108 FLORA HISTORICA, 



CRIMSON MONARDA. Monarda Flshdosa. 



Natural Order Verticillatce. Lahiatce, Juss. A Genus 

 of the Diandria Moiiogynia Class. 



We are indebted to the New World for all the 

 species of this genus of plants, of which we now 

 possess seven. It is named IMonarda from Nic. 

 Monarda, or Monardes, a physician of Seville, who 

 flourished in the sixteenth century. 



We are not able to ascertain whether this plant 

 was known in Spain so early as tlie sixteenth cen- 

 tury ; but the Fistulosa, with purple flowers, was 

 the first species known in England, and was intro- 

 duced in the vera* 1656, by ]\Ir. John Tradescant, 

 jun. ; whether he obtained it direct from Canada, 

 where it is a native, we are uncertain. The 

 Crimson-flowered jMonarda is a variety of the 

 Fistidosa, and was first obtained from the Dutch 

 florists by Messrs. Grimwood and Co., of Ken- 

 sington, about the year 1790. This beautiful 

 plant recommends itself to our notice by the fra- 

 grance of its foliage^ as well as by its tufts of beau- 

 tiful crimson flowers, which crown every branch, 

 from tlie month of June to the .end of AujTust. 



