150 



The second species has a round, solid, tuberous root, and low 

 naked slem, furnished with phiin orbicular leaves, and short weak 

 pelioles; the under side of the leaves very red in the beginning of 

 winter, but that colour goes otT in the spring; the upper side smooth, 

 of a lucid green, spreading flat open : the flowers are very bright 

 purple, appearing in the middle of winter. It is a native of the 

 South of Europe. 



There are varieties with purplish flowers, and with flesh-coloured 

 flowers. 



In the third, the leaves are stiff, on strong fleshy petioles, near six 

 inches long, of a purple colour, as are also the veins of the leaves 

 underneath; but the upper side is veined and marbled with white: 

 the corolla is pure white, with a bright purple bottom. It flowers in 

 March and April, and the seeds ripen in August. 



There are varieties with entire white sweet-scented flowers, and 

 with veined and marbled leaves, with pale purple flowers, and bright 

 red or purpled bottoms. 



The fourth has a large, orbicular, compressed root: the leaves 

 are numerous on pelioles six or seven inches long, marked with black 

 in the middle: the flowers appear before them on long fleshy scapes 

 about August; soon after which the leaves come out, continue grow- 

 ing all the winter and spring till May, when they begin to decay. 

 After the flowers arc fifllen, the peduncles Iwist up like a screw, in- 

 closing the germ in the centre, and lie close to the ground among the 

 leaves, which serve as a protection to the seed, which ripens in June. 

 It is a native of Italy. 



There are varieties with white and with purplish flowers. 

 Culture. — These plants are all capable of being increased by 

 sowing the seeds in large wide pots, tubs, or boxes, tilled wilh good 

 light mould, mixed witli a little sand, in the latter end of summer or 

 beginning of autumn, covering them to the depth of about half an 

 inch, exposing them at first in situations that have only the morning 

 sun, but afterwards removing them into more warm and sunny ex- 

 posures; and as the winter approaches, placing them under the pro- 

 tection of frames and glasses, or some other contrivance, fresh air 



