The flowers of most of the species of Jasmine are odoriferous, trivial names therefore expressive of this quality are ineligible, as wanting character; the present name is peculiarly objectionable, inasmuch as several other species are greatly superior to this in point of fragrance; a lesson for Botanists to abstain from trivial names of the superlative degree, such as _odoratissimum_, _foetidissimum_, _maximum_, _minimum_, &c. The present species, according to Mr. AITON, is a native of Madeira, and was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1730; it is now a plant common in most greenhouses: it will form a shrub of considerable size, which requires no support; its leaves are glossy, inclining to yellow, growing for the most part three together, sometimes pinnated; its blossoms, which are yellow, make their appearance from May to November: in point of hardiness it is superior to many greenhouse plants, and may be propagated without difficulty by cuttings. [286] PORTLANDIA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWERED PORTLANDIA. _Class and Order._ PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character._ _Cor._ clavato-infundibuliformis. _Antherae_ 4-6. longitudinales. _Caps._ 5-gona, 2-valvis, retusa, 2-locularis, polysperma, coronata calyce 5-phyllo. _Specific Character and Synonyms._ PORTLANDIA _grandiflora_ floribus pentandris. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 213._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 228. foliis ovatis._ _Syst. Nat. ed. 13._ _Gmel. p. 360._ PORTLANDIA _grandiflora_ floribus pentandris, capsulis ovatis, foliis oblongis acuminatis. _Swartz. Obs. Bot. p. 69._ Dr. BROWN, in his Natural History of Jamaica, gives to this genus the name of _Portlandia_, in honour of the Duchess Dowager of PORTLAND, who employed many of the leisure hours of a long and happy life, in the pursuits of natural history, in which she was eminently skilled.--She was the friend and patron of Mr. LIGHTFOOT, who dedicates to her his _Flora Scotica_; the fine collection of rare and valuable trees and shrubs which enrich part of the grounds at Bulstrode, were of her planting. Dr. SWARTZ, in his Observations on the Plants of the West-Indies, informs us, that this species grows wild in Jamaica, where (_incolit calcareosa petrosa_) it inhabits calcareous rocky places[3], forms a small tree about the height of six feet, and flowers from the middle of Summer to Autumn; its bark, he observes, as in other plants of the same genus, is extremely bitter. From Mr. AITON we learn, that it was introduced here by ---- ELLIS, Esq. in 1775. It forms a very beautiful stove plant, not of difficult growth, and readily disposed to flower; we have seen blowing plants of it little more than a foot high; its blossoms are not only uncommonly large, shewy, and curious in their structure, but fragrant also, and very much so when dried. It is usually increased by cuttings.