212 FLORA mSTORTCA. 



must here observe, tliat the beautifying of cur 

 landscapes by floral assistance has been hitherto but 

 too little rec-arded. 



The generic name of this plant is derived from 

 the Greek sTrt Xopoy nv, ^vhich expresses a violet 

 upon a pod, for the reddish violet-coloured flower 

 is seated in a singular manner on the extremity of 

 a long pod of the same colour ; and it is regarded as 

 a rare instance of the name expressing an essential 

 character of the plant. 



It is called Willow Herb, from the resemblance 

 which its leaves bear to those of the Scdix, or Wil- 

 low, and French Willow, we presume, from its 

 being originally brought from that country ; for 

 although it is now generally considered to be indi- 

 genous to this island, we have considerable doubts 

 about claiming it as an aboriginal of our soil. 



Parkinson describes this plant, in the year 1629, 

 under the title of Chamcpnerium Flore Delphinii, 

 the Willow-flower ; and he observes, " We have 

 not known where this Willow-flower groweth na- 

 turally, but we have it standing in an out corner of 

 our gardens to fill up the number of delightful 

 flowers." 



It was very natural to consider this flower to 

 have belonged to the family of Delphinium^ since 

 the flower-buds so much resemble those of the 

 Single Larkspur. 



