MAURANDIA SEMPERFLORENS.

243

time to fix its roots before the time of its removal into the open air. In winter it will not require water oftener than once in five days or a week; and then, unless in very mild weather, at the roots only. In dry summer weather it may be watered every evening, or second evening, according to its situation and the heat of the sun.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM.

FICOIDEE.

ICOSANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.

The name of this genus is derived from three Greek words, and signifies a flower with the embryo in the middle: it was originally named Mesembrianthemum, or Noon-flower, because most of the species close in the absence of the sun, and disclose themselves in broad sunshine. The familiar name is Fig-marygold.—French, ficoïde; fleur du midi [noon-flower].-Italian, ficoide.

THIS genus is very large: it will be necessary only to select a few of the more desirable or general kinds.

One of the most popular kinds of the Mesembryanthemums is the M. Crystallinum, Ice-plant, or Diamond-fig Marygold, of which the leaves, stems, and buds are apparently covered with ice.-French, la glaciale: Italian, erba crystallina.-It comes from the neighbourhood of Athens. This plant must be raised in a hot-bed; but, if not intended for seeding, may be placed abroad in May, and will preserve its beauty till late in the autumn. It is chiefly for the ice-like surface that it is admired: the flowers are trivial. It must be very cautiously watered, and only often enough to preserve the earth from becoming an absolute dust.

The M. Frequentiflora is, as its specific name implies, a frequent flowerer, but it must not be kept too warm, or it will not satisfy this expectation; it must merely be sheltered from frost and wintry winds.

The M. Variabile flowers in June, July, and August. It frequently changes its colour; on first opening, it is orange or saffron-coloured, then yellow, which fades almost to a white, with a tinge of red, and a red midrib, and at last a fleshy white, and rubicund on the outside. The M. Versicolor is rubicund in the morning, pale silvery in the middle of the day, and rubicund again in the evening.

M. Polyanthon makes a brilliant show in August. M. Emarginatum flowers from June to August. M. Speciosum is one of the most beautiful of them all, and flowers freely. M. Floribundum flowers from May to October in a most exuberant manner. M. Striatum blossoms also from May to October very liberally; and so great is the demand for this species, that a nursery-florist, near Hammersmith, has been said to sell 7000 pots of it annually.

M. Bracteatum flowers from August to January; M. Stellatum from August to November; M. Inclaudens flowers in July: the flowers are always expanded, and very handsome.

M. Decumbens, from May to October; M. Glomeratum from June to July; and M. Falciforme from July to August; are very full of blossom. The flowers of M. Caulescens smell like new hay: this flowers in May.

These plants should be housed in the winter, and carefully sheltered from the frost; but fresh air must always be allowed them in mild weather. They are very succulent, and must have but just water enough to keep them alive the less moisture is given them, the better they will bear the winter cold.

M. Lacerum is more tender than most of the genus, and must therefore be sooner housed, and set further from the windows when open, in the winter. The flowers of this kind are of a pale rose-colour, large and showy, and do not close at night. It flowers in June.

MESEM BRYANTHEMUM.

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M. Tenuifolium has pale red flowers; which, in the sunshine, appear sprinkled with gold-dust: they blow very abundantly in June. Most of the species have purple or yellow flowers.

It may be observed, as a general rule, to water the shrubby kinds twice, the more succulent, once a week, during the summer; but, towards the end of autumn, it must be given less frequently: once a week to the shrubby kinds, when the weather is not frosty; and in severe weather, the succulent should have no more water than just to prevent their leaves from shrivelling.

They are best raised by a gardener. The pots should be frequently examined at the bottom, to see if the roots run through, in which case they must be cut off. Those perennial kinds which grow pretty fast should be shifted once or twice in the course of the summer, to pare off their roots, and, if necessary, remove them into larger pots; but they should be always kept in as small pots as possible, particularly those of the more succulent kind.

They should generally be housed in September, and placed abroad in May, in a sheltered, warm, sunny situation. In very wet weather, the most succulent kinds should be screened from it.

This is a handsome and admired genus, and comprehends a great variety. They are chiefly natives of the Cape. Few green-houses, however small, are without the Ice-plant; which is also, from its glittering surface, called the Diamond-plant, Diamond-ficoides, and Spangled-beau:

"Geranium boasts

Her crimson honours, and the spangled beau,
Ficoides, glitters bright the winter long.

All plants of every leaf, that can endure

The winter's frown, if screened from his shrewd bite,
Live there and prosper."

COWPER.

RESEDACEE.

MIGNONETTE.

RESEDA ODORATA.

DODECANDRIA TRYGYNIA.

THIS plant is supposed to be an Egyptian, and to have been brought hither from the South of France, where it is called reseda d'Egypte, and herbe d'amour [love flower]. A French appellation, derived from the Spanish, minoneta, prevails here over its classical one. It is a favourite plant, very fragrant, and has well justified this affectionate name, Mignonette, or Little-darling: its sweetness wins all hearts.

"The luxury of the pleasure-garden," says Mr. Curtis, "is greatly heightened by the delightful odour which this little plant diffuses; and as it grows more readily in pots, its fragrance may be conveyed into the house. Its perfume, though not so refreshing perhaps as that of the Sweet-briar, is not apt to offend the most delicate olfactories. It flowers from May to the commencement of winter."

People have not been satisfied, however, with growing this little-darling in pots; it is more frequently seen cradled in the sunshine, in boxes the whole length of the window it is placed in.

Of

"the sashes fronted with a range

orange, myrtle, or the fragrant weed, The Frenchman's darling."

COWPER.

The seeds may be sown in April, and will grow very well in the open air, although it will not flower so early as when raised in a hot-bed; they will, however, be much stronger. If sheltered in the winter, it will continue flowering most part of the year, but will not be so strong the second year as the first. It is generally an annual. The earth should be kept moderately moist.

MILK-WORT.

POLYGALA.

POLYGALEE.

DIADELPHIA OCTANDRIA.

Polygala is from the Greek, and signifies much milk: the plants, when eaten by cattle, being supposed to make them yield much milk. French, l'herbe à lait; laitier.-Italian, poligala; all of a similar signification.

THE Polygala-myrtifolia, or Myrtle-leaved Milk-wort, is a shrub growing three or four feet high. It produces at the ends of the branches, red flowers, white on the outside, and of a bright purple within; and, as it is in blossom most part of the summer, is much esteemed to adorn drawing-rooms, balconies, &c.

This shrub must be housed at the approach of winter, about the middle or end of October. It must be con→ stantly but sparingly watered; less in the winter, than when exposed to the open air in summer.

The Spear-leaved kind, which, like the former, is a native of the Cape, is a very pretty plant, flowering from May to July, and may be treated in the same manner.

LEGUMINOSE.

MIMOSA.

POLYGAMIA MONOECIA.

Commonly called the Sensitive-plant.-French, herbe vive [live herb]; herbe sensible; herbe sensitive; acacia.-Italian, sensitiva.

SOME few species of the Mimosa may be preserved in a warm inhabited room; but they are mostly kept in a stove, and few of them will bear the open air even in summer. Like human beings, they are more sensitive in proportion