Volume Iii Part 7 (1/2)
No difficulty attends the propagation of it, for it increases so fast by its runners, as to be even troublesome.
[93]
SEMPERVIVUM MONANTHES. DWARF HOUSELEEK.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
DODECANDRIA DODECAGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Calyx_ 12-part.i.tus. _Petala_ 12. _Capsulae_ 12. polyspermae.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
SEMPERVIVUM _monanthes_ foliis teretibus clavatis confertis, pedunculis nudis subunifloris, nectariis obcordatis. _Aiton. Hort. Kew._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 93]
It appears from the _Hortus Kewensis_, the publication of which is daily expected, that the plant here figured was first brought to this country from the Canary Islands, by Mr. FRANCIS Ma.s.sON, in the year 1777.
It is highly deserving the notice of the Botanist, not only as being by far the least species of the genus, but on account of its Nectaria; these, though not mentioned by LINNaeUS in his character of the genus, have been described by other authors, particularly JACQUIN and HALLER; and though not present in most, and but faintly visible in a few species of _Sempervivum_, in this plant form a princ.i.p.al part of the fructification; they are usually seven in number, but vary from six to eight.
In the specimens we have examined, and which perhaps have been rendered luxuriant by culture, the number of stamina has been from twelve to sixteen; of styles, from six to eight; of flowers on the same stalk, from one to eight.
It flowers during most of the summer months, succeeds very well with the common treatment of a greenhouse plant in the summer, but does best in a dry stove in the winter.
Is readily increased by parting its roots.
[94]
SISYRINCHIUM IRIOIDES. IRIS-LEAV'D SISYRINCHIUM.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
GYNANDRIA TRIANDRIA.
_Generic Character._
Monogyna. _Spatha_ diphylla. _Petala_ 6 plana. _Capsula_ tri-locularis, infera.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
SISYRINCHIUM _iridioides_ foliis ensiformibus; petalis oblongo-obcordatis, venosis; germinibus pyriformibus, subhirsutis.