ii. Perforària Chois. Identification. Chois. Prod. Hyp., p. 44., Dec. Prod., 1. p. 546.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 603. Derivation. From perforatus, perforated; because the leaves are full of pellucid dots, which gives them the appearance of being perforated. Sect. Char. Calyx of 5 equal sepals, toothed in some with glandular teeth, but entire in others, connected at the base. Stamens numerous, free or disposed in 5 sets. Styles commonly 3. Herbs or undershrubs. Flowers axillary, or in terminal panicled corymbs. Leaves rarely linear. (Don's Mill,, i. p. 603.) Undershrubs, from 1 ft. to 3 ft. in height, A. Sepals entire. 15. H. PROLIFICUM L. The prolific St. John's Wort. Identification. Lin. Mant., 106.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 605. Synonymes. H. foliòsum Jacq, Hort. Schönbr., 3. p. 27.; H. Kalmiànum Du Roi, Harbk., 1. p. 510. Engravings. Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 88.; Jacq. Hort. Schönb., t. 299. Spec. Char., &c. Stem round. Branches angular. Leaves linear-lanceolate, with revolute edges, full of pellucid dots. Corymbs few-flowered. Sepals Styles usually connected ovate-lanceolate, stamens very numerous. together. (Don's Mill., i. p. 605.) A sub-evergreen shrub, from Virginia and Canada, introduced in 1758, and producing its yellow flowers from June till August. Height 4 ft. Frequent in gardens, and forming a dense leafy bush, covered with flowers great part of the summer, and with seed-pods in the autumn. American seeds, in London, 6d. a packet; and plants, in London, 9d. each; and at Bollwyller, 50 cents each. 16. H. HETEROPHY'LLUM Vent. The various-leaved St. John's Wort, Identification. Vent. Hort. Cels, t. 68.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 607. Engraving. Vent. Hort. Cels, t. 68, Spec. Char,, &c. Stem suffruticose, round. Leaves linear-lanceolate, full of pellucid dots; axillary ones 17. H. ÆGYPTI ACUM L. The Egyptian St. John's Wort, Identification. Lin. Sp., 1103.; Don's Mill, 1. p. 607. Engravings. Lin. Amen., 8. t. 8. f. 3.; Ker Bot. Reg., t. 196, Spec. Char., &c. Stem round. Leaves small, ovate, crowded, without dots. Flowers few, almost sessile. Sepals lanceolate, acute. Styles small, diverging. (Don's Mill., i. p. 607.) A sub-evergreen undershrub, with glaucous leaves and small flowers; introduced from Egypt in 1787, and producing its yellow flowers in June and July. Height 2 ft. It requires protection during winter. 18. H. GALIÖI'DES Lam. The Galium-like-leaved St. John's Wort. Identification. Lam, Dict., 4. p. 160.; Don's Mill., 1, p. 609. Spec. Char. Stem suffruticose, round, straight. Leaves linear-lanceolate, tapering to the base, broadest at the apex, acute, with revolute dotted margins. Sepals linear, acute, reflexed after flowering. Styles at first connected, but at length free. Capsules conical, very acute. (Don's Mill., i, p. 609.) A sub-evergreen undershrub, native of North America, from New Jersey to Carolina, in sandy moist places near rivulets; producing its yellow flowers from July to September. Height 2 ft. 19. H. AXILLA`RE Lam. The axillary-flowered St. John's Wort. Identification. Lam. Dict., 4. p. 160.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 609. Synonymes. H. fasciculatum Willd. Spec., 3. p. 1452., exclusive of the synonymes of Michx., Pursh, FL. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 576.; H. Coris Walt. Fl. Carol., 190. Spec. Char., &c. Stem shrubby, round, diffuse. Leaves lanceolate-linear, narrowed at the base, with revolute margins. Sepals rather unequal. Styles, at first joined, but afterwards free. (Don's Mill., i. p. 609.) A sub-evergreen undershrub, native of the pine woods of Georgia and Florida; producing its yellow flowers in July, Height 2 ft, B. Sepals toothed, usually with the Teeth glandular. 20. H. GLANDULO`SUM Ait. The glandular St. John's Wort. Identification. Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 1. vol. 3. p. 107.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 609. Spec. Char., &c. Stem shrubby, round, erect, branched. Leaves elliptical-lanceolate, acute, with glandular margins, and pellucid dots. Calyx lanceolate, acute. (Don's Mill., i. p. 609.) A subevergreen undershrub, native of Madeira and Teneriffe, introduced in 1777; producing its pale yellow flowers, the petals of which are full of brown dots, from May to August. Height 2 ft. It requires protection during winter. 21. H. SERPYLLIFO`LIUM Lam. The Wild-Thyme-leaved St. John's Wort. Identification Lam. Dict., 4. p. 176.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 610. Spec. Char., &c. Stem suffruticose, round. Leaves ovate, obtuse, on very short petioles, with revolute margins. Calyx ovate, obtuse, fringed. (Don's Mill., i. p. 610.) A neat little bush, which has been in cultivation as a half-hardy shrub since 1688. It produces its yellow flowers in July and August, and grows to the height of 1 ft. It is well adapted for culture in pots; or on the warmest part of rockwork. 22. H. EMPETRIFO`LIUM Willd. The Empetrum-leaved St. John's Wort. Identification. Willd. Spec., 3. p. 1452.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 610. 23. H. CO'RIS L. The Coris-leaved St. John's Wort. Identification. Lin. Spec., 1107.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 610. 108 Spec. Char., &c. Stem shrubby, erect, round. Leaves in whorls, linear, with revolute margins. Calyx linear, bluntish. (Don's Mill., i. p. 610.) A small shrub, of the habit of the last, but a native of the Levant, whence it was introduced in 1640. It produces its yellow flowers from May to September, Height from 14 ft. to 2 ft. This species stood out, in a sheltered situation at Biel, in the winter of 1825. The plant Coris, which it is said to resemble, is the Coris monspeliénsis W., a herbaceous biennial, one of the Prímulàceæ. 24. H. ERICÖI DES L. The Heath-like St. John's Wort, Identification. Lin. Spec., 1104.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 611. Engravings. Cav. Icon., 2. p. 20. t. 122.; Pluk. Phyt., t. 93. f. 5. Spec. Char., &c. Stem suffruticose, round, twisted, small. Leaves linear, acute, much crowded, dotted, glaucous, small. Sepals acute, hardly glandular. (Don's Mill., i. p. 611.) A neat little heath-like shrub, a native of Spain, Portugal, and the Levant; introduced in 1821, and producing its yellow flowers from June to September. It requires protection during winter. § iii. Brathya Chois. Identification. Chois. Prod., p. 58.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 553. Derivation. From brathys, the Greek name of the savin tree (which is derived from brazō, to overheat); in allusion to the habit of the shrubs, which resembles that of the savin tree, or juniper. Sect. Char. Calyx of 5 entire equal sepals, usually very like the leaves, Stamens numerous, disposed in bundles. Styles 3 to 4. Subshrub, with axillary solitary flowers, and imbricate, whorled, or crowded leaves, which are usually linear-awl-shaped. (Don's Mill., i. p. 611.) Sub-evergreen undershrubs. A. Styles 3, with simple Stigmas. 25. H. FASCICULA TUM Lam. The fascicled-leaved St. John's Wort. Identification. Lam. Dict., 4. p. 160., but not of Lapeyr.; Don's Mill, 1. p. 611. Synonymes. H. aspalathöldes Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 376. Spec. Char., &c. Stem round, compressed at the top. Branches erect. Leaves dense, without dots, channeled, with somewhat revolute margins. Sepals equal, erect. Styles joined. (Don's Mill., i. p. 611.) An undershrub 1 ft. in height, a native of Carolina; introduced in 1811, and producing its yellow flowers in July and August. Somewhat tender. The only truly hardy shrubby species of Hypéricum are, H. elàtum, H. hircìnum, H. calycinum, H. Kalmianum, and H. prolíficum. The other hardy species are of such low growth, that they may be considered, for all practical purposes, as herbaceous plants. The same may be said of a number of the half-hardy species. The number of these might be increased partly by the addition of H. rèpens and H. linearifolium, from the south of Europe; by several species from North America, which will be found noticed in p. 179.; and by a few from Africa. H. oblongifolium, in the list, p. 173., appears to have been lost; and there are, probably, some other Himalayan species which will prove half-hardy. H. japonicum Dec. (Royle t. 24. f. 2.) is a plant enjoying a very extended distribution, being found in situations where the snow covers the soil for nearly six months in the year, along the Himalayas, and on the Neelgherries. It is also found in Japan. (Royle's Illust., p. 131.) GENUS II. ANDROSÆ MUM Chois. THE ANDROSEMUM, or TUTSAN. Lin. Syst. Identification. Chois. Prod. Hyp., 37.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 543.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 601. Synonymes. Hypéricum L.; Androsème, Fr.; Johanniskraut, Ger. Derivation. From aner, andros, a man, and haima, blood; the capsules, when crushed between the fingers, giving out a blood-coloured juice. Tutsan is a corruption of toute saine, all heal; and it was applied to the plant formerly from its supposed vulnerary properties. Gen. Char., &c. Capsule baccate; usually 1-celled. Calyx 5-parted, with unequal lobes. Petals 5. Styles 3. Stamens numerous, disposed in 3 sets. (Don's Mill., i. p. 601.)- An evergreen suffruticose plant, with sessile leaves, and terminal stalked flowers. 1. A. OFFICINALE Allioni. The officinal Androsæmum, or common Tutsan. Identification. All. Ped., No. 1440.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 543.; Don's Mill., 1. 601. Synonymes. Clymenon Italorum L'Obel; Hypéricum Androsæ mum Lin., Willd., Smith, and Hooker; Park Leaves (because it is frequently found wild in parks); Androsème officinale, Fr.; breit-blättriges (broad-leaved) Johanniskraut, Ger. Engravings. Blackw., t. 94.; Eng. Bot., t. 1225.; and our fig.109. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves ovate, and somewhat heartshaped, sessile, widely spreading. Flower an inch wide. A native of moist shady lanes, thick ets, and woods in England, in the western part of Scotland, and not unfrequent in woods in Ireland. It was formerly common in the woods about Hampstead and Highgate, till these were grubbed up, and the land where they grew subjected to cultivation. It is also a native of Italy, Greece, and Cacausus. It 109 forms a dense bush, with many stems, attaining the height of 3 ft. and upwards, and producing its large yellow flowers from July to September. The fruit is an ovate capsule, assuming the appearance of a berry: it is, at first, yellowish green, then red or brownish purple; and, lastly, almost black when ripe. The juice of the capsules, and also that of the leaves, is claret-coloured. The latter, when bruised, have an aromatic scent, and were formerly applied to fresh wounds; and hence the French name of la toute saine. In gardening, the plant is valuable as growing under the drip of trees, and thriving and flowering freely in almost any soil or situation. Plants, in the London nurseries, may be obtained at 9d. each; and at Bollwyller for 50 cents. CHAP. XXII. OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS BELONGING TO the order ACERA CEÆ. DISTINCTIVE Characteristics. Flowers either unisexual or bisexual. Calyx and corolla equal in the number of their parts, with an imbricated æstivation; the corolla sometimes absent. Petals without appendages. Stamens inserted upon a disk, which arises from below the pistillum, not agreeing in number with the divisions of the calyx and corolla. Pistillum 2-lobed, each lobe having a wing at its back. Style 1. Stigmas 2. Fruit formed of two samara, or keys, each containing 1 cell and 1 erect seed. Embryo curved, with leafy shriveled cotyledons and no albumen. Trees or shrubs, almost all deciduous, with opposite leaves, without stipules. (Pen. Cyc.) Calyx 4-9 lobes, mostly 5. Stamens mostly 8. Flowers in axillary corymbs. Sap sugary. (Lindl. Introd. to N. S.) Cotyledons, in the germination of the seed, produced above ground. The samaræ in Acer Pseudo-Plátanus are very rarely 3. Description. The species are chiefly low and middle-sized deciduous trees, generally with lobed, but, in one or two cases, with entire or pinnated leaves. They are natives of Europe, North America, and the north of India. They are all highly ornamental; some of them valuable for their timber; and from A`cer saccharinum, and other species, sugar is extracted. In point of magnitude, the species of the Aceràcea may be arranged in three classes: those of the largest size, having large leaves, and the trunks of a timber size, fit for various purposes in architecture, such as the A. Pseudo-Plátanus, A. eriocárpum, &c.; those of the second size, with small leaves, the timber of which is chiefly used by cabinet-makers, turners, &c., and the trees as copsewood, such as Acer campéstre; and those of the third size, with small leaves, which are solely employed for ornamental planting, such as Acer monspessulanum, A. créticum, &c. Geography and History. "The maples," Michaux observes, "form extensive forests in the northern parts of North America: these forests appear, with those of the beech, to succeed the spruce fir, the larch, and the pine, and to precede the chestnut and the oak; at least, this is the case between 43° and 46 of N. lat., the region assigned by nature to the true sugar maple." Seven species of Acer, and one of Negúndo, are described by Michaux. In the Pen. Cyc., under the article Acer, understood to be by Dr. Lindley, 34 species are enumerated or described; and, in Don's Miller 39 species, of which 26 are in cultivation in British gardens. Most of the American species are already introduced into Britain; but there are some in the mountainous regions of India, and probably in Japan and China, which are likely to prove hardy in Britain, which are not yet introduced, the names of some of which will be found in p. 173. and p. 176., and in the concluding section of this chapter. Properties and Uses. The wood of the Aceràceæ is moderately hard, compact, and more or less veined: it is useful in various departments of architecture, and is particularly valuable as fuel. Sugar is one of the constituent parts of the sap of all the acers and negundos, though that article is chiefly obtained from two species, which are natives of America. Soil and Situation. The Aceràceæ prefer a free, deep, loamy soil, rich rather than sterile, and neither wet nor very dry. The situation that suits them best is one that is sheltered, and shady rather than exposed. They are seldom found on the north sides of lofty mountains, or on mountains at all, except among other trees; but in the plains they are found by themselves. Though the species only attain perfection in favourable soils and situations, they will spring up and live in any soil or situation whatever. Propagation and Culture. The Aceràceæ are chiefly propagated from seeds; but some sorts are increased by layers, cuttings of the shoots or roots, or by budding or grafting. The seeds of most of the species ripen in October, and CHAP. XXII. they are gathered by hand, or by shaking the tree, when the keys begin to turn brown. The maturity of the seed may be proved by opening the key, and observing if the cotyledons are green, succulent, and fresh; if the green colour of the cotyledons is wanting, the seeds are good for nothing. The seeds of all the species may either be sown in autumn, after they are gathered, or in spring and the latter method is preferable where moles abound, as they are very fond of the seeds. Sown in spring, they come up in five or six weeks afterwards, with the exception of those of the A. campestre, which never come up till the second or third year. The seeds should not be covered with more than from a quarter to half an inch of soil. The surface of the ground in which they are sown may be advantageously shaded with leaves, fronds of firs, heath, or straw. The genera which compose this order are three, A`cer, Negúndo, and Dobinea; ACER L. Flowers polygamous. Calyx 5-lobed. Stamens 7-9, rarely 5. NEGUNDO Moench. Flowers diœcious. Calyx unequally 4-5-toothed. Leaves pinnate. Anthers 4-5, linear, sessile. GENUS I. ACER L. THE MAPLE. Lin. Syst. Polygàmia Mono`cia. Identification. Lin. Gen., No. 1115.; Moench. Meth., 334.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 593.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 648. Synonymes. E'rable, Fr.; Ahorn, Ger.; Acero, Ital.; and Arce, Spanish. Derivation. From acer, hard or sharp, derived from ac, Celtic, a point. The name is supposed to be applied to this genus because the wood of some species is extremely hard, and was formerly much sought after for the purpose of making pikes and lances. Gen. Char., &c. Sexes hermaphrodite, or monaciously polygamous. Flowers Calyx divided into 5 parts, or some number bewith a calyx and corolla. Stamens 8, or some number Petals the same in number. tween 4 and 9. between 5 and 12. Anthers 2-lobed. Carpels 2, very rarely 3, each a samara; that is, a fruit which is called, in England, vernacularly, a key.Leaves lobed and toothed, or, rarely, neither lobed nor toothed. Flowers generally yellow, with more or less of green blended with the yellow; red in A. rubrum: not individually conspicuous, but interesting in the kinds that flower at leafing time, from their number, from the rarity of flowers generally at that season, and from the enlivening effect of the numerous bees, and other insects, that attend them. The tips of the wings of the samaræ of several of the species are of a light red, in England, at the end The species are middle-sized, or low deciduof summer, and in autumn. ous trees, natives of Europe, North America, and, some, of the Himalayas. They are, in general, quite hardy in Britain, and most of them ripen seeds in this country, by which they are readily propagated. They are among the most ornamental trees of artificial plantations, on account of the great beauty and variety of their foliage, which changes to a fine scarlet, or rich The larger-growing species are often many years beyellow, in autumn. fore they come into flower, and, after they do so, they sometimes flower several years before they mature seeds; probably from having the flowers of only one sex. In general it may be observed that there is great uncertainty, in the different species of A`cer, with regard to sex. A. Leaves simple. 1. A. OBLONGUM Wall. The oblong-leaved Maple. Identification. Wall. in Litt.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 593; Don's Mill. 1. p. 648. FF 4 |