74 OX THE CULTURE OF THE HEPATICA. 



fig. 1,) a double blue variety, calling it Hepatica Irifolia, carulea 

 polyanthos. He also in the same work figured — 



Hepatica^or/MwVcv, (single white,) Part I., plate 1, fig. 2. 



H. Irifolia aureuni, (single yellow,) Part IV., plate 6. 



H. irifolia carulea, (single blue,) Part IV., plate 6. 



Parkinson (Paradisus Terrestris, p. 225,) describes ten varie- 

 ties with but minute shades of difference as to some; he was too 

 good an authority, however, for us to doubt their existence in his 

 time ; but he makes no mention of the double while, nor of the 

 double red. As it may be useful to those who do not possess his 

 excellent " Garden of Pleasant Flowers," to have the characters of 

 the leaves and flowers, I subjoin his descriptions of them, slightly 

 abridged, as to the leaves. For " their diversity among themselves 

 consisteth chiefly in the colour of the flowers, all of them being 

 single, except one which is very thick and double." 



1. The great single blue Hepatica. — " The leaves are somewhat 

 brown, and hairy at their first coming, which after are broad : the 

 flowers are of a faire blew colour, with many white chives or threads 



(stamens) in the middle." 



2. The small blue II. — " The leaves of this Hepatica are 

 smaller by the lialfe than the former, and grow more abundantly, 

 or bushing thick together: the flowers (when it shewcth them, for 

 I have had the plant half a score years, and vet never saw it beare 

 flower above once or twice,) are of a pale or bleak blew colour, 

 not so large as the flowers of the former." 



3. The purple II. — " This Hepatica is in all things like unto 

 the first, but only the flowers are of a deeper blew, tending to a 

 violet purple." 



4. The lesser white II. — " The flowers of this Hepatica are 

 wholly white, of the bignesse of the red or purple, and the leaves 

 somewhat smaller, and of a little whiter or paler green colour, else 

 in all other things agreeing with the former." 



5. The great while H. — "There is no other diflerence herein 

 from the last, but that i\\? flower being as white, is as large as the 

 next." 



6. The ash-coloured , or Argentrive II. — " Both the leaves and 

 the flou-er;. of this Hepaticn, are larger than any of the former 

 except ihe last : the flowers hereof at the first opening seem to be 

 of Q blush ash-colour, which do -;<> abide three or foure daves, de- 



