75 
BALSAMiNA MASTERSIANA. 
(mr. masters' balsam.) 
CLASS. order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL order. 
BALSAMINACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Anthers five, two-celled. Stigmas five, distinct. Capsules ovate ; valves at 
maturity bending inwards elastically at the apex. Cotyledons thick. Pedicels always flowered, 
solitary or aggregate. Capsules puberulous. — Don's Gard. and Botany. 
Specific Character, — Plant annual. Leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate, with remote, pointed serra- 
tures. Flowers large, purple, axillary, solitary ; spur curved, nearly the length of the flower. 
Every one is familiar with those common but charming varieties of Balsam 
which are now cultivated to such extraordinary perfection by a few enthusiastic 
amateurs. There are few, also, except botanists or gardeners of eminence, who 
do not greatly admire the beautiful symmetry of their form, and the enchanting 
loveliness of their blossoms. 
Perhaps, upon a due consideration of all its features, a well-cultivated balsam 
may be pronounced the most perfect model of real beauty which the vegetable 
kingdom can produce. Delicacy, gracility, elegance, richness, — in short, every 
trait which can be desired by persons of the most refined vision, is admirably 
concentred and blended in these delightful objects. Notwithstanding this, how- 
ever, they are grossly neglected by the higher classes of the floricultural world, 
and by some individuals actually despised. 
Nothing exhibits more clearly the factitious taste of the present age, than the 
disposition to discard these splendid plants. What might be rendered the most 
brilliant ornaments of the greenhouse, are disregarded, simply because they are 
becoming vulgar : the term beauty may therefore be expunged from the vocabulary 
of the fashionable floriculturist, to be supplanted by novelty. Botanists, again, 
manifest unequivocal aversion to all plants which produce new varieties from 
seed ; and hence their discouragement of the growth of balsams. 
If facility of procuration and erratic propensities are to be deprecated, and the 
contrary characters esteemed, we imagine that the present new species will prove 
a favourite ; for it is certainly yet extremely rare, and we are not aware that its 
seedlings vary in colour. Nor is it inferior in beauty to any of its congeners, 
since, though the flowers present less diversity of hue, they have brilliancy and 
intensity sufficient to compensate for any monotony in that particular. 
