Nat. order. — campanulaceje. 77 



received the name of Rajniundtis, from the resemblance of tlie root 

 to that of a turnip : hence they have the names Ifapuin, Rapatttam, 

 Jfapuncuhis, from whence spring the French name Hciiprmcc, the 

 German Rapunzd, the Spanish one o^ Rapiunchiga, and the English 

 one of Rampion. 



Prof. Jacquin is the first author who ever figured this species 

 of Campanula ; afterwards Linnams, the son, described it, and as- 

 signed it the characters specified above ; but expressing his doubts 

 whether it was not a variety of the Camjjanida carpatica. Prof. 

 Jacquin clearly demonstrates that it cannot be so, as it diflfers most 

 essentially from that plant in a variety of particulars. His specific 

 description gi\cn agrees much better with the plants we have seen 

 flower here, than that of Linna>us ; there being generally more than 

 one flower on a stalk, and the leaves rarely growing three together. 

 The blossoms of this plant, when it grows in perfection, are very 

 large, nearly double the size of those of the Campanula carpatica, 

 whence its name grandiJlo}-a . Pi'evious to their opening fully, they 

 somewhat resemble an air balloon, from which circumstance it has 

 been called by some the Balloon-plant. This is as yet a rare plant 

 in this country, and likely to continue so, as it is with difficulty that 

 it is increased, multiplying but little by its roots, scarcely to be struck 

 from cuttings, and rarely producing perfect seeds. 



Propagation and Cidlurc. All the species are elegant and 

 handsome when in blossom, and are well adapted for decorating 

 flower borders. They in general thrive well- in common garden 

 earth. The seeds of the biennial and annual kinds should be sown 

 in the open border in the spring. The perennial species may either 

 be propagated by division or by seed. By sowing the seeds in the 

 autumn, the plants will blossom early in summer, and by successive 

 sowings in spring, at intervals of two or three weeks, a succession 

 of blossoming plants may be kept up. Some of the perennial 

 and biennial species, natives of the warm latitudes, require a little 

 protection in winter, when the weather is severe. 



