74 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
the name now generally applied to it in botanical books. It is also frequently called Alyssum halimifolium in 
the nurseries. The genus Ivoniga was separated by Dr. Brown from that of Alyssum, on account of the stamens 
being toothless, instead of toothed like the other kinds of Alyssum , the petals entire instead of emarginate, and 
some other slight differences, only to be detected by the eye of a botanist. It is a pretty little plant, very hardy, 
and the seeds are generally so good, that every one sown will come up. This renders it very suitable for making 
edgings to beds in gardens. It is also very sweet, having a fragrance like new hay. It is found wild on the 
shores of the Mediterranean, where it becomes shrubby ; and it has been found (either wild or naturalised) on 
cliffs and stony places near the sea, in Aberdeenshire, Devonshire, and Cornwall. There are two varieties of it; 
one a native of the Canary Islands, and the other with variegated leaves, both of which are grown in England 
as greenhouse shrubs. It may be sown in March, April, or May, in the open borders ; and will continue in flower 
from July to September. Seeds may be obtained at any seedsman’s. 
GENUS VI. 
VESICARIA, Lam. THE VESICARIA. 
Lin. Syst. TETRAD YN AMI A SILICULOSA. 
Generic Character _Silicle globose, inflated; valves hemispherical. Seeds numerous, more than 8. Petals entire.—(G. Don.) 
1.—VESICARIA GRANDIFLORA, Hook. THE LARGE FLOWERED VESICARIA. 
Engravings _Bot. Mag. t. 34(i4 ; and our fig. 1, in Plate 13. 
Specific Character. — Stellately pubescent. Stem erect, flexible. 
Leaves oblong. Root-leaves subulate, pinnatifid, petiolated. Stem- 
leaves sinuately-dentate, and sessile. Racemes elongated, and inany- 
florvered. Petals rounded, spreading, with very short claim's. Pod 
partly surrounded by a membrane, globose, very smooth, containing 
4—6 seeds, larger than the style. Stigma capitate.— (Hook.) 
Description, &c.— A very showy flower, discovered in Texas, Mexico, by M. Berendieri, in 1828. No 
seeds were then sent to Europe; but in 1834, it was again discovered by Mr. Drummond, from wdiom seeds 
were received at the Glasgow Botanic Garden, in 1835. It is a handsome plant, with brilliant yellow flowers. 
The seed-pods are curious, as they look like little globes, or rather bladders ; and it is from this bladdery 
appearance of the seed-pods, that the genus takes the name of Vesicaria. This is a valuable plant for flower- 
gardens, from the great abundance of its flowers, their brilliant colour, and their long duration. The raceme will 
also continue elongating, and fresh buds opening at the summit, while below, where the petals have dropped, 
they have been succeeded by the globe-like seed-pods. The size of the flowers may be greatly increased by rich 
soil and cultivation ; and under favourable circumstances, the raceme has been known to grow from eight or ten 
inches to a foot long. The stems are generally so weak as to require support, and as there are frequently several 
from the same root, the plant may be trained so as to form a large and handsome bush. The species having only 
been introduced in 1835, is yet rather scarce ; but seeds may be procured from Mr. Chari wood, and at the 
principal seed-shops. 
2.-VESICARIA GRACILIS, Hook . THE SLENDER VESICARIA. 
Engravings. —Bot. Mag. t. 3533 ; and our fig. 2, in Plate 13. 
Specific Character. — Many-stemmed. Stalks filiform, rig’d, 
scabrous. Leaves lanceolate, entire or subangulate, lower ones sub- 
spathulate, petioles entirely bare. Raceme elongated. Petals spread¬ 
ing, obcordate, almost sessile. Silicles globose, membranaceous, very 
smooth, and four-seeded. Style capitate,— (Hook.) 
Description, &c.— A light graceful plant, with very slender thread-like stems, and small bright yellow 
flowers, which are produced in succession nearly all the summer ; and which are succeeded by very small, and 
