OP ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 
109 
GENUS II. 
SAPONARIA, Lin. THE SAPONARIA, OR SOAPWORT. 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx tubular, 5-toothed, naked at the base. Petals 5, unguiculate. Stamens 10. Styles 2. 
Capsule 1-celled.— (G. Don.) 
Description, &:c.— This genus approaches very near to that of Silene; the principal differences being in 
the capsule and in the number of the styles. In Silene the capsule is 3-celled, and in Saponaria it is 1-celled ; 
the petals of Silene are usually furnished with a crown of petal-like scales at the throat, but those of Saponaria 
are destitute of these appendages; and the former genus has three styles, while the latter has only two. We 
have mentioned these points of difference because, to a general observer, the two genera appear very much alike. 
The leaves of all the plants belonging to Saponaria are said to produce a lather like that of soap, when 
bruised and afterwards agitated in water. 
].—SAPONARIA VACCARIA, Lin. THE COW-HERB SOAPWORT. 
Engravings. —Bot. Mag. t. 2290, and our fig. 7, in Plate 19. 
Synonyme. —Lychnis vaccaria, Scop. Gypsophila vaccaria, Smith. 
Variety.—S. v. 2 ; grandiflora, Fisch. Petals broad, naked, 
crenate, and emarginate. A native of Iberia.—(G. Don.) 
Specific Character. — Flowers panicled. Calyxes pyramidal, 
smooth, 5-angled. Bracteas membranaceous, acute. Leaves ovate- 
lanceolate, sessile.—(G. Don.) 
Description, &c.— A strong-growing plant, with red flowers ; a native of corn-fields in France, Germany, 
Switzerland, and the Levant. It was introduced before 1596, as it is mentioned by Gerard. The name of 
Vaccaria , or Cow-herb, w T as given to this plant, from its being supposed to increase greatly the milk of cows. 
The seeds are common in all the seed-shops ; they should be sown like those of Flos Adonis (see p. 3), and the 
plants thinned out when about two inches high. 
OTHER SPECIES OF SAPONARIA. 
S. PERFOLIATA, Roxb. 
Closely resembling S. Vaccaria , of which it is probably a variety. A native of the East Indies, introduced 
in 1800. 
S. DIOICA, Schlecht. et Cham. 
A native of Buenos Ayres ; is probably another variety of the same species. 
S. CALABRICA, Guss. 
This is a very beautiful plant, strongly resembling the perennial species of the genus ( S. oepmoides), so often 
found on rock-work. S. calabrica is, however, of more erect growth, and has beautiful rose-coloured flowers. 
S, PORRIGENS, Ik, 
The flowers of this species have flesh-coloured petals, and long white stamens. It is a native of the Levant; 
but it has been in cultivation in British gardens since 1680. 
