CYCLAMEN. 115 



CYCLAMEN. 



PRIMULACEjE. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



This name is of Greek origin, and signifies circular. It alludes 

 either to the roundness of the leaves, or of the roots. The familiar 

 name among the country people is Sow-bread. French, pain du por- 

 ceau ; in the village dialect, pan de pur, both signifying sow-bread. 

 Italian, pane porcino ; pane terreno [ground bread.] 



THE common Cyclamen is an Austrian. The flowers 

 are purple, drooping, and sweet-scented. The Ivy-leaved 

 species is Italian : the flowers appear in August or Sep- 

 tember, soon after the leaves come out, and continue 

 growing till May, when they begin to decay, and in June 

 are quite dried up. There are two varieties ; one with 

 white, and one with purple flowers. 



The Round-leaved Cyclamen is a native of the South 

 of Europe : it has purple flowers, which blow late in the 

 autumn. 



The Persian Cyclamen, which is the most popular, 

 flowers in March or April : it is sweet-scented, and varies 

 in colour from a pure white to white and purple, or some- 

 times to a beautiful blush-colour. It is, as the name im- 

 plies, a native of Persia : it has also been found in the 

 Isle of Cyprus ; and is, indeed, not unworthy of cultivation 

 in Venus's own garden. It is a pretty flower for the par- 

 lour or study table ; and the temperature of an inhabited 

 room is well adapted to it. 



The Cyclamen requires shelter from frost ; particularly 

 the two last-mentioned kinds. During the winter, or 

 while destitute of leaves, they should have very little 

 water, and be carefully preserved from damps. In the 

 summer, they should be placed where they may enjoy the 



