190 FLORA HrSTORICA, 



BALSAM. Impatieiis. 



Natural Order Cory dales, Geranice, Juss : a Genus of 

 the Pentandria Monogynia Class. 



** Balsam, with its shaft of amber." 



This delicate and beautiful plant is a native of 

 the East Indies, China, Cochin China, and Japan, 

 and it may be ranked amongst the most elegant 

 annual flowers which the warmer climates have af- 

 forded us ; yet it is greatly neglected by the English 

 florists of the present day, who have, in great 

 measure, laid it aside for plants that are more 

 precarious in rearing, and less beautiful when 

 raised. 



The love of novelty even in plants often leads 

 us from old established favourites to less interest- 

 ing objects ; and where fashion points the way, 

 we as naturally follow, as if this supreme di- 

 rectress were incapable of error. We shall there- 

 fore entreat the gay nymph to renew her smiles 

 on this eastern plant, whose wax-like flowers 

 contributed as essentially to embellish the British 

 parterres of the last age as they do those of the 

 continent at present. The Balsam has the pecu- 



