American flora V4, Strong 1855

,

THB

AMERICAI FLORA,
HISTORY OF PLANTS AND WILD FLOWERS:
CONTAINING

THEIR SCIENTIFIC AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

NATURAL HISTORY,
CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES, MODE OF CULTURE, PROPAGATION, &C.

AS A BOOK OF REFERENCE FOR BOTANISTS, PHYSICIANS, FLORISTS, GARDENERS,
STUDENTS, ETC.

BY

A. B.

STRONO, M.

D.

UDl^Ry
BOT.'

VOL.
13

IV.

ILLUSTRATED WITH

SEVENTY BEAUTIFUL COLORED ENGRAVINGS,
TAKEN FROM NATURE.

NEW-YOKK:
PUBLISHED BY HULL & SPENCEB,
12

ANN

STREET.

1855.


Entered accoiJing

to

Act of Congress, in the year 1343, by

GKEEX k SPENCER,
In the Clerk's

Office of the District

Court of the Southern District of ^cw-Yo^k.


INDEX TO VOLUME

...

Introduction

COMMON NAMES.

BOTAKICAL. NAMES.
Acacia prensans -

Acacia vera

IV.

-

Prickly Acacia
-

-

Amaranthus Hypochondriacus
Anemone Jtorfensis
Apocynum Androsce mifolium

Gum

-

Dog's Bane

Arbutus laicdo

Strawberry Tree

Mexican Argemone

Ast^

Italian Aster

Azalea led ifolia

Anemone

-

Azalea nudijiora

Naked-flowered Azalea

Barosma

crenulata

Crenulated Bucku

Begonia sanguinea

Blood-red Begonia

Brougldonia coccinea

-

Night-flowering Cactus

Calandrinia discolor

-

Campanula macrantha

-

24

-

103

Cassia Marilandica

-

Giant Bell-flower

American Senna

-

Crocus sativus

Safl'ron
-

Crocus

Diplopappus ineonus

Hoary Diplopapjjus

Euphorbia atro-purpurea

Blood-flowered Spurge

Fritillaria imperialis

Crown Imperial

Fuchsia globosa

Balloon-flowered Fuchsia

Fumaria cava

Hollow-rooted Fumitory

Cape Jasmine

Gardenia fiorida
-

Goldfussia anisophylla

-

51

-

122

-

123

16

-

-

173

-

104

-

-

-

Large-flowered Gentian

-

164

54

-

Unequal-leaved Goldfussia

14

107

-

-

34
79

-

Large Ladies' Slipper

38
62

-

-

Tick-seeded Sun-flower

Coreopsis diversifolia

101

-

Pved-flowered Chelone

-

Cypripcdium insigne

-

81

-

Tri-colored Calandrinia
-

114
177

-

Crimson Broughtonia

-

Cactus cereus

Gentiana acaulis

-

-

83

160

-

Ash-leaved Trumpet Flower

Bigonia radicans

Chelone obliqua

-

-

75
111

-

Purple-flowered Azalea

-

-

-

96

72

-

-

148

90

-

Broad-leaved, Garden

Argemone Mexicana
amellus

-

-

Prince's Feather

146

-

-

Arabic Tree

-

9

INDEX.

IV.

COr.IMON NAMES.

botanicaij names.

Green Hellebore

Hdlehorus viridis

Hypericum liircimim
Jamhosa vulgaris

-

Justicia carnea

Flesh-colored Justicia

Kalmia glmica Nelumbium s]^cciosum

Glaucous Kalmia

Water

Drummondii

Lily

Brazilian Prickly Pear

Crimson Peony

Passijlora Iccrmesina

Crimson Passion-flower

-

136

135

Mr. Drummond's Phlox

-

7

-

26

-

Rliodanthe manglesii

Rhododendron arboreum

Tree Rhododendron

-

Salpiglossis straminca

Painted Salpiglosis

Sarracenia r%iba

Red Side-Saddlc

Saxifraga liguJata

Fringed Saxifrage

verticillatus

180

Caucasian Primula

Winter Berry
Mangle's Rhodanthe

Prinos

-

-

46
69

-

Opmitia Brasiliensis

-

-

-

Evening Primrose

44
48

-

Pceonia russi

Phlox Drummondii
Primula amoena -

-

-

116

169

-

Trailing Nolana

Nolana prostrata
(Enotlicra

Chinese

-

-

-

152

154

-

Fuitid St. Jolin's-wort

Kose Apple

-

-

Stately Silphium

Sollya hctcrophylla

Various-leaved Sollya

Syringia Josika:a

German

-

11

-

174

68

-

-

182

-

-

170

22

-

40
21

-

-

Silphium terehinthaceum

Lilac

-

-

161

'

INDEX.

COMMON NAMES.

BOTANICAI. NAMKS.

Acacia, Prichly

Acacia prensans

Anemone, Broad-leaved, Garden
Apple, Bose -

Anemone

Jamboso vulgaris

Argemone, Mexican

Argemone Mexicana

Aster, Italian

Aster amellus
niuliflora

Azalea

ledifolia

Bane, Dog's

Apocynum Andros

Bell-floioer ,

Broughtonia coccinea

Barosma crenulata

Cactus, Night-floiuering

Cactus cereus

Calandrinia discolor

Croion-Imp)erial

Diplopap2)us,

^

-

Crocus, Saffron

Crocus sativus

.

-

Hoary

Fuchsia globosa

Fumitory, Uolloto-rooted

Fumeria cava

Gentian, Large-floioered

-

Goldfussia, Unequal-leaved

Gum

Acacia vera
Helleborus

Justicia, Flesh-colored

Justicia carnea

Kalmia, Glaucous

Kalmia glauca

Ladies' Slipper, Large

Cypripedium

German

Lily, Chinese

Water

insigne -

Nolana prostrata

Passion-flower , Crimson

Passiflora kcrmesina

Peony, Crimson
Phlox, Mr.

-

-

Drummond's

Prickley Pear, Brazilian

-

Pasonia russi
Plilox

152

-

-

-

48

-

136

46
135
_

-

122
161

-

169
41

-

-

Opuntia Brasiliensis

9

-

-

Drummondii

148

-

-

Nolana, Trailing

-

-

Nelumbium speciosum

-

54

-

Syringia Josikaea -

-

-

-

14
107

-

viridis -

104
173

-

-

-

79
16

-

-

38

1G4

-

-

Hellebore, Green -

Lilac,

-

Goldfussia anisophylla

-

Arabic Tree

101

-

-

Gentiana acaulis

103

-

Diplopappus incanus

Fuchsia, Balloon-floiuered

177

-

-

Fritillaria imperialis
-

-

-

-

Chelone obliqua

Chelone, Red-floioered

62

24

-

72

-

-

114
160

-

-

-

florida

-

aamiflolium

Bucku, Crenulated

Gardenia

83

-

Broughtonia, Crimson

Cape Jasmine

116

-

Begonia sanguiuea

-

111

_*

Begonia, Blood-red

Calandrinia, Tri-colored

-

-

Campanula macrantlia

Giant

96

-

-

Azalea

-

-

-

-

Azalea, Purple-flowered

Azalea, Nalicd-floivered

146

-

-

hortensis

7

180


INDEX.

VI

COMMON NAMES.

BOTANICAt NAMES.
Oenothera Drummondii

-

69

Primula, Caucasian

Primula amccna

-

26

Prince's Feather

Amaranthus Hypochondriacus

Phodantkc, Mangle's

Khodanthe manglcsii

Primrose, Evening

Bhododendron, Tree

Saxifrage ligulata

-

-

Cassia MarUandica

Red

Sarraccnia ruba

Sollya, Various-leaved

Sollya heteropliylla

Spurge, Blood-jloioered

-

St. John's wort. Foetid

Straiuherry Tree

-

Sun-fioiccr, Tick-seeded

Tru mpet-Jlmoer,
Winter Berry

A sh-leaved

Prinos verticillatus

182

75
51

-

123
1,'54

-

-

170
22

-

-

34
174

-

-

Coreopsis diversifolia

Bigonia radicans

H

-

liircinun

Arbutus unedo

68

-

Etiplihorbia atro-purpurea

Hypericum

-

-

terebinthaceum

Sili)liium

2]

-

-

Silphium, Stately

90
-

-

Salpiglossis straminea

Senna, American
Side-Saddlc,

-

Rliododendron nrlxireum

-

Salpiglosis, Painted

Saxifrage, Fringed

-

81

40


*

»

INTRODUCTION.

The

perfection of an art, consists in the

employment

of a comprelienBive

system of laws, commensurate to eveiy purpose within its scope, LutvConcealed

from the eye of the spectator

and

;

in the production of eifects that

flow forth spontaneously, as though uncontrolled

by

seem to

and

their influence,

which are equally excellent, whether regarded individually, or in reference to

Such

the proposed result.

is

the great art of nature

study with success, must, as far as he

we
mind

ploy the

shall find the

of

By

pleasure.

many a

and he who would

;

able, trace out its various laws,

most perfect

art.

It

is

a theme which can em-

person, and one that will afford liim

the study of Botany

in every mountain, in every glen,

and

Applying these principles to the study

reduce them to general principles.
of Botany,

is

wo

be benefitted

shall

much

for all

;

agreeable

our walks,

and meadow, on the bank of eveiy

little

brook, and the way-side, will afford us an opportunity to find employment
for the mind,shall

be

We

and lead our thoughts from nature up to nature's God.

much more

attentive to all the peculiar jiroperties and relations of

plants to the rest of created matter.

We

shall feel a desire to discover

the

use of the plant, however small and insignificant to man, remembering that
nothing was made in vain.
derful, sublime,

We

shall often

human

generation.

and are

It

—" How won-

and yet how beautiful are the works of nature

shrubs, and even the majestic forest trees,
like the

be led to exclaim,

family, wither
is

when

old,

aU take

\"

Plants,

their turn in

and become nourishment

life,

and

new

for a

believed that plants enjoy pleasure and experience pain,

as sensitive at the disturbances of the laws of nature as the animal

creation.

Wo

cut or

wound any

part of a plant, and

it

bleeds.

teriously nature has devised to restore the injury or heal the

do not walk or move, in order to procure their sustenance,
there are

many

peculiarities connected with their

mode

wound

How
!

mys-

Plants

like animals

;

yet

of living, the history


INTRODUCTION.

IV

and student.

of wliicli would be highly interesting, both to the professor

Every variety of plant and shrub has
in

life,

req^uiiing different

power of locomotion
ing that

i)rivilege

;

soils,

peculiar

manner of sustenance

Few, however, possess the
Confervce, alone, we believe, enjoy-

the natiiral order,

and, perhaps, of

;

its o^\•^x

climate, &c.

they alone consist of solitary

all plants,

Other plants are composed of communities, the buds being the

individuals.

and

inhabitants, the stems consisting of store-rooms

galleries, the little

spongy

bodies at the extremities of the roots being the true locomotive organs.
as trees do not

Vi-alk

ujion the surface of the earth, they

m

other respects ex-

For example, the ten-

abundant instances of spontaneous motion.

liibit

But

dency of plants to incline their stems, and turn the upper surface of their
leaves to the light

the direction which the extreme fibres of the root will

;

often take to escape the light, or to reach the best nourishment

up

of the flower on the approach of rain

lily
ill

;

;

the folding

the rising and falling of the water-

and the peculiar and invariable direction assumed by the twining stem

;

ascending

prop.

its

If a pan of water be placed wiihiu six inches on either side of the stem
of a

young pumpkin or vegetable marrow,

approach

it,

and

in the water.

begins to

will

it

will in the course of the night

be found in the morning with one of

This experiment

may be

it

leaves floating

fruit.

If a prop be placed within six inches of a

runner,

its

continued nightly, until the plant

will find

it,

although the prop

has twined some distance up the prop,
posite direction

it

wiU return

yet, notwithstanding, if

it

may

young convolvulus,
be shifted

daily.

or scarlet

If after

it

be unwound and twined in an op-

to its original position, or die in the attempt

;

two of these jdants grow near each other, and have

no stake near, on which they can entwine, one of them
tion of its spiral, and they will twine round each other.

will alter

A

the direc-

very interesting

experiment was tried by placing some kidney beans in a cylinder of moist
earth

:

after a short time they

commenced

to germinate, of course sending

the plume upwards to the light, and the root

down

into the

soil.

After a

few days the cylinder was turned one-fourth round, and again this was reThe
peated until an entire revolution of the cylinder had been completed.
beans were then taken out of the cyUnder, and

plume and

radical

it

was found that both the

had bent to accomodate themselves to every revolution,


V

INTRODUCTION.

and the one

in its effort to ascend perpendicularly,

they had formed a perfect
root

is

downwards,

But

spiral.

the

if

above, the roots will ascend to reach
root

upon the

side of a precipice,

it.

Or,

and the

if

damp

soil

substance be placed

the shrub or tree has taken

be somewhat nearer above

than below, the plant will send a root in a straight line to meet
port of the above fact,

we would

to descend,

although the natural tendency of the

be dry, and any

soil

and the other

In sup-

it.

cite a singular coincidence, or freak of na-

ture, fuUy illustrating the natural instinct of the vegetable creation

one which, perhaps,

may

have been witnessed by some of our readers.

;

and

Ujion

the precipice, or side of the perpendicular rocks of the natural bridge in
Virginia, are to be seen goodly-sized trees, which
vice of the rock

some several

down from the

feet

took root in the cre-

first

surface of the earth

ing in this situation until the trees had exhausted

all

;

grow-

the nourishment which

coidd be obtained in those crevices, and the distance being extremely great

beneath, they, in seeking for the necessary support of
roots to the rich soil above.

The

curiosity of

many

life,

sent

up numerous

a visitor to this remark-

able place has been excited in regard to the situation and sustenance of those
trees

there they

;

and natural

A

now stand

as living

;

from an old

and Stevens,

found magnificent

upon the very tops
lost race,

wall,

in proof of the powerful

instinct of plants.

tree growing

has exhausted the surrounding

neath

monuments

wall, or cleft of a rock, will, as soon as

soil,

in his searches

trees,

of

send a stem or root down to the

ambng the

be-

ruins of Central America,

of extraordinary size and of a great height, living

some of the highest walls of the deserted

which having sent stems down to the

and forming by

soil

i*;

this

soil

edifice of a

on each side of the

means a firm support, and being

thus, as

strapped together by living cables, they remain to this day in their

it

were,

full vigor

and strength.

The

plants in a hot-house do not direct their leaves to the stove in

quest of heat, nor to the door in quest of

air,

but to the sun in quest of

Plants in a cellar or dark room struggle towards the light
area turn the upper surface of their leaves towards
their roots suddenly avoid

The
turn until

comes

;

plants in an

and, on the contrary,

it.

tendril of a vine, or the
it

it,

light.

in contact

stem of a creeping plant, never makes any

with some object around which

it

can entwine

;

INTRODUCTION.

VI

which

after

The

it

proceeds in a spiral around the object held in

strawberry-plant will thrust

its

walk on to a bed of

soil

on the oi)posite side

were pcrceving

its

object to be gained,

as

it

plant.

embrace.

;

where

it

push out

will for the first time,
roots,

and form a new

Trees are frequently found, which have taken root on one side of a

deep ravine, and having exhausted the
their roots across the abyss,

deep into the

sterile

soU on that

side,

and having gained the opposite

have pushed

side, there struck

fertile soil.

The above few

preliminary remarks are introduced for the purpose of

showing the importance of studying this branch of science

make

its

runners completely across a garden

;

and

in order to

the present volume as instructive, useful and entertaining as possible,

the proprietors have

made

extensive outlays for the improvement of the

bellishments, as well as the general appearance of the current
feeling grateful for the

em-

volume and
more than expected patronage they have received
;

EincG the introduction of the work, they would return their sincere thanks to
their subscribers, still asking a continuance of their patronage

tion in extending

still

farther

its circulation.

and co-opera-

^f


41
t**

|r%gv

:4<-/^

/

'^(^/r/yi/^/t-f^AfZ^

^

M^^^,.

\^^.^

/"'

'^f^uci//

f'.U'^^z^i^/^.a/.


LIDRARY

NEW

yor:
BOTANICA'

NAT. ORDER.
Polcmoniacece.

PHLOX DEUMMONDI.
Pentandria.

Class V.

Gen.

Char.

ME. DRUMMOND'S PHLOX.
Order

Calyx, deeply

I.

Monogynia.

five-cleft.

Segments, acute.

salver-shaped, with a sub-cylindrical tube, a

mens,

five,

aments,

cui-ved.

Star

unequal, inserted in the tube above the middle.

F'd-

Anthers, sagitate.

filiform.

little

Cajjsule, roundish.

Stems, erect, simple at the bottom.

Spe. CItar.
ceolate,

Corolla,

lower ones opposite, upper ones

Leaves, ovate-lanPanicle,

alternate.

corymbose.

Phlox Drdmmondi has
Stem a

a small and

decidedly annual

7-oot.

more high, simple or branched, clothed with long pabelow opposite and oblong, spathulate above, alternate, oblong, acute, aristate, somewhat cordate at the base, sometimes
even auriculated and semiamplexicaul, ciliated at the margin, and
slightly hairy, but chiefly so beneath, all of them of a pale green color;
foot or

tent hairs

leaves

;

corymbs tenninal, of several large and very showy flowers
short,

;

pedicels

and as well as the calyx and subulate segments, but united by

a pellucid

membrane

for one-half of their length into

a tube

;

the limb

reflexed corolla, hypocrateriform with the tube, about thrice as long as

-4.

the tube of the calyx,

and very

hairy,-

with the hairs patent

of five spreading, obovate, approaching to rhomboidal

Ci pie without,

;

;

the leaves are scattered, about an inch long, linear-lanceolate

entire, patent or recurved,

gradually becoming smaller on the ultimate

branches, which are terminated by a large siwgXe flower ; the involucre
is

almost globose

glandular
color

;

;

the ray

guished from

composed of many

florets,

slightly

and of a bright purple

it

is

by

very nearly allied
the double

to

the Aster, being only distin-

rows of the pappus, whence

its

name.

includes, however, plants with yellow as well as purple flowers, a

color never

worthy of
ful

is

squarrose,

disk of a deep yellow.

This genus

It

the scales numerous, linear,

;

known

in Aster.

Few

cultivation than the present, bearing as

flowers, of peculiar bright color,

ipen border
ft'as

of the Asteroid family are

till

late in October.

discovered by Mr. Douglass.

Vol. IV.— 173.

it

and continuing

It is

more

does large beautito

blossom

in the

a native of California, where

it


;

NAT. ORDER,
Sairacenie
RED SIDE-SADDLE.

SARRACENIA RUBRA.

Monogynia.

Class XIII.

PoLYANDRiA.

Gen. Cliar.

Calyx, of five permanent sepals.

daws,

rolla, five, parted,

Spe.

very

I.

Anthers, simple.

This small plant

rises

from one

Sti/le, cylindri-

Seeds, numerous.

Stigmas, peltate.

short.

two

to

feet high

composed of five permanent sepals, which are concave
and furnished with a three-leaved involucram just under
five petals,

which are contracted

at the base,

mens, numerous, hypogynous, and
shortish

;

anthers, fixed

by

with

five longitudinal

to

furrows

the

;

style

and stigma,

;

closely covered with

seeds, small,

;

corolla of

and unquiculate

;

;

apex

ovanj, one large globose,

;

capsidc, globose, crowTied

by

;

many

seeds, progressing from the central axis
;

embryo, cylindrical,

cleft at

catyledons, placed at the base of a copious

on

their

under

upon a large club-shaped,
the central

column or axis

one ex-

waxy-

side, inserted

;

the

by their narrowest point
which stands out from

stipitate receptacle,

into the

the capsule open from above

Vol. IV.— 174.

the

placentas, five, one in each

gTanular albumen, with the radicle pointing towards the hilum
seeds are keeled

sta-

opening up-

five-lobed, five-celled, five-valved,

minutely tubercled

tremity into two

at the base,
it

columnar, crowned by a broad

seeded, valves separating from the apex
cell

cali/.r is

packed together filaments,

closely

style,

convex, leafy, five-angled stigma

permanent

the

;

their back, oblong, two-celled,

wards from the base, hardly

Co-

Leaflets, ovate.

ovate-oblong, straight.

Stamens, numerous.

Char.
cal,

Older

middle of each

between the

cells,

cell

;

the vah-cs of

whose dissepiments


iZ^g^'ar./7/^'?^^'!2> ."Z^t

t,

'^^^.

fT^-^z^^-iPi/^^y?.^^ ^>^^e^^

NAT. ORDER.

— S.\URACENIE.E.

lT-5

are attached to the centre of each valve, and separate from the central

axis of the column

always one-flowered Jlowers,

scapes,

;

;

These well known singular

nodding, greenish-yellow or dark purple.

swamps

plants, are inhabitants of the
for the singular

large,

of North America, remarkable

form of their leaves, which are tubular and hold wha-

and some species have

which it is alleged shrink
and close over the mouth, so as to prevent the exhalation of the water.
In dry weather birds resort to thern for drink.
Tliis order differs chiefly
ler,

lids or covers,

from Papancracco!, and JVi/niphinccre,
stigma, but

it is still

in

having a broad,

nearer to the former than the

peltate, leafy

latter, in

the cap-

sules being furnished with intervalvular placentas.

Yellow side-saddle flower.

Sarraceniajlava.

In this species the

leaves rise nearly three feet high, small at the bottom, but widening

gradually near the top
like a

fi-iar's

cowl

they are hollow, and arched over the mouth

;

grow on naked

the flowers

;

the root to the height of three

the tallest growing species

is

Flowers

long.

in

Sairaccnia piapurca.
root,

arise five, six, or

the plant

naiTOW

;

It is

a

to Florida.

the leaves are often three feet

;

June and July.

has a strong fibrous

which

color.

swamps, from Virginia

native of North Amei'ica, in open

This

pedicels, rising from

and are of a green

feet,

Purple side-saddle flower.

which

strikes

seven leaves,

deep

This species

into the soft earth,

in proportion to the

from

strength of

these are about five or six inches long, hollow like a pitcher,

at their base,

but swell out large at the top

;

their outer sides

are rounded, but on their inner side they are a litde compressed, and

have a broad leafy border iimning longitudinally the whole length of
and to the rounded part of the leaf there is on the top a
the tube
;

large appendage or ear, standing erect, of a brownish color

rounds the outside of the leaves

round the border

;

arises a strong, round,

one nodding flower
tuse,

;

it is

from the centre

naked

at the top

and bent over the

this sur-

eared at both ends, and waved

of the root,

foot-stalk,

;

;

between

the leaves,

about a foot high, sustaining

the leaflets of the upper calyx are ob-

corolla, so

as to cover the inside of

it;

they


NAT. ORDER.

176

— SARRACENIE.E.

arc of a purple color on the outside, but green within, only having- purple edges

spoon.

the petals are of a purple color, and dished

;

It is

somewhat like a

swampy

a native of most parts of North America, in

places about Quebec,

Canada, and as

Lake Huron, and probably common throughout

far north as

Bears Lake, and as

variolaris.

Chequered side-saddle

Sarraccnia

far south as Carolina.

This

flower.

small dwarfish looking plant, rising not more than a foot high

;

is

a

leaves

elongated, their tube spotted on the back, ending in a short arched ap-

pendage

flowers yellow

;

;

the transparent spots on the back of the

leaf distinguishes this species readily from the preceding, with
it

has often been confounded.

swamps on
found

in

a sandy

It is

till

to Florida.

It

may be

great abundance near the base of Great Hills in the town of

where

Leverett, Franklin county, Mass.,

May

a native of North America, in open

from Massachusetts

soil,

which

have seen

I

it

blossom from

late in July.

These singular and handsome plants

Proiyagation and Culture.

are very desirable objects in the collections of the admirers of nature.

They

are

stand in

swamps

inhabitants of the

all

the open

air of

Canada

of this country, but will not

They should be kept

or England.

in

pots filled with turfy peat at the bottom, and the upper part with spag-

num
in

or water-moss, in

pans of water

in a stove.

;

They

which the

plants

they succeed best

in

must be set and then placed

frames

also succeed very well

if

without pots, but they always will require

well shaded.
shut.

There

In this last
is

no way, as

way
yet,

this country.

set in

to

spagnum

situation or
in

a frame

be kept rather moist and

known by which

England as a

shady

the sashes require to be almost kept

except by dividing the plants at the
plants cultivated in

in a

root.

curiosity,

they can be increased

There are many of these
but are

all

exported from


'^

NAT. ORDER.
BiUacecB.

BAEOSMA CEENULATA.
Pentandria.

Class V.

Gen.

Char.
calyx.

Cali/.i:,

CEENULATED BUCKU.

Order

Monogynia.

I.

Disk, covering- the bottom of the

five-cleft.

Petals, five, with short claws.

Filaments,

Style,

ten.

leng-th of the petal's.
*S^;e.

Char.

Leaves, opposite, ovate, acute, dotted.

one-flowered.

Flowers, white.

The

which

plant from

this description

Pedicels, solitaiy,

and figure are taken,

is

an

upright shrub, between two and three feet in height, with twiggy

branches of a brownish purple tinge

an inch

long, oval-lanceolate,

leaves decussate, spreading, about

;

on very short

j}efioles,

very obtuse,

cately and minutely crenated, quite glabrous, rigid, darkish-green,

deli-

and

quite smooth above, with a few very obscure oblique nerves, beneath paler,

dotted with glands
ture

which are scarcely

a conspicuous pellucid gland

is

margin round the whole
axillary

;

pellucid, while at

there

every crena-

also a narrow, pellucid

is

leaf; peduncles about

as long as the

leaf,

and terminal, chiefly from the superior leaves, single-flowered,

often (but not always) bearing a pair of small opposite leaves, or bracteas,

above the middle, each of which

times bears a flower in

its

axil

;

lets,

when

the bud, blush-colored

erect, then recui-ved, about
villous

;

anthers oblong

Vol. IV.— 177.

;

my

native specimens some-

beneath the calyx are two or three

pairs of small imbricated bracteas

green, tinged with purple

in

;

cabjx of five ovate-acuminate leaf-

corolla of five ovate petals, purple in

;

fully

expanded

:

stamens

as long as the petals

ban-en filaments,

;

five,

at first

^/amcn/s

slightly

five, lanceolate,

white, rather


;
;

178

NAT. ORDER.

with a gland, the lower part erect, the upper half spread-

villous, tipped
ing-

;

dark -green gland

hypogijiious disk, an annular,

short, abortive,

appendages

There

crowned with

slt/le,

;

filiform,

are, perhaps,

vui of the

;

gcrmen very

five lanceolate, fleshy, slightly

curved

;

spreading

stigma, minute.

have been long cultivated
understood and which require more

few plants

our collections, which are less
lustration

RUTACE.E.

that

in
il-

by figures, than the various species of the old Genus DiosCape of Good Hope, and which now constitutes a section of

the Natural Older Ridacccc.

The

individual

now

figured

is

an old

in-

habitant of the green-houses, both of this country and England, e.spe-

where it has gone under various names, such as
Diosma crcnala, Diosma laiifoUa, Diosma odorata, §t. Wendland

cially the latter,

figured

but he

under the name of Parapctalifcra odorata

it

made

it,

Diosma

afterwards, the variety of

in his collections,

sci-ratifoUa,

and has

—

Diosma crenata, of Linneeus, &c.
But surely if it can be proved to be the Diosma creriulata (not crenata)
of Linnaeus, that name ought to be adopted in preference to any others

referred to the

same

variety, the

;

and Linnaeus' description does appear

my own
is

to

be so

characteristic, that for

part I have no hesitation in preferring the name.

further strengthened

by a remark of

where he notices

clopaedia,

Sir

I.

My opinion

E. Smith, in Rees's Cy-

the great affinity of the

Diosma serratifolia,

Diosma crenata of Linnaeus.
Diosma sorratifolia, I have only seen cultivated specimens
they have much longer, narrower, and accuminated leaves, marked
(a supposed Australian species,) with the

'Of the true

with raised glands on the upper surface, and three

distinct

nerves

they have decidedly serrated leaves, and always pure white flowers
•so

that I

have no

hesitation in keeping these

two distinct.

"be con-ect, I see no impropriety in referring to our

If the

Barosma

above

crcnulata,

the valuable properties of which, as an internal medicine, and as an

outward

application, for healing lacerated flesh, are

'tipoken of

well and highly

by both ancient and modern writers.
would mention that tlie Bucku of our Pharmacopaeias,

Lastly, I

which has

lately obtained so

much

celebrity as a sudorific, diuretic,


NAT. ORDER.

and

tonic

such at least as

;

I

RUTACE.E.

179

have examined and prescribed from our

dniggists, undoubtedly belongs to the present species.

others of the

ing, as

they

essential

the

oil,

Diosma groupe may
all do, in

Hence, though

contain similar properties, abound-

a strong aromatic odor, and glands

yet by the Hottentots and those

who

European and American markets, preference

filled

with

gather Bucha for

given

is

to

our Ba-

rosma crenulata. The scent seems to me to be as powerful as that of
any other of the tribe, but at the same time much more agreeable,
and more resembling that of some mints.

Barosma pulchdla.
to

three feet in height

Neat Barosma.
;

leaves crowded, ovate, quite smooth, with

thickened, crenate-glandular margins
tary,

exceeding the leaves

leaves of this plant,

This shrub grows from one

;

;

peduncles axillary, usually

flowers pale-red.

The

soli-

Hottentots use the

dried and powdered, under the name of Bucku,

to

mix witli the greece with which they anoint themselves. It gives
ihem so rank an odor, that Thunberg says he could not bear the smell
It is a native of the Cape of Good
of tlie men who drove his wagon.
Hope, and flowers from September

Propa^adon and Culture.
which thrive best in a mixture

till

This

February
is

a genus of pretty

of sand, peat, and a

and cuttings taken from ripened wood, and planted
witli a bell-glass placed over

well.

little

in

little

shrubs,

turfy

loam

;

a pot of sand,

them, will strike root readily and thrive