Part 34

See GERANIUM GRANDIFLORUM, Plate XII.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium foliis carnosis, pinnatis; caulis fruticosus, ramosus, fragilis; petalis linearibus, pedunculis erectis.

Geranium with fleshy winged leaves; stem shrubby, branched and brittle; petals linear, fruit-stalks upright.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement cut open, to shew its tubular shape to its base. 2. The Chives, and Pointal, (natural size). 3. The Pointal, (magnified).

The Geranium fragile has in general seven fertile tips, and thus comes under Linnæus’s first arrangement; and Mons. L’Heritier’s Genus Pelargonium. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy in the year 1792. This plant seldom grows more than a foot high, but during the months of July, August, and September, it is covered with blossoms, which are of a pale yellow, striped at the bottom with red, standing nearly upright. It is rather a tender plant, requiring a dry stove, or hothouse, to preserve it in winter, being very subject to damp in the leaves; is easily propagated by cuttings, and thrives best in rich mould.

PLATE XXXVIII.

GLADIOLUS PRÆCOX. Var. flore rubro.

Red early-flowering Gladiolus.

CLASS III. ORDER I.

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA 6-partita, ringens.

STAMINA adscendentia.

BLOSSOM six divisions, gaping.

CHIVES ascending.

See Plate XI. GLADIOLUS ROSEUS.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Gladiolus foliis ensiformibus, apicibus tortis, lineari-cruciatis; corollis sub-campanulatis, rubris; petalis acuminatis.

Gladiolus with sword-shaped leaves, twisted at the ends, linear, and cross-shaped; blossoms nearly bell-shaped, and red; petals sharp-pointed.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The two Sheaths of the Empalement. 2. A Blossom cut open, to expose the situation of the Chives. 3. The Pointal, one of the Summits magnified. 4. A Seed.

Of all the species of this numerous Genus, this is the first to expand its blossoms, seldom flowering later than April; is extremely hardy, scarce requiring the warmth of a greenhouse for its protection, although a native of the Cape. About the year 1791, the bulbs of this plant were purchased of Messrs. Voorhelm, and Co. of Haarlem, in Holland, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, at whose nursery it has repeatedly flowered, and where this figure was taken. It is propagated by the root, as other Gladiolus, and requires the same earth, a light sandy peat.

PLATE XXXIX.

ECHIUM FEROCISSIMUM.

Prickly Viper’s Bugloss.

CLASS V. ORDER I.