OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 
85 
in the lower part of the spike. The name of Spigelia was given in honour of a Flemish botanist, named 
Spigelius, who afterwards became a professor in the University of Padua. The species are natives of 
different parts of America, 
1.— SPIGELIA MARYLANDICA, Lin. THE MARYLAND WORM-GRASS. 
Synonymes. — Lonicera Marylandica, Lin.; Periclymenum Virgi- | Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 80 ; Bot. Cab. t. 930; Med. Bot. vol. 
nianum, Catesb. ; Anthelmia Virginica, Living. ; Indian Pink. | I. t. 7 ; and our Jig. 5, in PI. 73. 
I Specific Character. — Stem quadrangular ; all the leaves opposite. 
Description, &c. — This plant was at first classed by Linnaeus with the Honeysuckles, which, indeed, it 
greatly resembles in the shape of its flowers, though not in their disposition. Its roots are fleshy, and they are 
sold in the shops under the name of Worm-grass, or Indian pink. The plant is mucilaginous, with rather an 
agreeable taste. The species is a native of Maryland, and the other warmer parts of North America ; notwith- 
standing which it is hardy in British gardens. It is, however, very difficult to propagate ; as its roots do not 
send up suckers, and it rarely ripens seeds in this country. 
GENUS II. 
HOUSTONIA, Lin. THE HOUSTONIA. 
Lin. Syst. TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx four-cleft. Corolla funnel-shaped, ■with a four-cleft limb. Stamens four. Stigma bifid. Capsule two-celled, 
with a fungous placenta annexed to the dissepiments. 
Description, &c. — This genus was originally included in Rubiacem ; to the plants in which order, indeed, 
it seems to bear a much greater affinity than to those properly belonging to the order in which it is now placed. 
De Candolle removed it to Gentianacese ; and it has been placed by Mr. George Don in its present position. It 
consists of dwarf plants, natives of the warmer parts of North America ; and it was named in honour of Dr. 
William Houston, the highly-valued friend of Philip Miller. 
1.— HOUSTONIA COERULEA, Lin. THE BLUE-FLOWERED HOUSTONIA. 
•SvNONYME. — Rubia parva, Ban. I Specific Character. — Radical leaves ovate ; stem leaves various ; 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 370 ; and our Jig.-^, in PI. 72. | peduncles two-flowered. 
Description, &c. — This very pretty little plant is a native of Virginia, whence it was introduced by the 
late Mr. Menzies, in 1785. It is quite hardy in British gardens, where, if it is kept moist, it will continue 
producing a succession of flowers during the spring, summer, and autumn. From the smallness of its size, it 
looks best on rock-work, or in a pot. 
2.— HOUSTONIA LONGIFOLIA, Gmrtn. 
Synonyme. — H. angnstifolia, Michx. 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag. t. 3099. 
Specific Character. — Stem erect, branched, quadrangular, slightly 
THE LONG-FLOWERED HOUSTONIA. 
pubescent below the joint ; leaves linear-oblong ; radical ones attenu- 
ated at the base, pubescent, ciliated ; stipules broadly ovate, entire, or 
slightly tridentate, membranaceous ; stamens enclosed in the floivei. 
Description, &c. — This species has very small flowers, but they are of a brilliant white, slightly yellow 
at the base, and the leaves are of a fine dark green. The plant has a pretty effect on rock-work. It is a native 
of North America, and was introduced about 18.30. 
