William Curtis - The Botanical Magazine, Vol. I
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William Curtis >> The Botanical Magazine, Vol. I
[Transcriber's note:
Many inconsistencies appeared in the original book and were retained in
this version.]
THE
~Botanical Magazine~;
OR,
~Flower-Garden Displayed~:
IN WHICH
The most Ornamental FOREIGN PLANTS, cultivated in the
Open Ground, the Green-House, and the Stove, are accurately
represented in their natural Colours.
TO WHICH ARE ADDED,
Their Names, Class, Order, Generic and Specific Characters, according
to the celebrated LINNAEUS; their Places of Growth, and
Times of Flowering:
TOGETHER WITH
THE MOST APPROVED METHODS OF CULTURE.
A WORK
Intended for the Use of such LADIES, GENTLEMEN, and GARDENERS, as
wish to become scientifically acquainted with the Plants they cultivate.
By WILLIAM CURTIS,
Author of the FLORA LONDINENSIS.
VOL. I
"A Garden is the purest of human Pleasures."
VERULAM.
LONDON:
Printed by COUCHMAN and FRY, Throgmorton-Street,
For W. CURTIS, at his BOTANIC-GARDEN, Lambeth-Marsh;
And Sold by the principal Booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland.
M DCC XC.
PREFACE.
The present periodical publication owes its commencement to the repeated
solicitations of several Ladies and Gentlemen, Subscribers to the
Author's BOTANIC GARDEN, who were frequently lamenting the want
of a work, which might enable them, not only to acquire a systematic
knowledge of the Foreign Plants growing in their gardens, but which
might at the same time afford them the best information respecting their
culture--in fact, a work, in which Botany and Gardening (so far as
relates to the culture of ornamental Plants) or the labours of
LINNAEUS and MILLER, might happily be combined.
In compliance with their wishes, he has endeavoured to present them with
the united information of both authors, and to illustrate each by a set
of new figures, drawn always from the living plant, and coloured as near
to nature, as the imperfection of colouring will admit.
He does not mean, however, to confine himself solely to the Plants
contained in the highly esteemed works of those luminaries of Botany and
Gardening, but shall occasionally introduce new ones, as they may
flower in his own garden, or those of the curious in any part of
Great-Britain.
At the commencement of this publication, he had no design of entering on
the province of the Florist, by giving figures of double or improved
Flowers, which sometimes owe their origin to culture, more frequently to
the sportings of nature; but the earnest entreaties of many of his
Subscribers, have induced him so far to deviate from his original
intention, as to promise them one, at least, of the Flowers most
esteemed by Florists.
The encouragement given to this work, great beyond the Author's warmest
expectations, demands his most grateful acknowledgements, and will
excite him to persevere in his humble endeavours to render Botany a
lasting source of rational amusement; and public utility.
BOTANIC GARDEN,
Lambeth-Marsh,
1787.
[1]
~Iris Persica. Persian Iris.~
_Class and Order._
~Triandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
Corolla 6-partita: Petalis alternis, reflexis. Stigmata petaliformia.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
IRIS _Persica_ corolla imberbi, petalis interioribus brevissimis
patentissimis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 79. _Sp. Pl. p._ 59.
IRIS bulbosa praecox minus odora Persica variegata. _Moris. hist._ 2.
_p._ 357.
XIPHIUM Persicum. _Miller Dict. ed._ 6. 4_to._
The Persian bulbous Flower-de-luce. _Parkins. Parad. p._ 172.
[Illustration: No 1]
A native of Persia. Flowers in February and March. Its beauty, early
appearance, and fragrant blossoms, make it highly esteemed by all lovers
of flowers; like the Hyacinth or Narcissus it will blow within doors in
a water-glass, but stronger in a small pot of sand, or sandy loam; a few
flowers will scent a whole apartment: it will also blossom in the open
air, but requires warmth and shelter; it is propagated by offsets and
seeds; the best flowering roots are imported from Holland, they bear
forcing well; and hence this plant may be had to flower a full month or
six weeks in succession.
PARKINSON remarks, that in his time (1629) it was very rare,
and seldom bore flowers.
[2]
~Rudbeckia purpurea. Purple Rudbeckia.~
_Class and Order._
~Syngenesia Polygamia Frustranea.~
_Generic Character._
Receptaculum paleaceum, conicum. Pappus margine quadri-dentato. Calyx
duplici ordine squamarum.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
RUDBECKIA _purpurea_ foliis lanceolato-ovatis alternis indivisis, radii
petalis bifidis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 651. _Sp. Pl. p._ 1280.
DRACUNCULUS virginianus latifolius, petalis florum longissimis
purpurascentibus. _Moris. Hist._ 3. _p._ 42. _f._ 6. _t._ 9. _f._ 1.
[Illustration: No 2]
This species differs from the other plants of the genus, in the colour
of its outermost petals, which are long, narrow, purple, and pendulous,
and not unaptly resemble small pieces of red tape. Notwithstanding it is
a native of the warm climates Carolina and Virginia, it succeeds very
well with us in an open border: but, as Mr. MILLER very justly
observes, it will always be prudent to shelter two or three plants under
a common hot-bed frame in winter, to preserve the kind, because in very
severe winters, those in the open air are sometimes killed. It flowers
in July. As it rarely ripens its seeds with us, the only mode of
propagating it, is by parting the roots; but in that way the plant does
not admit of much increase.
[3]
~Helleborus hyemalis. Winter Hellebore, or Aconite.~
_Class and Order._
~Polyandria Polygynia[A].~
_Generic Character._
Calyx 0. Petala 5 sive plura. Nectaria bilabiata, tubulata. Capsulae
polyspermae erectiusculae.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HELLEBORUS _hyemalis_ flore folio infidente. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p._
431. _Sp. Pl. p._ 783.
ACONITUM unifolium bulbosum. _Bauh. Pin._ 183.
The Winter's Wolfesbane. _Park. Parad. p._ 214.
[Illustration: No 3]
Grows wild in Lombardy, Italy, and Austria, affects mountainous
situations, flowers with us in February, and hence is liable to be cut
off by severe frosts. "Is propagated by offsets, which the roots send
out in plenty. These roots may be taken up and transplanted any time
after their leaves decay, which is generally by the beginning of June
till October, when they will begin to put out new fibres; but as the
roots are small and nearly the colour of the ground, so if care is not
taken to search for them, many of the roots will be left in the ground.
These roots should be planted in small clusters, otherwise they will not
make a good appearance, for single flowers scattered about the borders
of these small kinds are scarce seen at a distance; but when these and
the Snowdrops are alternately planted in bunches, they will have a good
effect, as they flower at the same time, and are much of a size."
_Millers Gard. Dict._
[Footnote A: Most of the Hellebores vary greatly in the number of their
pistils, which in general are too few to justify the placing those
plants in the order Polygynia.]
[4]
~Cyclamen Coum. Round-leav'd Cyclamen.~
_Class and Order._
~Pentandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
Corolla rotata, reflexa, tubo brevissimo fauce prominente. Bacca tecta
capsula.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
CYCLAMEN _Coum_ foliis orbiculatis planis, pediculis brevibus, floribus
minoribus. _Miller's Dict._
CYCLAMEN hyemale orbiculatis foliis inferius rubentibus purpurascente
flore; Coum Herbariorum. _Hort. reg. Paris._ _Herm. Cat._
CYCLAMEN orbiculato folio inferne purpurascente. _Bauh. Pin. p._ 307.
The common round-leav'd Sowebread. _Park. Parad. p._ 198.
[Illustration: No. 4]
Grows wild in many parts of Italy and Germany, and is sometimes found
with white flowers; if the season be mild, or the plants sheltered from
the inclemency of the weather, this species will flower as early as
February, or much earlier by artificial heat.
As it grows naturally in woods and shady places, it will thrive best in
a mixture of bog-earth and loam placed in a north border; if planted in
the open border, it will require to be covered with a hand-glass during
winter, and in the spring, when in bloom; the more usual method with
gardeners is to preserve them in pots in a common hot-bed frame, the
advantage of this method is that they may, at any time, be removed to
decorate the parlour or the study.
The plants of this genus admit of but little increase by their roots;
the best method of propagating them is by seed, which should be sown
soon after they are ripe in boxes or pots, and covered about half an
inch deep, placing them where they may have only the morning-sun, till
the beginning of September, when they may be removed to a warmer
exposure.
[5]
~Erythronuim Dens Canis. Dogs-Tooth, or Dogs-Tooth Violet.~
_Class and Order._
~Hexandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
Corolla 6-petala, campanulata: Nectario tuberculis 2-petalorum
alternorum basi adnatis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ERYTHRONIUM _Dens Canis._ _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 269. _Sp. Pl. p._ 437.
Dens Canis latiore rotundioreque folio. _Bauh. Pin._ 87.
Dogs-Tooth with a pale purple flower. _Park. Parad. p._ 194.
[Illustration: No. 5]
Of this genus Mr. Miller makes two species; Linnaeus, perhaps with more
propriety, only one, for breadth of leaves or colour of flowers can
scarcely be considered as sufficient to constitute a specific
difference.
It is found in the gardens with purple flowers of two different tints,
also with white and yellow blossoms, grows naturally in Hungary and some
parts of Italy, and blows in the open border at the beginning of April.
"They are propagated by offsets from their roots. They love a shady
situation and a gentle loamy soil, but should not be too often removed.
They may be transplanted any time after the beginning of June, when
their leaves will be quite decayed, till the middle of September; but
the roots should not be kept very long out of the ground, for if they
shrink it will often cause them to rot. The roots of these flowers
should not be planted scattering in the borders of the flower-garden,
but in patches near each other, where they will make a good appearance."
_Miller's Gard. Dict._
[6]
~Narcissus Minor. Least Daffodil.~
_Class and Order._
~Hexandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
Petala 6, aequalia: Nectario infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. Stamina intra
nectarium.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
NARCISSUS _minor_ spatha uniflora, nectario obconico erecto crispo
sexfido aequante petala lanceolata. _Lin. Sp. Pl. p._ 415. _Syst.
Vegetab. p._ 262.
NARCISSUS parvus totus luteus. _Bauhin. Pin._ 53.
The least Spanish yellow bastard Daffodil. _Park. Parad. p._ 105.
[Illustration: No. 6]
We are not a little surprised that Mr. Miller should have taken no
notice of the present species, as it must have been in the English
gardens long before his time, being mentioned by Parkinson in his Garden
of pleasant Flowers: it is nearly related to the _Pseudo-Narcissus_, but
differs from it in many particulars except size, _vid. Lin. Sp. Pl._ and
Parkinson above quoted.
Though its blossoms are not so large as those of the other species, yet
when the roots are planted in a cluster, they make a very pretty shew,
and have this advantage, that they flower somewhat earlier than any of
the others.
Like the common Daffodil it propagates very fast by the roots, and will
thrive in almost any soil or situation.
Though a native of Spain, it is seldom injured by the severity of our
climate.
[7]
~Cynoglossum Omphalodes. Blue Navelwort.~
_Class and Order._
~Pentandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
Corolla infundibuliformis, fauce clausa fornicibus. Semina depressa
interiore tantum latere stylo affixa.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
CYNOGLOSSUM Omphalodes repens, foliis radicalibus cordatis[B], _Lin. Sp.
Pl. p._ 193. _Syst. Vegetab. p._ 157. _Scopoli Fl. Carn. p._ 124. _t._
3.
SYMPHYTUM minus borraginis facie. _Bauh. Pin._ 259.
BORAGO minor verna repens, folio laevi. _Moris. hist._ 3. _p._ 437. _s._
11, _t._ 26. _fig._ 3.
[Illustration: No. 7]
A native of Spain, Portugal, and Carniola, and an inhabitant of woods
and shady situations, flowers in March and April: in the autumn it puts
forth trailing shoots, which take root at the joints, whereby the plant
is most plentifully propagated; thrives best under a wall in a North
border.
[Footnote B: "Stolones repunt non caulis florifer, cui folia ovalia, et
minime cordata. TOURNEFORTIUS separavit a SYMPHITO, et dixit
OMPHALLODEM _pumilam vernam, symphyti folio_, sed bene monet
LINNAEUS solam fructus asperitatem aut glabritiem, non sufficere ad novum
genus construendum." _Scopoli Fl. Carn. p._ 124.]
[8]
~Helleborus Niger. Black Hellebore, or Christmas Rose.~
_Class and Order._
~Polyandria Polygynia.~
_Generic Character._
Calyx nullus. Petala 5 sive plura. Nectaria bilabiata, tubulata. Capsulae
polyspermae, erectiusculae.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
HELLEBORUS niger scapo sub-bifloro subnudo, foliis pedatis. _Lin. Syst.
Vegetab. p._ 431. _Sp. Pl. p._ 783.
HELLEBORUS niger flore roseo, _Bauh. Pin._ 186.
The true Black Hellebore, or Christmas flower. _Parkins. Parad. p._ 344.
[Illustration: No. 8]
As our Publication seems likely to fall into the hands of such as are
totally unacquainted with Botany, or botanical writings, it must plead
as an apology for our often explaining many circumstances relative to
plants, which may be well known to adepts in the science.
This plant derives its first name from the black colour of its roots,
its second from its early flowering, and the colour of its petals, which
though generally milk-white on their first appearance, yet have
frequently a tint of red in them, which increases with the age of the
blossom and finally changes to green; in some species of Hellebore,
particularly the _viridis_, the flower is green from first to last.
Black Hellebore grows wild on the Appenine and other mountains,
preferring such as are rocky.
If the weather be unusually mild, it will flower in our gardens, in the
open border, as early as December and January; it may indeed be
considered as the herald of approaching spring.
Like most other alpine plants, it loves a pure air, a situation
moderately moist, and a soil unmanured: as the beauty of its flowers is
apt to be destroyed by severe frosts, it should be covered during the
winter with a hand-glass, or if it be treated in the manner recommended
for the round-leav'd Cyclamen, it may be had to flower in still greater
perfection.
It is propagated by parting its roots in autumn: neither this species
nor the _hyemalis_ thrive very near London.
[9]
~Iris pumila. Dwarf Iris.~
_Class and Order._
~Triandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
Corolla sex-partita: Petalis alternis, reflexis. Stigmata petaliformia.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
IRIS pumila corollis barbatis, caule foliis breviore unifloro. _Lin.
Syst. Vegetab. p._ 78. _Sp. Plant. p._ 56. _Jacq. Fl. Austr. t._ 1.
CHAMAEIRIS minor flore purpureo. _Bauh. Pin._ 33.
The lesser purple dwarf Flower-de-luce. _Park. Parad. p._ 186.
[Illustration: No. 9]
Gardeners, in former days, not having that profusion of plants to attend
to and cultivate, which we can at present boast, appear to have been
more solicitous in increasing generally the varieties of the several
species; accordingly, we find in the _Paradisus terrestris_ of the
venerable PARKINSON, no less than six varieties of this
plant[C], most of which are now strangers to the Nursery Gardens. We may
observe, that varieties in general not being so strong as the original
plant, are consequently much sooner lost.
The Iris pumila grows wild in many parts of Hungary, affects open and
hilly situations, and flowers in our gardens in the month of April; it
is a very hardy plant, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation;
is propagated by parting its roots in autumn.
[Footnote C:
The lesser purple dwarf Flower-de-luce with white blossoms,
-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- straw colour ditto.
-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- pale blue ditto.
-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- blush-coloured ditto.
-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- yellow variable ditto.
-- ---- ---- --- ---- --- blue variable ditto,
and the purple dwarf Sea Flower-de-luce of the same author, is
probably no other than a variety.]
[10]
~Anemone Hepatica. Hepatica, or Noble Liverwort.~
_Class and Order._
~Polyandria Polygynia.~
_Generic Character._
Calyx nullus. Petala 6. 9. Semina plura.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ANEMONE Hepatica foliis trilobis integerrimis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._
424. _Sp. Pl. p._ 758. _Fl. Suec. n._ 480.
TRIFOLIUM hepaticum flore simplici et pleno. _Bauh. Pin._ 339.
Red Hepatica or noble Liverwort. _Park. Parad. p._ 226.
[Illustration: No. 10]
Dillenius, Miller, and some other authors, make a distinct genus of the
_Hepatica_: Linnaeus unites it with the _Anemone_, observing, that though
it differs from the _Anemone_ in having a calyx, yet that calyx is at
some distance from the flower, and partakes more of the Nature of an
Involucrum, which is not uncommon to the Anemonies.
The Hepaticas, as Parkinson observes, flower soon after the winter
Hellebore, "and making their pride appear in winter, are the more
welcome early guests."
It is found wild in its single state, with red, blue, and white flowers,
in the woods and shady mountains of Sweden, Germany, and Italy; the red
variety with double flowers is the one most commonly cultivated in our
gardens; the double blue is also not unfrequent; the single white is
less common; and the double white Miller never saw, yet admits that it
may exist spontaneously, or be produced from seed: Parkinson mentions a
white variety with red threads or stamina.
According to Miller, this plant delights in a loamy soil, and in an
eastern position where it may have only the morning sun: the single
sorts are easily raised from seed; the double, increased by parting the
roots, which ought to be done in March when they are in bloom; they
should not be divided into very small heads: these plants, if often
removed and parted, are apt to die, but left undisturbed for many years,
they will thrive exceedingly, and become very large roots.
[11]
~Erica herbacea. Herbaceous Heath.~
_Class and Order._
~Octandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
Calyx 4-phyllus. Corolla 4-fida. Filamenta receptaculo inserta. Antherae
bifidae. Capsula 4-locularis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
ERICA _herbacea_ antheris muticis exsertis, corollis oblongis, stylo
exserto, foliis quaternis, floribus secundis, _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._
306. _carnea Sp. Pl. ed._ 3. _p._ 504.
ERICA _carnea_. _Jacq. Fl. Austr. v._ 1. _tab._ 32
ERICA procumbens herbacea. _Bauh. Pin. p._ 486.
[Illustration: No. 11]
Since the days of Mr. Miller, who, with all his imperfections, has
contributed more to the advancement of practical gardening than any
individual whatever, our gardens, but more especially our green-houses,
have received some of their highest ornaments from the introduction of a
great number of most beautiful Heaths: the present plant, though a
native of the Alps and mountainous parts of Germany, is of modern
introduction here, what renders it particularly acceptable, is its
hardiness and early flowering; its blossoms are formed in the autumn,
continue of a pale green colour during the winter, and expand in the
spring, flowering as early as March, especially if kept in a
green-house, or in a common hot-bed frame, which is the more usual
practice.
It may be propagated by seeds or cuttings, the latter is the most ready
way of increasing this and most of the other species of the genus: when
the cuttings have struck root, they should be planted in a mixture of
fresh loam and bog earth, either in the open border, under a wall, or in
pots.
The name of _herbacea_, which Linnaeus has given to this plant, is not
very characteristic, but it should be observed, that Linnaeus in this, as
in many other instances, has only adopted the name of some older
botanist; and it should also be remembered, that in genera, where the
species are very numerous, it is no easy matter to give names to all of
them that shall be perfectly expressive.
This species does not appear to us to be specifically different from the
_mediterranea_.
[12]
~Dodecatheon Meadia. Mead's Dodecatheon, or American Cowslip.~
_Class and Order._
~Pentandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Corolla_ rotata, reflexa. _Stamina_ tubo insidentia. _Capsula_
unilocularis, oblonga.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
DODECATHEON _Meadia_. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 163. _Sp. Plant. p._ 163.
MEADIA _Catesb. Car._ 3. _p._ 1. _t._ 1. _Trew. Ehret. t._ 12.
AURICULA ursi virginiana floribus boraginis instar rostratis, cyclaminum
more reflexis. _Pluk. alm._ 62. _t._ 79. _f._ 6.
[Illustration: No. 12]
This plant grows spontaneously in Virginia and other parts of North
America, from whence, as Miller informs us, it was sent by Mr. Banister
to Dr. Compton, Lord Bishop of London, in whose curious garden he first
saw it growing in the year 1709.
It is figured by Mr. Catesby, in his Natural History of Carolina, among
the natural productions of that country, who bestowed on it the name of
_Meadia_, in honour of the late Dr. Mead, a name which Linnaeus has not
thought proper to adopt as a generic, though he has as a trivial one.
"It flowers the beginning of May, and the seeds ripen in July, soon
after which the stalks and leaves decay, so that the roots remain
inactive till the following spring.
"It is propagated by offsets, which the roots put out freely when they
are in a loose moist soil and a shady situation; the best time to remove
the roots, and take away the offsets, is in August, after the leaves and
stalks are decayed, that they may be fixed well in their new situation
before the frost comes on. It may also be propagated by seeds, which the
plants generally produce in plenty; these should be sown in autumn,
soon after they are ripe, either in a shady moist border, or in pots,
which should be placed in the shade; in the spring, the plants will come
up, and must then be kept clean from weeds; and, if the season proves
dry, they must be frequently refreshed with water: nor should they be
exposed to the sun; for while the plants are young, they are very
impatient of heat, so that I have known great numbers of them destroyed
in two or three days, which were growing to the full sun. These young
plants should not be transplanted till the leaves are decayed, then they
may be carefully taken up and planted in a shady border, where the soil
is loose and moist, at about eight inches distance from each other,
which will be room enough for them to grow one year, by which time they
will be strong enough to produce flowers, so may then be transplanted
into some shady borders in the flower-garden, where they will appear
very ornamental during the continuance of their flowers." _Miller's
Gard. Dict._
[13]
~Coronilla glauca. Sea-green, or Day-smelling Coronilla.~
_Class and Order._
~Diadelphia Decandria.~
_Generic Character._
_Calyx_ bilabiatus: 2/3: dentibus superioribus connatis. _Vexillum_ vix
alis longius. _Legumen_ isthmis interceptum.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
CORONILLA _glauca_ fruticosa, foliolis septenis, obtusissimis, stipulis
lanceolatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p._ 557. _Sp. Pl._ 1047.
CORONILLA maritima, glauco folio. _Tournef. inst._ 650.
COLUTEA scorpioides maritima, glauco folio. _Bauh. Pin._ 397. _prodr._
157.
[Illustration: No. 13]
This charming shrub, which is almost perpetually in blossom, and
admirably adapted for nosegays, is a native of the south of France, and
a constant ornament to our green-houses.
Linnaeus has observed, that the flowers, which in the day time are
remarkably fragrant, in the night are almost without scent.
"It is propagated by sowing the seeds in the spring, either upon a
gentle hot-bed, or on a warm border of light earth: when the plants are
come up about two inches high, they should be transplanted either into
pots, or into a bed of fresh earth, at about four or five inches
distance every way, where they may remain until they have obtained
strength enough to plant out for good, which should be either in pots
filled with good fresh earth, or in a warm situated border, in which, if
the winter is not too severe, they will abide very well, provided they
are in a dry soil." _Miller's Gard. Dict._
[14]
~Primula villosa. Mountain Primula.~
_Class and Order._
~Pentandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Involucrum_ umbellulae. _Corollae_ tubus cylindricus: ore patulo.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
PRIMULA _villosa_ foliis obovatis dentatis villosis, scapo brevissimo
multifloro.