

THE FLORIST 



AM) HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Vol. II.]~ Philadelphia, October, 18537" [No. 10. 



VERBENA PRLVCESSE MARIANNE, boucharlat. 

 Deprived of descriptive notices and of specimens, we do not 

 know haw to place this beautiful variety in one of the four primi- 

 tive stocks of the group of Verbena Melindres. By its leaves and 

 inflorescence it would seem to be derived from the Verbena chamce- 

 drifolia, Juss (V, Melindies, Bot. Reg. t. 1184) a species of the 

 pampas of La Plata, which flowered for the first time in England 

 in 1828. But M. Decaisne assures us, resting on the authority of M. 

 Vilmorin,this would never have varied from the brilliant vermilion- 

 red which distinguishes its flowers. There remain the V. phlogiflo- 

 ra, Ch amiss, (V Tweeiiana, Bot. Mag. t. 3541,) incisa, Bot. Mag. 

 t. 3623, and tzucrioides, Bot. Mag. t. 3694, also introduced from the 

 vast pampas of the La Plata, and which flowered in Scotland, the 

 two first in 1836, the last in 1838. It is especially to V. phlogi- 

 flora that in the monograph of the Verbenaceae, M. Schauer (in D. 

 C. Prodrom.) refers the greater part of the varieties of all shades be- 

 tween bright red and bluish. Perhaps it is into this category that 

 the variety here figured, by its white flowers with large lilac star, 

 enters. But in this respect, as we have said, the means of forming 

 an opinion are wanting. Whatever may be its origin, the plant re- 

 commends itself among all others by the singularity of its (lowers. 

 At first sight many persons would take it for a Phlox, they will see 

 that to this mystifying resemblance to Phlox Princesse Marianne it 

 owes its name, and this proper and picturesque name is of a nature 

 to give it success. Already, the first prize of the quinquennial and 

 general exhibition at Lyons, held the 15th of September, 1851. has 

 proven the rare merit of this acquisition of M. Boucharlat, and with- 

 out doubt the plant would have already ornamented parterres, if the 

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