16 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
its foliage injured, and the beauty of its flowers greatly impaired, by the cold of British winters. It has, therefore, 
been recommended to keep it, dmaiig a portion of the winter and early spring, under glass, and only to place it 
in the open ground to flower. When it is planted out, however, it should be placed in an open situation, fully 
exposed to the sun and air. 
OTHER KINDS OF POLYGALA. 
These are very numerous, but they are seldom seen in British gardens. 
GENUS II. 
MURALTIA Neck. THE MURALTIA. 
Lin.Syst. MONADELPHIA HEXANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx glumaceous, of five sepals. Sepals almost equal. Petals three, connected, middle one bifid, Avith obtuse lobes. 
Ovary crowned with four bonis or tubercles. Capsules two-valvcd, two-celled, croAvncd with four horns or four tubercles. {G. Don.) 
Desceiption, &c. — The species belonging to this genus are all shrubs, with a rigid spiny habit of growth, 
and small red or purple flowers. They are all natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and, of course, require 
a greenhouse in this country. 
1.— MURALTIA HEISTERIA Dec. THE FURZE-LEAVED MURALTIA. 
Synonymes. — Polygala HeisteriaZm.; Spartiumafricanum Comm. ; Specific Character. — Leaves triquetrous, stiff and spiny at the 
Thymbra capensis Pluk . ; Heistcria pungens Berg. apex, produced in bundles. Flowers axillary, sessile. 
Engraving — Bot. Mag., t. 340. 
Description, &c. — This very singular plant, wdien grown in a conservatoiy, becomes a shrub of considerable 
size, so closely resembling a Furze bush when not in flower, as to be occasionally mistaken for one, and to 
excite sui’prise that a plant so hardy as the common Fm’ze, should be kept under glass. When the plant is 
in flower, however, the resemblance is less striking, as the flowers are of a brilliant purple. It is a native of 
the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced in 1787 ; but it is not so common as it deserves to be, on 
account of the difficulty of propagatmg it, as it does not grow readily from cuttings. 
2.— MURALTIA MIXTA Am.//. THE HEATH-LEAVED MURALTIA. 
Synonyme. — Polygala mixta Lin. 
Engravings, — Bot. Mag., t. 1714 ; Bot. Rep., t. 455 ; and owx fig. 
4, in PI. 3. 
Specific Character. — Leaves linear, awl-sbaped, mucronulate, 
straight, in crowded bundles, glabrous. FloAvers axillary, sessile ; 
borns shorter than the capsule. ((7. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This is a very singular looking plant, closely resembling a Heath, with pretty pink flowers- 
intermixed with green leaves. The stem is shrubby, but the branches are long and flexible, like those of several 
kinds of Heath. The plant is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it was introduced in 1789. When 
kept constantly in the greenhouse, it continues in blossom nearly all the year. 
OTHER SPECIES OF MURALTIA. 
M. STIPULACEA Bwreh.— Bot. Mag., t. 1715. 
This is a slender growing plant, nearly allied to M. Heisteria, but isith smaller flowers, which are of a dark 
purple as in that plant. 
