SOLDANEL'LA ALPI'NA. 
AI.PINE SOLDANE1.LA. 
Class. Outer . 
PENTANnRIA. MONOOYNIA. 
Natural Ortlerr . 
PRIMULACF.yE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
1 Cultivated 
Switzerland 
3 inches. 
April. 
Perennial. 
in 1656. 
No. 317. 
The word Soldanella is said to have been derived 
from the Greek solos, a plate of metal; or soli- 
dus the name of an ancient gold coin, of the value 
of about twelve shillings. The plant referred to by 
the ancients, imder this appellation, was that which 
is at present known as the Calystegia soldanella, or 
Sea Bearbind. The size and shape of the leaves 
gave rise to the application of the name. 
The term .solidus was first adopted by Constantine 
the Great, for his coin of six pieces to the ounce of 
gold. The plant maj% therefore, not only serve to 
remind us of this emperor, but also of the progress 
of Christianity ; Constantine being the first Christian 
monarch, under whose government, in the beginning 
of the fourth century, the human mind began, exten- 
sively, to admit the divine origin of the Christian re- 
ligion, and to be duly sensible of the hideous shapes 
under which idolatry continually presented itself. 
Each of the species of Soldanella are pretty alpine 
plants, and their round green leaves form tufts of 
verdure which mingle nicely with artificial rock- 
work. Equal parts of peat and loam, in a situation 
somewhat .shaded in summer, suits either .species. 
Hurt. Kew. 2, v. 1, 310. 
