The species of this genus, most cultivated for their flow- 

 ers, are the white, blue, yellow, and rose-coloured. 



The calyx is of one leaf, cloven; corolla papiliona- 

 ceous. 



MAGNOLIA. 



A noble genus of shrubs, named, by Plumier, in honour 

 of Peter Magnol, Botanical Professor at Montpellier, where 

 he practised physic for a long course of years; and, at the 

 same time, very assiduously cultivated Botany, not only as an 

 auxiliary to medicine, but with the most enlarged views to 

 its advancement as a science of itself. He was not appointed 

 to the professorship till the year 1694; being a Protestant, 

 his religion had been in the way of his promotion. He was 

 beloved for his urbanity, and esteemed for his knowledge; 

 and, previous to his appointment, as public professor, he had 

 a botanical class; among whom were Fagan and the illustri- 

 ous Tournefort. He published several celebrated botanical 

 works. In 1708, he was admitted a member of the Acade- 

 mic des Sciences of Paris, in the place of his distinguished 

 friend Tournefort, who died that year. 



Among his communications to this Academy, was an 

 easy method of tinging the flowers of the Tuberose with a 

 solution of some kind of lake. He died at the age of 77, in 

 the year 1715. 



The Magnolia Grandiflora, Laurel-leafed Magnolia, 

 is the most magnificent and beautiful evergreen tree of this 

 genus. In southern latitudes, it rises to the height of eighty 

 feet, often much loftier; almost unobstructed by branches, 

 and terminated by a spreading top of the deepest perennial 

 verdure. Its flowers are terminal, solitary, each as large as 

 a pint basin; white, deliciously fragrant, like the flavour of 

 cold lemonade. The petals obovate, have the texture and 

 aspect of delicate white leather. The bark of the root of 

 this tree is also used as a substitute for the Peruvian bark 

 according to some of our medical books. 



The M. Glauca, Swamp Magnolia, a small tree, with 

 large cream-coloured flowers, terminal, concave, with a rich 

 vinous fragrance. Calyx of three leaves ; petals six to twelve, 

 obvoate, The leaves are, also, beautiful, about three inches 

 long, varying in breadth, veiny, bright green above, glaucous, 

 and somewhat silky beneath. To the North, deciduous; in 

 the South, evergreen. 



This species is said to have been the first of its genus 

 introduced into the gardens of England; having been culti- 

 vated by Bishop Compton, at Fulham, in 1688. 



There are about fifteen species of this genus, almost 

 equally divided between China and N. America: there is, 

 also, one species in tropical America. All of them with a 

 bark more or less camphorated and aromatic. 



The Cucumber tree of North America, Magnolia Jlcu- 

 minata, is a tree of a noble height and beauty: umbrageous, 

 deciduous; the wood yellow. Leaves clustered at the end of 

 each branch; but, on its subsequent elongation; becoming 

 alternate, stalked, pointed at each end, several inches long, 

 and nearly half as broad; green and smooth above; paler, 

 and, at first, downy beneath. Flowers neither fragrant, nor 

 beautiful, though remarkable for their pea- green glaucous 

 petals more than six, which vary in shape, but are always 



concave or channelled, and, usually, about two inches long. 

 The cones, or seed vessels, have been advantageously used 

 in the Western States in the form of tincture, in rheumatic 

 complaints. The cone has very much the form of a cucum- 

 ber; and, when perfected, is of a vivid red colour. 



Several species of this genus are to be found in the East 

 and West Indies, but none so beautiful as the North Ameri- 

 can plants, M. Grandiflora, etc. 



MARIGOLD. 

 Calendula. 



Calendula, according to Martyn, a diminutive from CaZ- 

 tha, the name of the most common species, in old authors. 



Caltha, supposed to be derived from the Greek xaMtS-os, 

 a basket, alluding to the shape of the flower. 



Ventenat derives calendula from calenda, the Latin for 

 the first day of every month, because it continues long in 

 flower. 



Marigold E. called in Welsh gold, which is said to be 

 from gol, going round. In Dutch gondsbloem, gold flower. 



Webster. 



Johnson derives the name from Mary, and gold, and sup- 

 posed it to have been devoted to the Virgin Mary. And in 

 Hone's Every Day Book, the flower is devoted to the An- 

 nunciation of the B. V. Mary, for the 25th March. 



The Calendula closes its petals at certain hours of the 

 day, and is one of those styled by Linnaeus, the Horologe, 

 (Horologium, L.) or Watch of Flora. The Leontodon, 

 Convolvulus, Malva, or Mallow, and many others, are of 

 this class. 



And bright Calendula, with golden hair; 

 Watch with nice eye, the earth's diurnal way, 

 Marking her solar, and siderial day, 

 Her slow nutation, and her varying clime, 

 And trace, with mimic art, the march of time. 



Darwin. 



The flowers of this genus have a calyx with many divi- 

 sions: corolla radiate; florets of the disk, numerous, tubular, 

 the length of the calyx; the ray strap-shaped, very long, 

 three-toothed, hairy at the base; seeds of the circumference 

 of the disk, different from those of the ray, both fertile. Pe- 

 rennial. 



The Tagetes, African, or French Marigold, was first 

 designated for the emblem, (cruelty) now applied to the whole 

 genus. 



It is a Mexican plant; and the fabulous account of this 

 species is, that it first became stained and marked with a dark 

 red, by the blood of the unhappy Mexicans, whom the insa- 

 tiable Spaniards slew in their own peaceful fields. 



According to Gerard, it was first introduced into Europe 

 about the time that a famous conquest of Tunis was achieved 

 by a Roman Emperor, and, in compliment to that monarch, 

 for having given liberty to twenty-two thousand Christian 

 slaves, it was called Flos. Jlfricanus, or African Marygold. 

 Its appellation of French Marygold, is from the seeds being 

 first obtained from France. 



M. Pirolle tells us, that these flowers were called Tage- 



*" 



