The _Melissa grandiflora_, a beautiful and hardy perennial, grows spontaneously on the hilly and mountainous parts of France, Italy, and Germany; GERARD mentions it as found wild in this country, which stands in need of further confirmation; there is little doubt, however, but he had cultivated the plant; as he says, "brought into the garden, it prospereth marvellous well and very easily soweth itself." It is the more valuable, as it flowers during most of the summer. There is a variety of it with white, and another with red flowers, both much inferior in size to those of the plant here figured, and therefore not worth cultivating; we have a variety also with variegated leaves which we obtained from seeds. This plant is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, and may also be raised from seeds, which are plentifully produced: as it rarely exceeds a foot in height, it becomes a suitable plant for the small flower border, or for the decoration of rock-work. The leaves when bruised have the smell of garden balm. [Illustration] [Illustration] [209] HIBISCUS TRIONUM. BLADDER HIBISCUS. _Class and Order._ MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. _Generic Character._ _Cal._ duplex: exterior polyphyllus. _Caps._ 5-locularis, polysperma. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ HIBISCUS _Trionum_ foliis tripartitis incisis, calycibus inflatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 631._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 458._ TRIONUM _Linn. Hort. cliff. 349._ ALCEA vesicaria. _Bauh. Pin. 317._ ALCEA peregrina five vesicaria. Venice Mallow, or Good night at noone. _Park. Parad. p. 368. 307. f. 2._ Seeds of the plant here figured are sold in the seed-shops under the name of Venice Mallow, a name by which it was known in the time of GERARD and PARKINSON: Mr. AITON has changed this for the more scientific one of Bladder Hibiscus. Authors have also distinguished this plant by terms expressive of the short-lived expansion of its flowers, which GERARD says open at eight o'clock in the morning and close about nine, from whence he observes, that it might with propriety be called Malva horaria: MILLER lengthens the duration of its blowing to a few hours: we have frequently observed its blossoms continue sufficiently open to shew their beauty the greatest part of the day, more especially towards the close of summer. Few annuals are more admired than this, the inside of the flower is of delicate cream colour, having the centre embellished with a rich purple velvet, on which its golden antherae are proudly conspicuous. It is said to be a native of Italy; a Cape variety, differing in hairiness and a few other particulars is mentioned by MILLER, and considered by him as a species.