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THE GENUS BROl^ALLIA. 



Several of the ferulas are very striking, with their 

 deep green elegant leaves. They are almost the first 

 amongst herbaceous plants to put forth their leaves in 

 spring, and will retain their freshness until late in the 

 autumn, providing their flowerieg shoots are removed 

 as soon as they appear. F. conuniinis, Ncapolitana teri- 

 gitana, sulcata^ and glauca are some of the best. 



Tritoina uvaria var. glaucescens is another plant that 



has scarcely a rival, for it is useful for almost any kind 

 of sub-tropical work. If planted in borders or singly, 

 with a background of shrubs, nothing can surpass it, and 

 another fine effect may be made by intermixing it with 

 other plants on the side of a lake. Cramhe cor Jif alia, 

 Mclianthus major, Acanthus latifolia, and the varieties of 

 yuccas, make a good display in the sub-tropical garden. 

 Ke-w. F. W. S. 



THE GENUS BROVVALLIA. 



HIS beautiful and somewhat 

 peculiar genus of plants is 

 one of considerable interest 

 both to botanists and hor- 

 ticulturists. To botanists 

 it is interesting from the 

 historical association con- 

 nected with it, or more par- 

 ticularly with the naming 

 of the genus, in that it records the only instance of 

 temporary ill-will that can be cited against the great 

 Linnaeus. 



This great botanist had among his numerous acquain- 

 tances a certain friend named John Browall, who was 

 very humble in his relations with Linnaeus, and, having 

 adopted his new sexual system of botany, wrote an 

 article against Siegesbeck defending that system. Lin- 

 naeus, in acknowledgement of his friend's services, dedi- 

 cated to him a genus of a single species, naming it Brow- 

 alli deinissa. Shortly afterward Browall, having been 

 made Bishop of Abo, assumed the pomp and dignity of 

 a great magnate and Lmneus having discovered a second 

 species of this genus named it B. exaltata. 



This excited the wrath of Browall, and he proceeded 

 to write pamphlets against Linnaeus denouncing him in 

 the most severe language. Later on Linnaeus discovered 

 a third species differing slightly from the original outline 

 of the genera which he named alicnata. The two men 

 were never afterwards reconciled to each other, and thus 

 we jjiave preserved in the nomenclature of this genus a 

 historical incident to which future generations of bot- 

 anists will look back with considerable interest. 



Speaking from a botanist's point of view, it is a genus 

 of half hardy shrubs or herbs belonging to the order 

 Scrophulariaceae and bearing white or blue and in one 

 species orange flowers. The corolla is salver form 

 in general outline, but becomes resurpinate through 

 the contortion of the upper end of the peduncle. There 

 are four stamens inserted in two rows upon the corolla 

 tube. The alternate leaves are ovate in general outline, 

 short stalked and have entire margins. 



They are all natives of the western continent and are 

 mostly confined to central and northern parts of South 

 America. Up to the present time I believe that nine 

 species have been described, some of which, however, 

 may belong more properly to other genera. The follow- 



ing species seem to be founded upon such definite char- 

 acteristics as to warrant their acceptance as good species. 



B. abhreviata, a short species with light red or rose 

 colored flowers. The calyx is campanulate with very 

 long teeth ; leaves are quite hairy when young, but be- 

 come almost glaucous when mature. 



B. deinissa is a native of Panama and was first discov- 

 ered in 1735. The flowers vary in color from bright blue 

 to purple or reddish and are axillary. It is a low species. 



B. elnta is a tall species and the one most commonly 

 seen in cultivation. It is easily distinguished by its 

 calyx, which is covered with glandular hairs. There 

 are two varieties, one with deep blue and the other 

 with white flowers. 



B. grandiflora differs but slightly from the preceding 

 species, having larger flowers of a light blue color. Both 

 species are natives of Peru. 



B. Koezli is probably the prettiest species of the 

 whole genus. The flowers are of a delicate blue or 

 white with a yellow tube and are an inch in diameter. 



B. Jamesoni is a shrubby species often four feet in 

 height with bright orange flowers. It is a native of New 

 Grenada ; was discovered in 1850 and has been culti- 

 vated at odd times for many years, but has never be- 

 come a popular favorite. 



To horticulturists and flower lovers in general, thegenus 

 is of interest, not from any of those very pronounced 

 characteristics which have caused so many of our flow- 

 ering plants to be adopted immediately as favorites, but 

 from its delicate beauty and humility, and from the 

 ease with which it is cultivated. Such plants are apt 

 to be neglecfted in the popular craze for more gaudy, or 

 more highly scented plants ; yet few will better repay 

 the labor bestowed upon them than such humble plants 

 as the browallias. 



Their principal use has been as a bedding plant, for 

 which they are admirably adapted, as they make a rapid 

 growth, and soon form masses of dark green foliage, in- 

 tercepted with the delicate white or blue flowers. They 

 are now used to a considerable extent as greenhouse 

 plants, and with but little trouble can be made to yield 

 an abundance of cut-flowers in the late winter and early 

 spring months. 



But few directions need be given for their culture. A 

 light sandy soil with a copious supply of water is all 

 that is necessary to produce finely developed specimens. 



Califo7-7iia. W. C. Blosdale. 



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