This species of Cape Gladiolus was brought to us, from Holland, about
the year 1788; it is a very hardy bulb, the flowers continuing perfect
more than a week, and are not easily injured either by wind or rain. But
the greatest merit of this plant is, that the blossoms are only produced
when most of the other species of Ixiæ, Gladioli, &c. have done
flowering; which is generally about the end of July. Before the stem
decays, the bulb should be taken from the pot, and dried. The increase
of this plant is not great, as seldom more than two roots are produced
from the old one. Our drawing was made at the Hammersmith nursery, in
1799. Willdenow has a Gladiolus from Jacquin’s Icon. Rar. under the
specific title here given to this, undoubtedly not the same plant; but
as our name is that by which this species is in general known, and by
which it came from Holland, we have not thought fit to alter it.
[Illustration]
PLATE CXII.
VACCINIUM DUMOSUM.
_Bushy Whortle-berry._
CLASS VIII. ORDER I.
_OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Eight Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX superus. Corolla monopetala. Filamenta receptaculo inserta.
Bacca quadrilocularis, polysperma.
CUP superior. Blossom of one petal. Threads fixed to the
receptacle. A Berry with four cells and many seeds.
See VAC. ARCTOSTAPHYLLOS, Pl. XXX. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Vaccinium foliis ovatis, acutis, glabris; floribus solitariis,
axillaribus; pedunculis longissimis, bracteatis; corollis
urceolatis subalbidis; stamina decem.
Whortle-berry with oval, pointed, smooth leaves; flowers grow
solitary from the foot-stalk of the leaves, close to the stem;
foot-stalks of the flowers are very long, having floral leaves;
blossoms pitcher-shaped, nearly white; ten chives.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower complete.
2. The Cup and its Foot-stalk, with the floral Leaves.
3. The Seed-bud, Pointal, and Chives.
4. The same, magnified.
5. The Shaft and its Summit, magnified.
This species of Whortle-berry is a neat, compact, bushy shrub; and like
all the rest of those which have ten chives, and the other parts
consonant, can scarcely be considered as a hardy plant; for although it
will live through a mild winter, if planted in a warm and dry situation,
on an open border; yet it will in general be destroyed, by the severe
frosts which happen late in spring. It should be planted in sandy peat
earth, with a small portion of light loam; may be propagated by layers,
which do not commonly root, sufficiently to be taken off, under two
years from the time of their being put down. As a hardy green-house
plant it is best preserved in a flourishing state, and will flower about
the month of June; in which month, this year, our drawing was made, at
the nursery of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, by whom it was introduced from
North America in the year 1783.
[Illustration]
PLATE CXIII.
STRUTHIOLA IMBRICATA.
_Tiled-leaved Struthiola._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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