OXALIS P.EONY. 205 



OXALIS. 



The Oxalis is a native of the Cape of Good Hope ; the 

 species are numerous, and their roots are very small bulbs, 

 articulated, jointed, or granulated, in a manner peculiar 

 to this genus. They produce curious flowers of various 

 hues, yellow, purple, rose, red, white, striped, vermilion 

 colour, <fcc. The bulbs should be planted in very small 

 pots in August and September, in a compost, consisting of 

 about two-thirds loam, and one-third leaf or light mould, 

 and treated in the same manner as other Cape Bulbs. 

 They increase in a peculiar manner, by the parent bulb 

 striking a fibre down from its base, at the extremity of which 

 is produced a new bulb for the next year's plant, the old 

 one perishing. These plants wtll flower freely in a green- 

 house. 



*' Pceonia round each fiery ring unfurls, 



Bares to the noon's bright blaze her sanguine curls." 



Of this genus of splendid plants there are known to be 

 about twenty species, and as many varieties. It is said 

 that tbe Paonia officinalis rnbra, or common double red 

 Pceony, was introduced into Antwerp upwards of two centu- 

 ries ago, at which time it was sold at an enoimous price. It 

 has since been highly esteemed in Europe and America, 

 and is to be fou'id in all well-established gardens, exhibiting 

 its vivid crimson petals early in June. Many superb species 

 have -of lute years been brought from China, a few of which 

 may be noticed, with some others which are in very great 

 repute. 



PcBonia alba Chinensis is one of the finest of the herba- 

 ceous sorts. The flowers are white, tinged with pink at 

 the bottom of the petals. 



P. edulis whitliji has also white flowers, which are very 

 large and splendid. 



P. edu 7 i$ fragrans, is a fine large double scarlet variety, 

 and produces flowers perfumed like the rdse. 



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