Volume Ii Part 9 (1/2)

CENTAUREA _glastifolia_ calycibus scariosis, foliis indivisis integerrimis decurrentibus. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 787._ _Gmelin Sib. 2.

p. 83._

CENTAURIUM majus orientale er.e.c.t.u.m, glasti folio, flore luteo. _Comm.

rar. 39. t. 39._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 62]

a.s.sumes the name of _glastifolia_ from the similitude which the leaves bear to those of the _Isatis tinctoria_, or _Woad_, _Glastum_ of the old Botanists.

In this plant we have an excellent example of the _Folium decurrens_ and _Calyx scariosus_ of LINNaeUS, the leaves also exhibit a curious phenomenon, having veins prominent on both their sides; the scales of the calyx are moreover distinguished by a beautiful silvery appearance, which it is difficult to represent in colours.

It is a native of the East, as well as of Siberia; flowers with us in July, in the open border, and is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, which are of the creeping kind: requires no particular treatment.

MILLER, in the last 4to edition of his Dictionary, enumerates a _Cent. glastifolia_; but his description in detail, by no means accords with the plant.

[63]

~Fragaria monophylla. One-Leaved Strawberry, or Strawberry of Versailles.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Icosandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 10-fidus. _Petala_ 5. _Receptaculum_ feminum ovatum, baccatum, deciduum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

FRAGARIA _monophylla_ foliis simplicibus. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 476._ _Le Fraisier de Versailles. d.u.c.h.esne Hist. nat. des Frais, p. 124._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 63]

The first mention made of this Strawberry, we find in d.u.c.h.eSNE'S _Histoire naturelle des Fraisiers_, where we have its complete history, and from which we learn, that it was originally raised by him at Versailles, in the Year 1761, from seeds of the Wood Strawberry.

From France this plant has been conveyed to most parts of Europe; how it has happened we know not, but it is certainly very little known in this country: in the 14th edit of the _Syst. Veg._ of LINNaeUS, it appears as a species under the name of _monophylla_, originally imposed on it by d.u.c.h.eSNE; LINNaeUS, however, has his doubts as to its being a species distinct from the _vesca_, and, in our humble opinion, not without reason; for it can certainly be regarded as a very singular variety only; its origin indeed is a proof of this; in addition to which we may observe, that plants raised from the runners will sometimes, though very rarely indeed, have three leaves instead of one: and it is observed by the very intelligent author of the _Hist. nat._ abovementioned, that seedling plants sometimes produced leaves with three divisions, like those of the Wood Strawberry. Besides the remarkable difference in the number of the leaves in this plant, the leaves themselves are observed to be much smaller in the winter season, and their ribs less branched; the runners also are slenderer and more productive, and the fruit in general more oblong or pyramidal. As an object of curiosity, this plant is deserving a place in every garden of any extent; nor is its singularity its only recommendation, its fruit being equal to that of the finest Wood Strawberry, with which it agrees in the time of its flowering, fruiting, and mode of treatment.

[64]

~Hemerocallis fulva. Tawny Day-Lily.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._