Diandria. ( 3. ) . . 
ROSEATE NYCTANTHES. 
T his alfo I received from China ; not from their Fields, but Gardens; 
where they boaft they can produce it from the other at their Pleafure. 
If this be true, they exceed us in Gardening, as much as in fome other 
of the Arts. Perhaps it is the firft Shrub of the World for Elegance and Fra- 
grance. The Stem is more robuft than in the former, and does not equal two 
thirds of its Height : The Leaves are altogether alike, as is alfo the general Form 
of the Plant ; but the Flowers differ in their Difpolition: there is only one upon each 
Footftalk or Termination of the Branch, but they are numerous on the entire Shrub ; 
their Form is not unlike that of a double Rofe ; their Bignefs juft what is here re- 
prefented ; they are White in Colour, and they exceed in Fragrance even the Angle 
Kind, The Doublenefs arifes from the original Rim of the Tube, and the two 
proper Filaments I found perfedf in the Centre of feveral of the Flowers, with 
their complete Buttons, The Cup in fome Degree partakes of the Nature of the 
Flower ; its pointed Segments fall in filmy Pieces down the Footftalk. 
We are led one Step toward the Knowledge of Double Flowers and their 
Conftrudfion, by this Shrub ; for here alfo the multiplied Petals rife from the knot- 
ted Subftance, which forms the Rim of the Tube in the natural Flower; that be- 
comes larger, more exuberant ; and inftead of fending out one or two Rows of 
Petals, burfts into many. 
If we could learn what Power in Nature occafions this, we ftiould know how 
to imitate it in the Works of Art. ’Tis not rank Nourifhment, like that from 
Dung, for this extends the entire Plant in Height and Bignefs, which prevents, 
not favours the Produdlion of Double Flowers. From the Tulip to this 
Shrub ’tis ufiial that thefe are produced on fhorter Plants than the fingle. May 
it not be, that Nature, urged by fome Accident in the general Courfe of Growth, 
opens fooner into Flowers than otherwife, and fo makes them double ? The great 
Caufe appears to me to be a proper Addition of rich, but not rank Nourifhment. 
^ In the common Courfe of Nature ; a Plant at a certain Height, that is, at a cer- 
tain Diftance from the Root, produces Flowers ; the Bark, inftead of Leaves, 
then forming a Cup, and the inner Rind Petals. Now if rich Nourifhment force 
the Plant to break into Flowers at a lefs Diftance from the Root, more Food 
is carried to them, and more Petals are formed. The original Petal confifts 
of two Membranes, and a fpungy Subftance between them ; in this Flower the 
innermoft Skin is thrown off, and becomes an entire Petal, and the chill Air forms 
another Skin in its Place out of this fpungy Part ; this is afterwards thrown off as 
the firft, and fo a fecond Series of Petals is formed ; and by the fame Procefs after- 
wards are produced many more. 
This is evidently the Formation of the Double Flower in the prefent Inftance 
Nor is any to wonder, that in the Place of four or five fingle ones there comes 
upon each Footftalk but one of thefe. We fhall Ihew the fame Change prefently 
in a common Plant, the Narcissus. 
o 
Ltnnaus gives no Names to Double Flowers ; the Eftea of Culture. 
