active 1799-1828 Henry Cranke Andrews

“ The magnificence of this species of Protea, can be but poorly expressed within the limited bounds of our publication; we have, nevertheless, endeavoured to do it all the justice within our grasp. A considerable part of the lustre of the flower is lost, from the small portion of the leaves which could be introduced; as the contrasted beauty of the fine broad shining leaves, which form, as it were, a nidus, or ground wood for the blossom, contribute, so much, to heighten the beauty of the whole. ”

“ The Blossom expanded, to shew the situation of the Chives.
Of all the varied genera of plants which decorate that mine of botanical riches, the Cape of Good Hope, and the adjacent country, no one stands more conspicuous than Protea. Few travellers who have not noticed the singularity and beauty of their foliage; indeed they are of such extreme brilliancy, that no one, however indifferent to botanical researches, can pass them unobserved; forests of them being so numerous, the Protea Argentea, or Silver Tree, produces almost the only wood of the country ”

“ Rose with nearly round seed-buds, and peduncles hispid and glandular: flowers of a deep flesh-colour, and very sweet-scented: leaflets egg-shaped, pointed, sawed, and villose beneath.
This Rose is one of the most abundant, and, from being extremely common, is perhaps best known, but the least valued. Yet, if fragrance and beauty were instead of scarcity to fix a price, very few would be deserving of a higher sum. ”

“ Upon comparing our figure with a fine dried specimen of the D. hirsuta in the herbarium of A. B. Lambert, esq., we find so powerful a resemblance as induces us to regard our plant as only a variation of culture, more especially as in the magnifier slight vestiges of the hairs on the edges of the leaves are still discernible. But no fear need be entertained of any mode of culture rendering our present specific term impervious to the naked eye. ”

“ The bulb which it produces from the base of every leaf forms a future plant, and thus to unrivalled beauty adds abundance. Its time of flowering enhances its value, being in August, when all other lilies have deserted the parterre. ”

“ Perhaps amongst plants, there is no genus exhibits such varied and numerous species as Geranium; no one, in which the species are so allied in natural character, or so unfavourable to the sexual system, if some deviation from general rules was not allowed: the founder thought such licence necessary, and we implicitly follow him. Thus far we have thought proper to extenuate in the present instance; for should we follow Mons. L’Heritier, (as most of the modern correctors of Linnæus have done,) a new genus must inevitably be formed for this plant. ”

“ The Pointal and Seed-bud.
As it should seem a determined principle in the inscrutable arrangement of nature’s productions, to the greater humiliation of our very limited understandings; that no effort as emanating solely from thence, shall be perfect; so must we be content to pursue our Botanical travel, under the guidance of a system decidedly defective; yet certainly, the best we have to boast. Scarce a genus, comprehending a number of species, but must be strained in its class or order, for the introduction of one, or more species, evidently of the same family. ”

“ This division of the butterfly flowered plants, from New Holland, was among the first genera which were raised from the seeds of that country, in Britain. And though we have possessed the plants so long, and both species, or rather the two varieties, perfect their seeds with us; yet are the plants very scarce, few of them are to be met with, and seldom more than a plant, or two, is to be found in any collection. The Daviesias grow about a foot and a half high, and when in flower make a very pretty appearance, as nearly the whole bush is covered with blossoms. ”

“ It would be a vain endeavour to attempt to do justice to the beautiful shining silky appearance of the leaves; and when aided by its delicate purple flowers, its attraction is equal, if not superior, to any of the genus. The want of freedom in its flowering is a defect not entirely confined to this species only, but is in some degree attached to most Sophoras. ”

“ It is as yet so little known, that a dwarf variety of the Province is frequently sold for it; a mistake most probably owing to its being commonly called amongst cultivators Shailer’s Province Rose: but it certainly bears most resemblance to the Rosa Indica, and is, as far as we can understand, a hybrid production between the two species; and if so, it might come under the description of variety only. But, whilst nature produces such distinct and beautiful varieties, specific titles can only be regarded as a variation of terms. ”

“ We must therefore, after him, think no Generic division necessary. For the sake of correctness, where a Genus is so extended in its species as Geranium, Erica, &c. are; the conformity of particular parts, may form a secondary arrangement, as we find it constantly in Linnæus; the Heaths, from the shape of their tips, the Geraniums, from the number of fertile Chives; which a French Botanist of the name of L’Heritier, has thought of sufficient moment to create two new Genera on, Erodium and Pelargonium, retaining the old name Geranium for those only, with ten perfect Chives. ”

“ This new and very ornamental species is remarkable for having the under lip of the calyx often undivided, and every part of the plant up to the blossom covered with shining close-pressed hairs: nor are they entirely wanting on the blossom; on the lower part of the keel they are very conspicuous, hanging downwards like a little beard. A groove with a fringe on each side runs also along the upper side of the style towards the summit. Two thread-shaped silky stipules rise at the base of every leaf-stalk, and, being reflected backwards, closely embrace the stem. ”

“ As a native of that burning clime, it will not endure our winters, without the protection of the hothouse; to which, as a climber, it is a considerable ornament, both in foliage, and flower; the flowers coming, in succession, from June, till August; perhaps, much later, as we believe, this is the first time its blossoms have been produced in England. The propagation is extremely easy, by cuttings; but, to give the plant sufficient vigour for flowering, it must be planted in a border, prepared of old rotten dung, sandy peat, and loam, of each, equal parts ”

“ Rose, with roundish seed-buds; flowers very small, flesh-coloured, and of a deep red in the centre; leaflets egg-shaped, sharp-pointed, and small, hairy beneath, with finely sawed glandular margins. It is a dwarf shrub; stem and petioles prickly; the spines of the branches are scattered and straight.
This elegant little plant proves, as we imagined it would, distinct from the minor variety, whose flower and leaves we find subject to vary both in size and colour, but in the present true original species they are not. ”

“ Although repens is the more general title of this Protea, yet we have heard it sometimes called amplexicaulis, a name given by some cultivators to a plant whose foliage is so nearly resembling the one now figured, that, when it arrives at a flowering state, it will most probably prove to be no more than a variation of culture. It is a difficult matter to say in what stage the flower is most beautiful, whether in the bud state, before the pointals are released, or afterwards. From their long confinement, the pollen adheres so strongly to them, that when relieved they appear like the antheræ. ”

“ To dissent from most of the late publications on the science of Botany, may seem presuming; yet, when it shall be considered, that we take Linnæus for our sole guide, where that great master has incontestibly fixed a Generic character, to a tribe of plants, which undoubtedly, came clearly under his inspection; from his dictates, ours must emanate, although his authority may be questioned by others. If any good reasons had been found, to disunite a Genus, which nature has so palpably distinguished throughout all its numerous species ”

“ This and the last described species with the artificial characters of the genus Mespilus have all the natural habits of Cratægus, and show how ill even our most admired systems are calculated to trace and mark these fine gradations, which, while they yet distinguish, closely connect all nature. Too often the hue and cry of “Heretics! Innovators!” thundered out by the schools against all who will not implicitly follow their dogmas, drive the calm and unprejudiced students of nature out of the field. Yet he that discovers one new truth is surely a benefactor to society ”

“ The plant from which our figure was taken, had been sent to the Clapham collection amongst other bulbs which were received from Mr. Niven in the year 1800; it flowered the succeeding year, when our drawing was made. We believe, at present, it is in no other collection than that of Mr. Hibbert; nor do we think, without a fresh supply, it will be long seen in this country, as it has been often introduced, and as often lost; nor does it increase with us by the root, and the seeds have not, as yet, matured in this country; it appears to grow luxuriantly in sandy peat earth, and flowers in July. ”

“ This Iris is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced to us from the collection of Messrs. Voorhelm and Schnevoght, of Haarlem in Holland, about the year 1792. The leaves of this delicate Iris grow sometimes to the length of three feet, giving it a very singular appearance: it should be treated like the Cape Ixias, and protected from the weather, whilst in bloom, as the flower is injured by the lightest wind, and the duration of each blossom is but a few hours; there is, however, a good succession, which rise diurnally from the same sheath, seldom more than one at a time. ”