By the old Botanists this species of _Fumaria_, whose root is constantly solid, was considered as a distinct species from another similar to it of larger growth, whose root is as constantly hollow, and which will be figured in the next number of this work; CASPAR BAUHINE in particular, in his _Pinax_, describes the characters in which they differ: LINNAEUS nevertheless makes them varieties of each other, uniting them under the name of _bulbosa_; from this union we have taken the liberty to dissent, choosing rather to follow MILLER, who regards them as distinct, and the Botanists preceding him. The _Fumaria solida_, a very old inhabitant of our gardens, is a plant of very humble growth, rarely exceeding three or four inches in height, and producing its spike of purple flowers in April, which continue in blossom about a fortnight. In point of colour the flowers of this plant are not subject to much variation, we possess a variety of it with blossoms of a much brighter colour than those of the common sort, and which, on that account, is much more worthy of cultivation. As a spring plant, it deserves a place in the garden; in point of ornament, it is applicable to the same purposes as the Primrose, will grow in almost any soil or situation, requires to be taken up in the autumn, and fresh-planted every two or three years; if suffered to remain in the same spot for a great length of time, it becomes smaller, produces few or no flowers, and is so altered in its appearance, as to look like another species. [Illustration: _No 232_] [232] FUMARIA CAVA. HOLLOW-ROOTED FUMITORY. _Class and Order._ DIADELPHIA HEXANDRIA. _Generic Character._ _Cal_. diphyllus. _Cor._ ringens. _Filamenta_ 2 membranacea singula _Antheris_ 3. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ FUMARIA _cava_, caule simplici, bracteis longitudine florum integris, radice cava. FUMARIA _bulbosa_ radice cava major. _Bauh. Pin. p. 143._ RADIX _cava_ major. _Park. Parad. p. 275._ The hollow-rooted Fumitory differs from the _solida_, already figured, and that constantly, in a variety of particulars; its root is always, as far as we have observed, hollow, appearing sometimes, as PARKINSON informs us, "like a shell, every part of which when broken will grow;" frequently acquiring a very great size; the plant itself usually grows to twice the height of the _solida_, bearing foliage and flowers proportionably large; its bracteae or floral leaves, which in the _solida_ assume a kind of finger'd appearance from the manner in which they are divided, in this are entire or but slightly indented; it flowers also about three weeks earlier. Of the _Fumaria cava_ there are three principal varieties in point of colour, viz. the white, the blush-coloured, and the purple, which, though plentiful in our gardens formerly, are now rarely met with; Mr. CHAPPELOW informs me, that he found them all this spring, in an old plantation at Teddington, where they produced the most pleasing effect.