2Q4 FLORA HISTORICA. 



Quand I'oinbre efface leur couleurs, 

 Tu reprends alors ta parurc ; 

 Et do I'absence de tes fleurs 

 Tu viens consoler la nature. 



Sous le voile mysterleux 

 De la craintive modestie, 

 Tu veux echapper k nos yeux, 

 Et tu n'en es que plus jolie. 

 On cherclie, on aime a decouvrir 

 Le doux tresor que tu receles ; 

 All ! pour encor les embellir, 

 Donne ton secret k nos belies." 



In emblematical language this flower is made 

 the symbol of timidity. 



The generic name of Mirabilis was given to 

 this plant from the wonderful diversity of colours 

 in the flowers. This beautiful plant was ori- 

 ginally brought into Spain from Peru, where 

 it was called Hachal, and for some short time 

 it retained the name of Hachal InclL It was 

 first named Mirahilia Peruviana by Carolus Clu- 

 sius, and we may therefore naturally conclude 

 that it was first introduced into Europe from the 

 middle to the end of the sixteenth century, that 

 being the period of his botanical labours. From 

 the form of the flowers being somewhat similar 

 to those of the Jasmine, several old writers 

 named it Jasminum Mcxicamim, 



It was first cultivated in this country in the 



