active 1799-1828 Henry Cranke Andrews

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ Less of dung and more loam, than is necessary for most Geraniums, will preserve this plant best through the winter; in which season, it should be kept in a dry and airy part of the greenhouse, to avoid the damps, which otherwise, often prove fatal to it.
That the charm of novelty, however erroneous or absurd, has found at all times its votaries, we have daily experience; therefore cannot wonder at, though we may regret its consequent influence on the many, who wish to signalize themselves, under its delusive banner. ”

“ No plant perhaps ever excited such universal admiration, as the Scarlet Fuchsia; wherefore, the addition of a second species to our collections, of so fine a Genus, must be considered as a very agreeable acquisition. The Box Thorn-like Fuchsia, is a native of the North-west coast of America; and was first brought to England, in the year 1796: it is certainly, much more tender than the Scarlet Fuchsia, as the plant constantly perishes, as low as to the earth, if not preserved in the hothouse; but whether it is herbaceous the root surviving, we have not sufficient experience to determine. ”

“ Of all the plants yet introduced from New Holland, that have hitherto flowered with us, this unquestionably takes the lead for beauty, considering the plant altogether. It is a hardy greenhouse plant, growing to the height of six or eight feet before it flowers; when the blossoms break from the ends of almost every branch. The seeds of this plant were among the first which arrived from Botany Bay, in the year 1788; when two varieties of it were raised by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, at their nursery, who were fortunate enough to procure all the seeds which came home that season. ”

“ It is no small difficulty to distinguish the blossom in Gnidia, and Lachnæa, from the empalement in Passerina, and Struthiola; the same exact natural structure being alike in them all; and to us, appear noticeable in their small variations, rather as forming specific, than generic distinctions. As our plan is not to alter, upon any terms, what has been determinately settled by that great master in the arcana of nature, let our opinions be what they will ”

“ The N. I. Trumpet Flower is, in its native soil, a deciduous plant; upon the return of the season, in which the young tendrils begin to shoot, and the leaves begin to appear; within fifteen, or twenty days, the whole plant is entirely covered with a white downy insect, of the genus Aphis, something similar to our blight; which, in a very short time from their first appearance on this plant, become so completely dispersed over every vegetable production, that scarce a green leaf is to be seen through the whole extent of the island. ”

“ Fig Marygold with leaves embracing the stem, very smooth, and spatula-shaped; the foot-stalks the length of the leaves; cups hemispherical; blossoms yellow.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Seed-bud; the Blossom, Cup and Chives, cut off, the Pointals remaining.
2. The same, with the Cup and Chives.
As the extreme brilliancy of this plant cannot be done justice to in painting, we must rest satisfied with having done our best; every person in the least acquainted with the art, must know, that in yellow the shining colour existing in nature cannot be retained in a drawing. ”

“ Plan. p. 511; from both of whom we learn, that it is a native of the coast of the Black Sea, and therefore perfectly hardy, at least sufficiently so to endure our climate. It is the handsomest in foliage of any species of the genus, having, like most of them, fragrant flowers; which begin to shew themselves with the first budding of the plant in spring, about the first week in March. Like our common Spurge-laurel it delights in shade, making a pretty evergreen shrub, about two feet in height; and grows best in a light loamy soil. ”

“ Owing to the naked appearance of the stem, and its growing to so considerable a height before it flowers, and that but rarely, has rendered it a plant but of little consideration; though perhaps, from the great beauty of its blossoms, it deserves more attention. Being a native of the West Indies, it does not flourish without the assistance of tan heat; but will live in any situation of the hothouse; thriving best in a mixture of loam and peat, and is readily propagated by cuttings. ”

“ From an imported plant, in the Hibbertian collection, our drawing was made this year.
A continual harping on the same subject, may perhaps appear rather tiresome; but, as almost every real new species of Geranium, which falls under our observation, seems to add a fresh proof of the futility of the new arrangement, we cannot forbear noticing it. This species, for instance, has every other essential generic character of Monsieur L’Heritier’s Pelargonium, but unfortunately the most essential. ”

“ That a plant of such extreme beauty, and sweetness, should so long have been a stranger to our European gardens, though known to, and described by, so many botanical travellers, must seem matter of wonder ”

“ The Gladiolus ringens about mid-day has the flavour of violets so powerfully, that a single plant is sufficient to scent a whole greenhouse. It is with difficulty preserved from rotting at the root; therefore should be grown in very sandy peat, and should be exposed to dry as soon as the flower is gone. ”

“ Thus eternizing the name of an esteemed and faithful servant, who by his ardour in botanical pursuits, had merited the honour; rejecting the usual considerations, riches, or learning, does the Dr. no less credit as a man, for the kindness of his heart, than what his distinguished talents have gained him, by placing him in the first botanical seat in this kingdom. ”

“ The husk is of one valve, the petals not even close at the base, the threads flat, the summits three, and halbert-shaped, the shaft pillar-shape and short, &c. But, as upon our old plea, we do not choose to change generic names when long established, this plant, for us, must still remain an Hypoxis; tho’ it could not now be placed, at any rate, to Fabricia, as that title is given to a family of plants, natives of New Holland. The star-flowered Hypoxis is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, is rather a tender bulb, and does not often flower. ”

“ The Genus Epidendrum, takes its Generic title from its place of growth, being what Botanists term parasitical, that is, growing on another plant; which is the case, with most of the species of this Genus: yet is cultivated here with success, by planting it in a mixture of rotten wood, and loam. ”

“ It is of an extreme delicate nature, and overmuch wet easily destroys it; differing from most Cape bulbs, in requiring a light loamy earth, and the assistance of a dry stove, to make it flower well; which it will do by such aid, about May, or June; seldom producing seeds, and propagating but slowly by the root. From the fugitive character of this plant, it is difficult to ascertain the first cultivator; for although it does not appear amongst the Gladiolus in the Hortus Kewensis, it must undoubtedly have come into that immense collection at different periods, but never flowered ”

“ That so ornamental, and so easily propagated a plant as the Gaultheria, should have been so little noticed, or cultivated in our gardens, is rather singular; as, it is perfectly hardy in every exposure, an evergreen, and from the beautiful appearance of the fruit and flowers, which come in succession nearly through the whole year; must be considered, as one of our prettiest creeping or dwarf shrubs, for the front of the shrubbery borders, &c. as it never rises higher than six, or eight inches ”

“ Having followed Willdenow, rather than Jacquin, in the Generic name of this plant, our reason is, each species which has hitherto been thrown to this Genus, since its first formation, might well make a distinct one; if every generic or even essential, character, was to be critically attended to. The fruit forming the principal essential character, a specimen of which we have seen, containing two large seeds like C. Manghas, determined us in our adoption. ”

“ The description, in his dictionary, of a plant cultivated by Miller in 1768, where he says, “the leaves are long, narrow, with a groove on the upper side, the peduncle arising immediately from the root, supporting one flower, of a fine blue colour;” surely can have no connection with our plant, but in the colour of its blossom. From every appearance of the plant, even in an abortive specimen, more than one flower must be produced, if any. It is enumerated, in the Kew Catalogue, as one of the species of Cyanella ”

“ The two Sheaths of the Empalement (magnified) .
2. The Blossom.
3. The Chives (magnified) .
4. The Pointal (magnified) .
No genus exhibits greater diversity, either in the figure, or colour of the blossoms, of its various species than Ixia; the extreme delicacy of their colours, rendering it absolutely necessary to protect them both from wind and rain; even watering them over their heads (as is usual with greenhouse plants) , at once destroys their brilliancy. The bulbs of this species were gathered at the Cape, by J. Pringle, Esq. ”

“ A few small inaccuracies occur in the generic character of this Genus, which we have rectified; one is, that the inner, and not the outer petals, are those which hang forward; the others may be observed by those, who may consider them worthy notice. This species is a bulbous-rooted plant, flowering freely in the green-house; although the roots had been received, late in the season, from the collector for the Hibbertian Collection now at the Cape ”

“ The Linear-leaved Persoonia, is indigenous to the same clime as the Lance-shaped leaved, given in our last number; grows to nearly the same height, and makes a handsome greenhouse plant, continuing to flower through the autumnal months; and producing good seeds. ”

“ Though it requires the protection of a greenhouse in winter, it may be made an ornamental plant for the flower borders in autumn, by putting single cuttings, in small pots filled with rich earth, into the heat of a hotbed, early in March, they will be fit to transplant into the open ground the latter end of June, and will flower about August, continuing to blossom till destroyed by the frost ”