The Botanical Magazine Vol. 7 or, Flower-Garden Displayed

Excerpt

Buchnera Viscosa. Clammy Buchnera.

Class and Order.

Didynamia Angiospermia.

Generic Character.

Cal. obsolete 5-dentatus. Corollæ limbus 5-fidus, æqualis: lobis cordatis. Caps. 2-locularis.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

BUCHNERA viscosa foliis lineari-lanceolatis laxe dentatis subglutinosis, floribus pedunculatis, caule fruticoso. L' Herit. Strip. nov. tom. 2. tab. 34. Ait. Kew. V. 2. p. 357.

Buchnera is a genus of plants established by Linnæus in honour of A. E. Buchner, a German naturalist.

Of this genus, nine species are enumerated in the 14th edition of the Systema Vegetabilium, by Professor Murray.

We learn from Mr. Aiton, that the present species (a native of the Cape) was introduced to the royal garden at Kew in 1774.

It cannot boast much beauty, yet as it occupies but little room, grows readily from cuttings, and flowers during most of the summer: it obtains a place in most greenhouses.

Disandra Prostrata. Trailing Disandra.

Class and Order.

Heptandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Cal. sub 7-partitus. Cor. rotata, subseptem-partita. Caps. 2-locularis, polysperma.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

DISANDRA prostrata. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. Suppl. Pl. p. 32. 214. Ait. Kew, V. 1. p. 493.

SIBTHORPIA peregrina. Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 3. p. 880.

The foliage of this plant greatly resembles that of Ground Ivy, and its branches trail on the ground somewhat in the same manner, extending to the length of several feet; but it is not on the ground that it is best seen, as its flowers are apt to be hid among the leaves: it appears most advantageously when growing in a pot, placed on a pedestal, or in some elevated situation, where its branches may hang carelessly down: thus treated, when fully blown, it becomes a most pleasing object.

Linnæus, the son, in his Suppl. Plant. observes, that the Disandra varies extremely in the number of its stamina, as it does also in the divisions of its calyx, and corolla; in this respect;, indeed, we do not know its equal: fortunately for those systems of Botany, which are formed from the number of certain parts of the fructification, few such inconstants exist.

Professor Murray observes, that seven is the most prevalent number of its stamina, five the most natural.

Linnæus describes it as a native of the East; Mr. Aiton informs us, that it was introduced here about the year 1771, from Madeira.

It flowers during most of the summer months; in the winter it must be kept in the green-house; in the summer it will bear the open air, grows readily from cuttings, should be planted in rich earth, and plentifully watered in dry weather.

Michauxia Campanuloides. Rough-Leav'd Michauxia.

Class and Order.

Octandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Cal. 16-partitus. Cor. rotata, 8-partita. Nectarium 8-valve, staminiferum. Caps. 8-locularis, polysperma. L' Heritier Monogr.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

MICHAUXIA campanuloides. L' Heritier Monogr.

The celebrated author of the Hortus Kewensis informs us, that the plant here figured is a native of the Levant, and was introduced to this country in the year 1787, by Mons....