SPA 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY. 



SPA 



607 



petals four, equal, wedge-shaped, entire, flat, twice as long as 

 the calix ; nectaries proper, difform, filiform, torulose, shorter 

 than the stamina; swellings inflated, turbinate. Stamina: 

 filamenta very many, inserted into the germen, filiform; outer 

 like the nectaries, but longer, shorter however than the co- 

 rolla ; antherse ovate-cordate, placed on the top of the fila- 

 menta. Pistil: gerraen subglobular, five-cornered, hispid, 

 superior; style filiform, straight, hanging down among, and 

 much longer, than the stamina; stigma truncate, terminated 

 by elongated papillae. Pericarp : capsule five-cornered, five- 

 celled, echinate, with straight, rigid, hairy bristles ; termi- 

 nated by a pellucid, straight, pungent spine, larger, and 

 more pungent at the corners. Seeds: two in each cell, oblong, 

 smooth, keeled on one side. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. 

 Calix: four-leaved. Corolla: of four reflexed petals. Nec- 

 tary : several, torulose. Capsule : angular, five-celled, echi- 

 nate. The only species known is, 



1. Sparrmannia At'ricana. This beautiful shrub grows to 

 the height of six feet or more, and is thickly divided into 

 alternate branches, finely clothed with large cordate and 

 lobed pendulous leaves, upon erect footstalks, making a very 

 handsome appearance, even in foliage, in which state it much 

 resembles a Sida. Its fine umbels of flowers are produced 

 plentifully along the branches, opposite to the leaves, in the 

 same manner as in the common species of Pelargonium, 

 which it much resembles in its inflorescence, the flowers nod- 

 ding before they are expanded, and becoming erect as they 

 approach maturity. The petals, which are of a snowy white, 

 remain but a short time open, being soon reflected with the 

 calix, which is white like the petals, but covered, as is the 

 whole plant, except the petals, with fine hairs. The singular 

 nectaries surround the filamenta, which they so nearly resem- 

 ble, that a superficial observer might easily confound them ; 

 they are numerous, shorter than the purple filamenta, of a 

 yellow colour, and torulose or knobbed at the upper part : 

 they have no antherse, but purple tips, not unlike them. 

 Native of the Cape of Good Hope, growing in Essebosch 

 and Hontinquas woods, and the sides of the mountains at 

 Large Kloof, where it was found by the celebrated traveller 

 Andrew Sparrmann, after whom it was accordingly named. 

 It may be readily increased by cuttings, if treated in the 

 same manner as the tenderer species of Pelargonium. 



Sparrowwort. See Passerina. 



Spartium; a genus of the class Diadelphia, order Decan- 

 dria. GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: perianth one-leafed, 

 cordate-tubular ; at the upper edge very short, below towards 

 the tip marked with five toothlets, coloured, small. Corolla: 

 papilionaceous, five-petalled ; standard obcordate, the whole 

 reflexed, very large ; wings ovate-oblong, shorter than the 

 standard, annexed to the filamenta,; keel two-petalled, lan- 

 ceolate-oblong, longer than the wings, (the carinal margin 

 connected by hairs,) inserted into the filamenta. Stamina : 

 filamenta ten, connate, adhering to the germen, unequal, 

 gradually longer; the upper one very short, the lower nine 

 in one set; antherae oblongish. Pistil: germen oblong, hir- 

 sute; style awl-shaped, rising; stigma growing to the upper 

 side of the top, oblong, villose. Pericarp : legume cylindric, 

 long, obtuse, one-celled, two-valved. Seeds: many, globe- 

 kidney-form. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Calix: produced 

 downwards. Filamenta: adhering to the germen. Stigma: 

 longitudinal, villose above. The species are, 



1. Spartium Contaminatum : Narrow-leaved Broom. 

 Branches round; leaves alternate, filiform, stained at the 

 base ; stem shrubby, rod-like, branched at the base, round, 

 even ; raceme long, erect, terminating, with the flowers alter- 

 nate, of a tawny colour, with a yellow keel. Native of the 

 VOL. n. 116. 



Cape. This, and all the natives of warm climates, require 

 the dry-stove. 



2. Spartium Separium ; Hedge Broom. Branches rugged ; 

 upper leaves clustered, filiform ; racemes terminating; flowers 

 yellow. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. 



3. Spartium Junceum ; Spanish Broom, Branches oppo- 

 site, round, flowering at the top; leaves lanceolate. The 

 flowers are disposed in a loose spike ; they are large, yellow, 

 with an agreeable odour, appearing in July, and in cool sea- 

 sons continuing in succession to September. The bees are 

 very fond of the flowers ; and the same qualities which are 

 attributed to the Common Broom, belong also to this, at 

 least in an inferior degree. In Languedoc they make a thread 

 of it, and use the plant as green food for sheep. There is a 

 variety of it with double flowers, which is very unusual in the 

 natural order to which it belongs. Native of all the southern 

 countries of Europe; Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sicily, Carniola, 

 the south of France : found also in Judea, between Joppa 

 and Ramah. It is easily propagated by seeds, sown in the 

 spring upon a bed of common earth, in a shady situation, 

 where the plants will rise very freely. They must be kept 

 clear from weeds during the following summer, and in autumn 

 may be taken up and transplanted into a nursery, which 

 should be chosen in a warm sheltered situation. 



4. Spartium Monospermum ; White-flowered Single-seeded 

 Broom. Branches round, striated ; racemes few-flowered ; 

 flowers subaggregate; leaves lanceolate, silky. Stem upright, 

 very much branched, as thick as the thumb, and sometimes 

 as the arm. This is a very handsome shrub, remarkable 

 for its numerous snow-white flowers. It is of very great use 

 in stopping the sand, and converts the most barren spot into 

 a fine odoriferous garden, by its flowers, which continue a 

 long time. It serves to shelter hogs and goats against the 

 scorching heat of the sun, and affords to the latter animals a 

 favourite food in its leaves and young branches. The twigs 

 are used for tying bundles; and all kinds of herbs, when 

 brought to market, are found tied with them. It has been 

 found on the sandy coast of Barbary, and in Arabia. The 

 Spaniards call it Retamas, from the Arabic name Rffltam. 

 Native of dry barren hills in Spain and Portugal, and Mo- 

 rocco : observed about Cadiz, near the coast, flowering in 

 February ; also in abundance in Arragon. Osbeck remarks, 

 that it grows like Willow bushes, along the shores of Spain, 

 as far as the flying sands reach, where hardly any other 

 plant except Ononis Repens, will grow. To propagate this, 

 and the next species, sow the seeds about the middle of April, 

 upon a bed of fresh light earth, in drills half an inch deep ; 

 the drills not less than a foot asunder, and the seeds three 

 inches apart. Remove them at Michaelmas, for, if suffered 

 to stand longer, they shoot downright roots to a great depth, 

 and if these roots be cut or broken when they are grown 

 large, the plants frequently miscarry. If the season be unfa- 

 vourable, defer the sowing, for the seeds are liable to perish 

 in the ground by cold or wet. The best rule is to sow them 

 at the same time with Kidney-beans. At M-ichaelmas some 

 of the plants may be potted, to be sheltered in winter, and 

 the rest planted in a warm soil, where, if the winter should 

 not prove severe, they will stand very well. If some of the 

 plants are left in the seed-bed, they may be sheltered with 

 mats in severe frosts, and some mulch laid about their roots. 

 In this country it flowers in June and July. 



5. Spartium Sphasrocarpum ; Yellow-jimvered Single-seeded 

 Broom. Branches round, striated; racemes many-flowered; 

 flowers remote; leaves lanceolate, sessile, pubescent beneath; 

 stem upright. It flowers in June and July. Native of the 

 south of Europe, and of Barbary. 



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