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Bluebell ! how gayly art thou drest, 



How neat and trim art thou, sweet flower; 



How silky is thy azure vest, 



How fresh to flaunt at morning's horfr! Mrs. Robinson. 



Gerard calls this plant blue harebell, or English Jacint, 

 which is evidently from the French Jacinthe. The term non 

 scriptus, was applied by Dodonasus, because it had not the Jli, 

 Jli, on the petals, and, therefore, could not be the Hyacin- 

 thus Poeticus. F. Historica. 



The garden Hyacinth, H. Orientalis, has numerous va- 

 rieties, all without a Calyx. Corolla of one petal, bell-shaped; 

 limb in six reflected segments. Nectary three pores near 

 the summit of the germen. Frequently doubled. 



HYDRANGER; or, CHINESE GUELDER ROSE. 

 Hydrangea Hortensis. 



Hydrangea, L. from the Greek v ?i, water, and yyov, 

 a vessel; in allusion to the pitcher-like shape of the seed 

 vessels. 



The specific name Hortensis, L. pertaining to, or grow- 

 ing in gardens. 



A native of the East cultivated in the gardens of China 

 and Japan, from whence it was introduced into England, by 

 Sir Joseph Banks, in 1790. 



This plant is nearly allied to Viburnum and Sambucus. 

 Soon after its introduction into England, it was observed that 

 some of the plants produced flowers of a fine blue colour, 

 from cuttings taken from the rose coloured varieties. Some 

 conjectured it was caused by oxyd of iron ; others, that it 

 originated from salt, or saltpetre, being accidentally mixed 

 in the earth. It was also observed, that a cutting from the 

 rose coloured variety, that had been planted in the soil of the 

 heathy common, mixed with a portion of turf ashes, produced 

 blue flowers. The owner of this plant, a poor cottage- 

 woman, refused ten guineas for it, being unwilling to part 

 with a plant that had been reared by a child whom she had 

 lost; but she gladly sold cuttings from it, all of which pro- 

 duced flowers of the original rose colour, having been planted 

 in common garden soil. 



In our own country, the rose-coloured Hydranger has 

 been made to bear blue flowers, when fed with marsh mud, 

 as has been tested a few miles below Annapolis, on Back- 

 river. 



We find this flower made emblematical of a boaster, 

 whose vaunting words resemble the abortive flowers large 

 and showy, without being followed by suitable results. 



Flowers in clusters, terminal, of a beautiful rose-colour, 

 inodorous, green when young, as well as in decay. Corolla 

 of five petals, equal, roundish, larger than the calyx, which 

 is of one leaf, superior, five-toothed, small. Leaves elliptical, 

 serrated, very smooth, veiny, curved backwards. Root 

 fibrous, much branched, whitish. Stems erect, shrubby. 

 Branches opposite, leafy, green, speckled with dark purple 

 spots, flowering at the top. 



JASMINE, WHITE. 

 Jasminum Ojfficinale. 



Jasminum, L. from the Greek laa-/**, a fragrant ointment, 

 or perfume, alluding to the sweet scent of the flowers. 



Jasminum, a genus containing plants of the hardy and 

 tender, deciduous, and evergreen, shrubby kinds: rarely 

 double, with varieties of white, or yellow flowers. Our com- 

 mon white Jasmine, is a native of the East, hardy, but not 

 evergreen. 



Jasmines, some like silver spray, 

 Some like gold in the morning ray; 

 Fragrant stars, and favourites they. 



Indian Bride. 

 Garland of Flora. 



The Jassamine, with which the queen of flowers, 

 To charm her God, adorns his favourite bowers; 

 Which brides, by the plain hand of neatness drest, 

 Unenvied rival! wear. Churchill. 



The flowers of this genus have a perianth of one leaf, 

 inferior, tubular, oblong; its margin five-toothed, and erect. 

 Corolla of one petal, salver-shaped; its segments from five to 

 eight. 



CAROLINA YELLOW JASMINE. 



Bignonia. 



Bignonia The flowers of this genus so named by 

 Tournefort, in honour of the Jlbbe Bignon. 



Jerome Bignon was born at Paris, in 1590. He was 

 esteemed a prodigy of literature. About the age of ten, while 

 acting as page to the young Prince of Conde, he published 

 " A description of the Holy Land," which was esteemed to 

 be more accurate than any then extant. And, at the age of 

 fourteen, composed, for the use of the young Duke of Ven- 

 dome, a " Treatise on Roman Antiquities." These works 

 were mere compilations; but at the age of fourteen, he also 

 composed an original work, entitled " Election of the Popes," 

 which displayed a degree of erudition, that surprised the most 

 learned men of the age. By Henry IV. he was appointed 

 page of honour to the Dauphin, afterwards Louis XIII. Upon 

 the death of Henry, he withdrew from Court, but continued 

 to write, and to publish several works of celebrity. 



Cardinal Richelieu, although not his friend, appointed 

 him Royal Librarian. Queen Anna of Austria, during her 

 regency, availed herself of his advice on many interesting oc- 

 casions; and he was employed in various delicate negotiations. 

 He died at the age of sixty-seven; having maintained, through 

 life, a character universally respected and esteemed for his 

 piety, and useful services to his country. 



Bignonia, Trumpet-flower; or, Scarlet Jasmine. Big- 

 nonias are trees, or shrubs, inhabitants of the hot climates 

 of the East and West Indies, and eminently beautiful. 

 Flowers in panicles, large and handsome, of various colours, 

 red, blue, yellow, or white. Rees' Encyclopedia. 



The common Catalpa, Bignonia Catalpa, is a beautiful 

 tree of this genus, indigenous to South Carolina, Sec. Catalpa 

 is an Indian name. The seeds of this tree are said to be 



