MARCH.] FLOWER-GARDENPERENNIALS. } 39 



and crowns for pleasure." The finest species are D. 

 barbdtus, and D. barbdtus pleno, Sweet-william ; D. dis- 

 color ; D. chinensis ; D. alpinus, D. superbus ; D. caryo- 

 phyllus, from which have originated the Picotee and the 

 Carnation ; D. plumdrius, from which originated the 

 Double Pink ; D.frdgrans and D. superbus. Several of 

 these, although they will stand the severest cold, have 

 to be protected in frames during winter, to have them 

 in the perfection of beauty. For the character of a 

 Pink and Carnation, see May. 



Dictdmnus. Two species of this genus, D. fraxinel- 

 la and D. dlbus, have been cultivated and esteemed up- 

 wards of two hundred and forty years. A plant 

 of the first of these species, when gently rubbed, emits 

 an odour like that of lemon-peel ; and when bruised 

 emits a balsamic scent, which is strongest in the pedi- 

 cles of the flowers. They have glands of a rusty 

 colour, that exude a viscid juice, or resin, which ex* 

 hales in vapour, and in a dark place may be seen to 

 take fire. Its flowers are red, those of the other white, 

 in loose terminale spikes ; the flower has five petals, 

 clawed and unequal, with glandular dots; in bloom 

 from May to July ; delights in sandy loam. 



Dodecdtheon. This is a native genus, and commonly 

 called American cowslip. The generic term, a name 

 of the Romans, signifying twelve gods or divinities, is 

 applied with great absurdity to a plant, a native of a 

 world the Romans never saw nor had any idea of. 

 neither resembling, in any particular, the poetical fancy 

 of their writers. The most admired species is D. media; 

 the flowers are in umbels, on a pedicle, from six to 



