I T E 



I V A 



The Cape sorts should be retained in the dry 

 stove, and be propagated and managed in the 

 same manner as other bulbous- rooted plants of 

 the same kind. 



All the sorts are proper for aflTording variety 

 in the borders, clumps, and other parts of plea- 

 sure-grounds ; and some of the more tender 

 sorts among potted plants of similar growths. 



IRON-WOOD. See Sidkroxylon. 



ITEA, a genus containing plants of the har- 

 dy deciduous shrubby kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pentandrla 

 Moiiogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Rhododendra. 



The characters arc : that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed pcrianthium, tive-clcft, upright : segments 

 ianceolate, acute, permanent, coloured : the co- 

 rolla has five petals, sessile, lanceolate, acuminate, 

 spreading, deciduous : the stamina liave five 

 awl-shaped, upright filaments, the length of the 

 corolla, inserted into the base of the ealvx : an- 

 thers roundish, incumbent: the pistilluni is an 

 ©vate superior germ : style permanent, cylindri- 

 cal, thelength ofthe stamens : stigmas two, blunt: 

 the ptricarpium is an ovate capsule, longer than 

 the calyx, nmcron^itcd by the style, two-celled, 

 two-valved, many-seeded : the seeds very small, 

 oblong, and shining. 



The species cultivated are: 1, /. Virginica, 

 Virginian Iteaj 2. / cyrilla, Entire-leaved Itea. 



The first is a shrub six or seven feet high, send- 

 ing out many brandies from the bottom to top : 

 the leaves are alternate, slightly serrate, Teflex, 

 veined, light green. At the extremity of the 

 same year's shoots, in the month of July, are 

 produced fine spikes of white flowers, three or 

 four inches long, and erect. When this shrub 

 is in vigour, it is entirely covered with these 

 flowers, making a fine appearance. It is a native 

 of North America. 



The second species is also a shrub, three feet 

 m height : the stem is upright, somewhat 

 branched, round, ash-coloured : branches alter- 

 nate or scattered, spreading, angular, rufous, 

 smooth: the leaves alternate, blunlish, revolute, 

 with the edges a little waved, one-nerved : the 

 midrib marked with lines above, prominent un- 

 derneath, smooth, paler underneath, dry, spread- 

 ing, fiat, permanent, three inches long, and an 

 inch wide : the petioles very short, cylindric be- 

 low, flat above, reddish : the racemes very many, 

 lateral at the base of the new shoots, one from 

 each bud, on short peduncles, spreading,froin four 

 to six inches long ; the flowers are scattered, pcdi- 

 ■ celled, spreading, white, two or three lines in dia- 

 meter. It is a native of Carolina, flowering in 

 July and August. 



Culture. — The first is capable of being in- 



creased by layers, which should be laid down in 

 the autumn, when they will put out roots so as to 

 be fit to take oft" by the following autumn, when 

 they may be removed into the nursery, or the 

 places where they are to grow. It does not suc- 

 ceed well on dry gravelly soils. 



It may also be raised from seed, by sowing it 

 in the spring, as soon as procured from abroad. 



The second sort may be increased by la)crs or 

 cuttings, planted in pots of good mould in the 

 spnng; in the latter case, placing them in a mild 

 hot-bed till they have stricken root, afterwards 

 removing them into separate pots, placing them 



in airy situations in the green-house. 



The first is very ornamental in the borders and 

 clumjis, and the latter among green-house col- 

 lections. 



I VA, a genus containing plants of the hardy, 

 deciduous, shrubby, and herbaceous annual 

 kinds. 



It belongs to the class and order JSIoncccia 

 Peiitandria, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Compositce Nucamejitacecp. 



The characters are: that the calyx is com- 

 mon roundish : leaflets about five, subovate, 

 blunt ; almost equal, permanent, containing very 

 many florets : the corolla compound convex : 

 coroilets male, very many in the disk ; female five 

 in the ray ; proper, males one-petalled, funnel- 

 form, five-toothed, the length of the calyx ; 

 females none : stamina males, five filaments, 

 bristle-shaped, the length of the corollct : an- 

 thers erect, approximating : the pistillum fe- 

 males, oblong germ, the length of the calyx : 

 styles two, capillary, long: stigmas acute : there 

 is no pcricarpium : calyx unchanged : the seeds 

 solitary, naked, the length of the calyx, at top 

 thicker, blunt : the receptacle chafty ; charts li- 

 near, and interior. 



7"he species are: I. /. annua, Aimual I'/a; 

 2. 1.frulescens, Shrubby Iva, or Bastard Jesuit"s- 

 bark-Tree. 



The first is an annual plant, with an herba^ 

 ceous stalk, rising from two to three feet high, 

 sending out several branches from the sides : 

 the leaves have three deep longitudinal veins and 

 are serrate : the stalks and branches are termi- 

 nated by small clusters of pale blue flowers, 

 which appear in July, and the seeds ripen in au- 

 tunm. It is a native of South America. 



The second species hasslenderwoodv branches, 

 eight or ten feet high : the leaves serrate ; the 

 branches terminated by small clusters of jidle 

 purple flowers. It is a native of Virginia, flower- 

 ing in August. 



Cultuiv. — The first sort is raised by sowing 

 the seeds on a moderate hot-bed in the spring, 

 and when the plants are fit to remove, placing 



