684 On the Cultivation of 



Art. XIX. On the Cultivation of the Droseras and Pingueculas. 

 By Robert Mallet, Esq. 



Sir, 



The droseras, or sundews, of our. bogs have a striking 

 analogy to the DionseVz Muscipula of America, and are as 

 worthy of cultivation as native plants, as is the latter as an 

 exotic. There are three species of Dr6sera, natives of 

 Britain : two of which are found in Ireland. The Drosera 

 rotundifolia grows about Lough Daw in the county of Wick- 

 low; D. longifolia, atHowth; and both in various bogs about 

 Mullingar. 



Independently of their singularly beautiful form and struc- 

 ture, and curious motive powers*, they are plants possessing 

 some history, as having once constituted the sole ingredient 

 from which was distilled the celebrated aqua rosce-solis, also 

 called rosala, or spirit of sundew. In some old dispensatories 

 it is highly extolled as good for "the sweat," for convulsions, 

 and the plague. In time, the original recipe of this preparation 

 became neglected, and a compound of burnt brandy, sugar, 

 cinnamon, and milk water, scented with musk, was substituted. 

 The best of this was considered to have been made at Turin ; 

 but I know not that any such cordial is now known in Italy. 



In the time of Louis XIV. another kind of spirit of sun- 

 dew came into use, the advantages of which are said to have 

 been experienced by thaj; monarch, when afflicted with ague. 

 The name was all the relation that this latter composition 

 bore to the plant, being " an infusion of anise, fennel, aneth, 

 coriander, &c, in Spanish wine for three weeks," and in a 

 short time, even its name was corrupted into " du roy," until 

 finally the compound fell wholly into disuse. 



The sum of the virtues of these plants seems to consist in 

 their containing an acrid stimulating volatile principle, like 

 that of horseradish, and the greater number of marsh plants. 



There are also three species of Pinguicula natives of Bri- 

 tain. Of these the grandiflora and vulgaris are natives of 

 Ireland.f Few little plants -are more beautiful, when in 



* The question of the sundews possessing motive powers has been 

 recently raised in the Magazine of Natural History, Vol. V. p. 491. ; and 

 negative and affirmative answers returned, p. 755. to 758. — J.D. 



f All three. Pinguicula lusitanica has been found on the borders of 

 bogs in Ireland. Mr. J. T. Mackay, in his Catalogue of the Plants of Ireland, 

 gives, as its Irish habitats, " Marshy grounds. Foot of Dublin Mountains, 

 &c." I have seen specimens, gathered in 1829, at Killarney, and in the 

 county of Mayo ; and have been informed that it occurs in other parts of 

 Ireland. 



P. vulgaris. A very interesting faculty has been recently ascribed to 

 this species. At the first anniversary meeting of the Berwickshire natu- 



