CHAP. XLVI. 



7,ythra v ce;e. 



945 



F. bacilluris Lindl. Bot. Reg., t. 1480., is a native of Mexico, introduced in 1829, which grows to 

 the height of 5 ft., and produces its rose-coloured flowers all the summer. 



F. hj/brida Swt. is a hyhrid of uncertain origin, raised in 1825, and producing its scarlet flowers 

 from May to October. It grows 3 ft. or 4 ft. high. 



F. globbsa Hort. is supposed to be a hybrid originated between F. macrostemon and F. conica, 

 about 1830. It is remarkable for the globular shape of the calyx before it bursts, when it looks like 

 the drop of a coral ear-ring. It is tolerably hardy, and, when killed down to the ground, will 

 shoot up again in spring. 



F. g. 2 longifldra Hort. A plant bearing this name was exhibited at the Horticultural Society's 



Garden, May 14. 1836. It closely resembled the species, only differing in 



the flower being much larger and longer. 



F. longifldra Hort, F. longipedunculata Beaton, has been much vaunted; but 

 it is chiefly remarkable for its long peduncles. 



F. speciosa Hort, F. grand/flora Hort, F. precox Hort., and F. Thompsbnn 

 Hort., are names current in gardens for sorts originated in this country, of va- 

 rious degrees of beauty. 



F. excorticata Lin. fil., Skinnera excorticktaFors*., {Bot. Reg., 857.; and our 

 fig. 668.) has smooth branches, and ovate-lanceolate leaves, with the sepals green 

 and purple, and the petals violaceous. The stem and branches, after a few years' 

 growth, throw off the bark in the manner of Arbutus ^ndrachne, by which this 

 species is readily distinguished from all others. It is a native of New Zealand, 

 where it was discovered by Forster, during one of Captain Cook's voyages, but 

 was not introduced in a living state until 1824. It grows to the height of 5 ft. 

 or 6 ft, and flowers from June to October. 



Other Varieties are continually being obtained from seed by different cul- 

 tivators. Mr. Dennis, of the Grosvenor Row Nursery, Chelsea, has raised a 

 great number of these, particularly in 1834 ; one of which seems to have a 

 pendulous habit, with flowers like those of F. globbsa, but smaller. (Gard. Mag., 

 xi. p. 582.) 



668 



CHAP. XLVI. 



OF THE HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PL ANTS OF THE ORDER 7,YTHRA CE^. 



Heimia. salicifolia Link et Otto (Swt. Brit. Fl.-Gard., t. 281. ; 

 and our fig. 669.), Nesa^a salicifolia H. B. et Kunth, Lythrum 

 flavum Spreng., is a shrub, growing to the height of 5 ft. or 6 ft. ; 

 with willow-like leaves, and ly thrum-like yellow flowers, which 

 are produced from June to September. It was introduced in 

 1821, and requires very little protection. 



H. myrtifblia Hort. Berol., Lythrum apetalum Spreng., has 

 smaller leaves than the preceding sort ; but in other respects 

 closely resembles it, and is, in all probability, only a variety, It is 

 a native of Brazil ; was introduced in 1826, and flowers in August 

 and September. 



H. linearifblia Hort. is obviously a variety of H. salicifblia. It N i 

 was introduced in 1826 ; and, with the two preceding sorts, was, " v ^ 

 in 1834, in abundance in the open garden in the Epsom Nur- j 



sery. 



H. syphilitica Dec. is a native of Mexico, said to possess pow- 

 erful medical properties ; but it is not yet introduced. It grows, 

 like the others, from 4 ft. to 6 ft. high. rpQ 



All these plants are easily propagated by cuttings ; and they "OJ 

 will grow in any light sandy soil, with a little protection during 

 winter. 



Lagerstrce^mia. indica L. {Bot. Mag., t. 405., and our fig. 670.), 

 the Pride of India of the Americans, is a splendid shrub, a na- 

 tive of China, Cochin-China, and Japan ; but not of India, 

 notwithstanding its name. It has roundish, ovate, glabrous 

 leaves ; many-flowered terminal panicles, and the petals curled 

 at the edges, with long claws, somewhat in the manner of Clarkz'« 

 pulchella, by which alone its flowers may be easily distinguished from those of most other woody 

 plants. The petals are flesh-coloured, and the bark and the veins of the leaves of a somewhat red- 

 dish brown. It was introduced in 1759, and has stood out, with very little pro- 

 tection during winter, in the Fulham Nursery, and in other gardens about 

 London, for upwards of 10 years ; but it seldom flowers, except in a stove. It 

 is, however, worth cultivating against a conservative wall, for the sake of its 

 foliage. 



L. parvifblia Roxb. is a native of the Circar Mountains, in the East Indies ; 

 and it was introduced in 1818. We are not aware of its having been tried against 

 a conservative wall ; but it is probably as hardy as the preceding and following 

 species, both of which have been tried successfully. 



L. reglnce Roxb. is a native of the Circars and of Java, where it grows to be 

 a tree 20 ft. high. It was introduced in 1792, and appears as hardy as L. indica. 

 The flowers are nearly two thirds of an inch in diameter; of a beautiful rose 

 colour in the morning, growing deeper through the day, until they become 

 purple in the evening. The angles of the branches in this, as in all the species, 

 are winged. They are all of the easiest culture, and, being decidedly deciduous, 

 if their wood is ripened in time, they may be covered with a mat, or with straw, 

 during the whole of the winter. In the warmest parts of Devonshire and 

 Cornwall, this and the two preceding species may be treated as wall shrubs. 



3 r 2 



