The Professor does not mention the precise height which he had observed
these trees to attain in North-America, but it is evident that they
acquire a considerable thickness, as the wood of the root as well as the
body of the tree is manufactured into various utensils by the natives,
and by the Indians into spoons in particular, whence it has obtained the
name of the _Spoon Tree_.
The leaves have been found to prove poisonous to kine, horses, and
sheep, but the deer are observed to brouse on them with impunity.
PETER COLLINSON, Esq. who was highly instrumental in enriching
this country with the native plants of North-America, is said to have
introduced this elegant species about the year 1734.
With us it succeeds best when planted with a northern aspect, well
sheltered, in a soil composed of loam and bog earth, in a situation
moderately moist, where the air is perfectly pure.
Being with difficulty propagated by suckers or layers, it is most
commonly raised from American seeds.
[177]
KALMIA GLAUCA. GLAUCOUS KALMIA.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
KALMIA _glauca_ foliis oppositis oblongis laevigatis, subtus glaucis,
margine revolutis, corymbis terminalibus, ramulis ancipitibus.
_Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. p. 64. tab. 8._
[Illustration: No 177]
This species (much inferior in size to the _latifolia_, as it rarely
exceeds two feet in height) is a native of Newfoundland, where it was
discovered by Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart. and by him introduced to
this country in the year 1767.
It is of course not described by Mr. MILLER, nor is it mentioned the in
the 14th edition of LINNAEUS'S _Syst. Vegetab._ by Professor MURRAY; in
the _Hort. Kew._ of Mr. AITON, it is both described and figured.
It flowers in April and May, is propagated in the same manner and
requires the same treatment as the _latifolia_.
[178]
HYPERICUM CORIS. HEATH-LEAV'D. ST. JOHN'S-WORT.
_Class and Order._
POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5. _Nect._ 0. _Capsula._
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HYPERICUM _Coris_ floribus trigynis, calycibus serrato-glandulosis,
foliis subverticillatis. _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 702._
CORIS lutea. _Bauh. pin. 280._
CORIS legitima, Ericae similis. _Hon. Belli, ep. 1. ad Cluj. Clus. op. V.
1. p. 299._
CORIS. _Matthioli 939._
[Illustration: No 178]
There is an elegance and neatness in most of this tribe, and none
possess those qualities in a greater degree than the present species,
which is a charming little evergreen, admirably adapted for the
greenhouse, as it forms a pretty bulb, and flowers during most of the
summer.
It grows spontaneously in the South of Europe, and many parts of the
Levant; HONORIUS BELLUS, in his epistle CLUSIUS (_vid. Clus. op_.)
describes it as growing on the hilly parts of the island of Crete.
Mr. LEE, of Hammersmith, received it about four years since
from the Crimea.
It is propagated by cuttings.
[179]
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