108 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS VI. 
SAPONARIA, Lin. SOAPWORT. 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx tubular, five-toothed, naked at the base. Petals unguiculate ; claws equal in length to the calyx. 
Stamens ten. Styles two. Capsules one-celled. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — ^The plants belonging to this genus differ from those included in Dianthus, principally in 
having no calycine scales. The name of Saponaria alludes to the soapy properties of the British species, as even 
the leaves will make a lather, and take out spots of grease, &o., like soap. Most of the species are annuals or 
biennials ; and the latter should be grown in sand, loam, and peat, in a dry situation, as they are easily injured 
by wet, and may be propagated by seeds or cuttings. The perennials are mostly only half hardy, and have their 
flowers in heads. All the species are very ornamental. 
1.— SAPONARIA OCYMOIDES, Lin. THE BASIL-LIKE SOAPWORT. 
Engraving. — Bot, Mag. t. 164. I glandular hairs. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, generally one-nerved. 
Specific Character. — Stem procumbent, dichotomous. Flowers (G. Don.) 
in panicled bundles; calyx cylindrical, villous, purple, beset with ! 
Dkscbiption, &c. — A very elegant plant, with trailing stems and pink flowers, which as it will only thrive 
in a pure air and dry situation, is admirably adapted for rockwork. It flowers profusely, and continues producing 
a succession of blossoms during the whole of tho summer. It seldom produces seeds, but is readily propagated 
by cuttings. It is a native of the South of Europe, whence it was introduced in 1768. It is perfectly hardy. 
2.— SAPONARIA CALABRICA, Guss. THE CALABRIAN SOAPWORT. 
axillary, solitary ; calyx cylindrical, beset with glandular villi. Petali 
orbicular, narrowed at the base. Seeds tubercular, rather globose. 
(G. Don.) 
Engravings. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. 2d ser. t. 79 ; and our fig. 
7 in Plate 26. 
Specific Character. — Root fibrous. Stem erect ; dicliotomously 
branched. Leaves obovate-spatulate, usually one-nerved. Flowers 
Description, &c. — This very beautiful little plant was described by Gussone, who named it, as an annual ; 
but it is now found to last two or three years, and sometimes more. The flowers are very brilliant in colour, 
and are produced in great abundance. The stem is procumbent, and the whole plant is admirably adapted for 
rockwork. It grows well in any light rich soil, and strikes readily by cuttings. It is a native of Calabria, 
whence it was introduced in 1830. 
3.— SAPONARIA GLUTINOSA, Biob. THE GLUTINOUS SOAPWORT. 
in corymbose bundles ; calyx long, terete, beset with glandular hairs. 
Leaves ovate, three-nerved, (G. Don.) 
Synonyme. — Silene Armeria, Pall. 
Engravings. Bot. Mag. t. 2855 ; and our fig. 6 in Plate 26. 
Specific Character, — Stem erect, branched. Flowers panicled, 
Description, &c. — Tliis plant grows two or three feet high in favourable situations. The flowers are small, 
but they are of a most brilliant crimson, and the calyx, stem, and veins of the leaves are of a brilliant purple 
It is a native of Mount Caucasus, whence it was introduced in 1817. It is quite hardy, and flowers in 
June ; but it should be grown in a light soil, and an open situation. 
