16 



FAMILIAU GAliDEX FLOV^EES. 



It is a matter of sume interest to students of plants to 

 know tluit this blue passion-Hower was selected by William 

 Curtis lor one of his earliest subjects in the Botniiicnl 

 j\[aijii:ii(c, the iig'ure being Xo. :2S in that vast series^ num- 

 bering- now some seven thousand lig'ures. And Curtis's 

 portrait of the plant, published in 17S8, is as good as anv 

 extant ; and to this day the colouring is as true and fresh 

 as if it had been finished but yesterday. 



The bards have taken but little notice of this interest- 

 ing' and, as one might suppose, attractive suljject. But 

 Bernard Barton, in his " Invitation to Flowers,'' was not 

 unmindful of its claim to honours in verse, and thus he 

 brings it before us : — 



" Vain weie fhi; hope to rival Ijartls, ^\hri^i' lyros, 



On such a thomcs liave left mc nought to siiiL;' : 

 And one more plant my humbler Muse inspirrs, 



liovmd which my parting thoughts woukl fomlly rling ; 



Which, consecrate to Salem's peaceful King, 

 Though fair ao any gracing Beauty's ljow(.'r, 



Is link'd to Sorrow like a holy thing, 

 And takes its naun' from Suff'ring's fiercest lioar — 

 Be this thy nobI(>st fame, imperial Ta^sioii-ilower ! " 



