92 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



CISTUS. 



POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Called also gum cistus, and rock rose. — French, le ciste. — Italian, 

 cistOj cistio. 



The Cistus is a very extensive genus, and all the species 

 are valuable ornaments to a garden; Their flowers, al- 

 though of short duration, are succeeded almost every day 

 by fresh ones, for more than two months, and are generally 

 about the size of a. rose. They are of different colours, 

 and the plants retain their leaves all the year. 



Some few require a stove ; it will be sufficient to specify 

 the most beautiful kinds which may be preserved without 

 one. 



The Poplar-leaved Cistus, a native of Portugal : flowers 

 white, tinged with purple at the edges; bloom in June and 

 July. 



The Bay-leaved Cistus, a native of Spain : flowers white ; 

 blow in June and July. 



The Spanish Gum Cistus : white flowers, with spots of 

 purple at the base ; in blossom from June to August. — 

 The whole plant exudes a sweet glutinous substance in 

 warm weather, which has a strong balsamic scent, and 

 perfumes the air to a great distance. 



The Montpelier Gum Cistus, a native of Narbonne and 

 Valencia : white flowers, open from June to August. — 

 This species exudes a gum, like the last. There is a va- 

 riety of it, with lemon-coloured flowers. 



The Hoary Ilock Rose, or Rose Cistus, le ciste ordinaire 

 of the French : a native of Spain and Narbonne ; purple 

 flowers. 



The Cretan Cistus : a native of the Levant ; flowers red 

 purple, blowing in June and July. This is frequently 



