 5 filamenta. _Stylus_ 5-fidus. _Caps._ 5-cocca. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ MONSONIA _speciosa_ foliis quinatis: foliolis bipinnatis, _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 697._ MONSONIA grandiflora. _Burm. prodr. 23._ [Illustration: No 73] The genus of which this charming plant is the most distinguished species, has been named in honour of _Lady Anne Monson_. The whole family are natives of the Cape, and in their habit and fructification bear great affinity to the Geranium. The present species was introduced into this country in 1774, by Mr. MASSON. We received this elegant plant just as it was coming into flower, from Mr. COLVILL, Nurseryman, King's-Road, Chelsea, who was so obliging as to inform me that he had succeeded best in propagating it by planting cuttings of the root in pots of mould, and plunging them in a tan-pit, watering them as occasion may require; in due time buds appear on the tops of the cuttings left out of the ground. It rarely or never ripens its seed with us. Should be treated as a hardy greenhouse plant; may be sheltered even under a frame, in the winter. [74] ANTIRRHINUM TRISTE. MELANCHOLY OR BLACK-FLOWER'D TOAD-FLAX. _Class and Order._ DIDYNAMIA ANGIOPSPERMIA. _Generic Character._ _Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Cor._ basis deorsum prominens, nectarifera. _Caps._ 2. locularis.