THE ANTIRRHINUM, OR SNAP DRAGON, 208 
CALCEOLARIAS. 
1. Mr. Gaines, for Cavalier, Gustavus, Prima Donna, Bianca, Don 
Juan, and Eclipse; 2. Messrs. Henderson and Co., Pine-apple-place, 
Miss Rattray, Duke of Rothsay, Black Agnes, Dr. Neill, Lucy Ashton, 
and Catherine Seaton. 
RANUNCULUSES. 
Beautiful exhibitions of these interesting flowers, though in some 
instances hardly sufficiently blown, were sent by Mr. Tyso, of Walling- 
ford, and Mr. Costar, of Benson ; Mr. Tyso showed two stands of fifty 
fine blooms each, among which were specimens of his superb seedling 
varieties named Flaminius, Enchantress, Emerald, Arbitrator, Pleaser, 
Delectus, Alexis, Exhibitor, Deedalion, Minios, Amasis, Victor, Festus, 
Brunel, and Edwin; Lightbody’s Herald and Dr. Channing; Kilgour’s 
Queen and Princess Royal; also Apollo, Eliza, Horatio, and Dido, 
raisers not stated. Mr. Costar showed forty-eight blooms, including 
some good flowers of Napier, Porsenna, Extasy, Moultan, Lancet, and 
Coronation. 
THE ANTIRRHINUM, OR SNAP DRAGON. 
Tus singular and handsome flower is made the emblem of presumption, 
from its monopetalous (being formed of one petal) corolla forming a 
mask, which resembles the face of an animal, and it has from that 
circumstance received various names, as Dog’s Mouth, Lion’s Snap, 
Toad’s Mouth, Cat’s Eye, and Snap Dragon, from the resemblance of 
the flowers when expanded to an open mouth, which is seen by pressing 
the sides it opens like a mouth, the stigma appearing to represent the 
tongue; on removing the pressure the lips of the corolla snap together, 
and hence its name. It is also called Calf ’s Snout, from the form of 
its seed vessel, hence Antirrhinum from anti, similar, and rhin, snout. 
Tt is a flower which we cannot examine without admiring how won- 
derfully it is formed and adapted for the bleak situations in which it 
grows naturally, as on the highest rocks, or out of the crevices of the 
most exposed cliffs, or the chinks of the loftiest towers. In all of these 
situations its parts of fructification are guarded against the tempest by 
the singularly shaped corolla, which defies either wind or rain to enter 
until impregnation has taken place, when the mask falls off to allow a 
free access of air to the seed vessel. 
It is now generally considered to be a native of this country, grow- 
ing wild on the coasts of Sussex and .Kent, particularly on the cliffs 
and hills of Dover. In every situation it is an elegant flower, but by 
cultivation is so much improved that plants have been grown seven 
feet high, and four feet in diameter. 
The attention of florists has been recently given to raising improved 
hybrids, and now we have a number of strikingly handsome varieties 
highly deserving a place in every flower garden. 
' They are very easy of cultivation, flourishing in a good rich loam, 
and supplying them liberally with water in dry weather. 
In order to have a display of these pretty flowers from the beginning 
of May to November two plantings must be made. 
