A Q U 



A R A 



Pentnoynla, and ranks in the natural order of 

 MuUisiliqiice. 



The characters of which are : that there is no 

 calyx : thecorollaconsistsof tivclanceolate-ovate, 

 flat, equal-spreading petals: the nectaries five, 

 equal, alternate with the petals ; each horned, 

 and gradually broader upwards, with an oblique 

 mouth ascending outwardly, and annexed in- 

 wardly to iViC receptacle, produced below into 

 a long attenuated tube with an obtuse top. The 

 stamina cwisist of numerous filaments, subu- 

 late ; the outer ones shorter, and oblong erect an- 

 theree the height of the nectaries : the pistil- 

 lum consists of five ovate, oblong germs ; 

 ending in subulate styles longer than the stamina, 

 and erect simple stigmas ; the chaffs ten, wrin- 

 kled, short, separate, and involving the germs : the 

 pericarpium consists of five erect, distinct, cy- 

 lindrical capsules, gaping from top inward, 

 containing numerous ovate, shining seeds, an- 

 nexed to the gaping suture. 



The species are : \. A. vulgaris, Common 

 Columbine 5 2. A. Alpiva, Mountain Colum- 

 bine ; 3. A. Canadensis, Canadian Dwarf 

 Columbine. 



In the first the stem is three feet high, erect, 

 branching, leafy, and somewhat angular. The 

 leaves smooth, glaucous underneath ; the 

 lower ones petiolate, biternatej the leaflets 

 roundish, trilobate, gashed and notched; the up- 

 per ones digitate, the lobes oval and quite en- 

 tire : the radical petioles very long. The flow- 

 ers are produced from the tops of the naked 

 branches, and hang down ; they have geiierally 

 six pistils and eight nectaries, it is a native 

 of most parts of Europe, and perennial, flower- 

 ing in June. 



There are several varieties, the flowers varying 

 greatly by culture, becoming double either by 

 multiplying the petals or the nectaries. And 

 of all these varieties, there are subordinate va- 

 riations, both in the degree of doubleness, as 

 with two or more rows of petals, two or three 

 rows of nectaries, curiously inserted one into 

 the other; and in the colours, as blue, white, 

 red, purple, flesh-coloured, ash-colonred, ches- 

 nut-coloured, and striped or variegated blue and 

 purple, blue and white, red and white, &c. 



The second species has the root biennial. 

 The leaves biternate, tender, and smaller than 

 in the common sort ; the leaflets multifid ; the 

 lobes sublinear and blunt; with the appearance 

 and tenderness of the Canadian Columbine. It 

 is a native of the Alps, fctc. and flowers in May 

 and June. 



The third has likewise a perennial root. The 

 stems are very slender, and reddish. The leaves in 

 the lower ones biternate, irregularly divided. 



the extreme lobes blunt; the upper ones sim- 

 ply ternate, toothed or quite entire ; the upper- 

 most simple, lanceolate, and acuminate. The 

 corollas yellow within, and red on the outside. 

 It is a native of Virginia, &c. and flowers in 

 April. 



Culture. — The culture in these plants mav be 

 effected, either by sowing the seeds, or parting 

 the old roots; but the first is the best practice, 

 as the old roots are apt to decline and degene- 

 rate after they have blown a few seasons. The 

 seed may be put in either in the autumn or 

 spring season ; but the former is the better, as 

 seed \\ Inch has remained long out of the ground 

 seldom grows well. A bed of fresh light earth 

 is the best for the purpose. In the followino- 

 spring the plants should be kept clear from 

 weeds, and occasionally watered when the sea- 

 son is dry ; being transplanted into other beds 

 of the same sort, during the summer or au- 

 tunm, according to their growth, at the di- 

 stance of eight ox ten inches every way ; water 

 being given when necessary. The plants^ 

 mostly blow in the following summer, but sel- 

 dom in a strong manner. The best flowering 

 roots should therefore be taken up in the au- 

 tumn, and planted out in such situations in 

 the garden and pleasure-grounds as they are de- 

 signed to remain in. In order to prevent the 

 roots from degenerating by the reception of the 

 farina of other flowers, the flower-stems should 

 be cut down inmiediately after they have blown. 

 And to keep up a proper succession of fine 

 flowers, some plants should be raised every 

 two years from seed. 



In saving the seed of the varieijated kinds, 

 great care should he taken that no plain flowers 

 be left among them. 



The difi'erent varieties of these plants are ca- 

 pable of being increased by parting the roots of the 

 young plants, such as those of three years old, 

 in the autumn or spring. 



The only general'culture these plants require, 

 is that of keeping them free from weeds, and cut- 

 ting the decayed stems down in the autumnal 

 season. 



The last species often flowers sooner by a 

 month than those of the other kinds. 



All the varieties of the first, however much 

 they may seem to differ in form, colour, size, 

 structure, and variegation, are capable of being 

 produced from seed of the same plant. 



They arc all adapted to afford variety in 

 pleasure grounds and gardens ; and the Ca- 

 nada sort is esteemed for the early appearance of 

 its flowers. 



ARABIS, a genus comprising plants of the 

 hardy perennial and other kinds. 



