Volume Iii Part 7 (2/2)

SISYRINCHIUM _Bermudiana._ _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 820. var. 2.

Spec. Pl. p. 1353._

BERMUDIANA iridis folio, radice fibrosa. _Dill. Elth. 48. t. 41. f. 48._

SISYRINCHIUM _Bermudiana_ foliis gladiolatis amplexicaulibus, pedunculis brevioribus. _Miller's Dict. ed. 6. 4to._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 94]

On comparing the present plant with the _Bermudiana graminea flore minore coeruleo_ of DILLENIUS, both of which I have growing, and now in pots before me, the difference appears so striking, that I am induced with him and MILLER to consider them as distinct species; especially as, on a close examination, there appear characters sufficient to justify me in the opinion, which characters are not altered by culture.

It is a native of the Bermudian Islands, and flowers in the open border from May to the end of July; it is not uncommon to keep it in the greenhouse, for which, from its size &c. it is very well adapted; but it is not necessary to treat it tenderly, as it will bear a greater degree of cold than many plants usually considered as hardy.

It may be propagated most readily by seeds, or by parting its roots in the autumn; should be planted on a border with an eastern aspect; soil the same as for bulbs.

[95]

GERANIUM RADULA. RASP-LEAV'D GERANIUM.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

Monogyna. _Stigmata_ 5. _Fructus_ rostratus, 5-coccus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GERANIUM _revolutum_ pedunculis subbifloris, foliis multifidis linearibus scabris ad oras revolutis, caule arboreo. _Jacq. ic.

133. collect. 1. p. 84._

GERANIUM _Radula._ _Cavanill. Diss. 4. p. 262. t. 101. f. 1._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 95]

This is one of the numerous tribe of _Geraniums_ introduced from the Cape since the time of MILLER: it takes the name of _Radula_, which is the Latin term for a rasp or file, from the rough rasp-like surface of the leaves.

There are two varieties of it, a _major_ and a _minor_, which keep pretty constantly to their characters; and as this species is readily raised from seeds, it affords also many seminal varieties.

As a Botanist, desirous of seeing plants distinct in their characters, we could almost wish it were impossible to raise these _foreign Geraniums_ from seeds; for, without pretending to any extraordinary discernment, we may venture to prophecy, that in a few years, from the multiplication of seminal varieties, springing from seeds casually, or perhaps purposely impregnated with the pollen of different sorts, such a crop will be produced as will baffle all our attempts to reduce to species, or even regular varieties.

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