Plate 831 - Shrubby Pimpernel

219 HULL Selleri tion Library N° M syd Edwards del Pub by TCurtis st Geo Crefcent Apr 1.1805 ESanfem sculp N°831 [831] ANAGALLIS FRUTICOSA. sHRUBBY PIMPERNEL. *********** Class and Order. ****** PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

Generic Character.

Cor. rotata.

Capf. circumfciffa. specific Character and synonyms.

ANAGALLIS fruticofa; foliis ternis cordato-lanceolatis am- plexicaulibus, caule fruticofo tereti: ramis angulofis.

Ventenat.

Pl.

Select. 18.

ANAGALLIS grandiflora.

Bot.

Repof. 367.

Most of the known species of Anagallis fo nearly resemble each other, that it is not easy to find botanical characters that will with sufficient accuracy diftinguish them, and this has led some Botanifts to believe that most of the supposed species are mere varieties, deriving their origin from climate, foil, and cultivation.

Some have carried this opinion fo far as to fup- pofe that this splendid plant is the offspring of ANAGALLIS arvenfis, improved by art, a notion however which appears to us sufficiently improbable.

If there are no very prominent marks of distinction except that of the shrubby perennial stalk, a change which some other annuals have been known to undergo from climate and other circumftances, yet there are feveral differences, more minute indeed than might be wished, but which, when united, may be sufficient to diftinguish them.

Thus in ANAGALLIS arvenfis the leaves and flower-stalks are usually oppofite, or if more than two, are generally by fours, rarely if ever three, which is the the more natural number in our plant, though in this they sometimes grow by pairs and now and then by fours.

The leaves are also more lance-shaped and less oval than in arvenfis, the anthers too are pointed and incurved at the upper ex- tremity.

In the economy of the two plants there is a remark- able difference, for while the flowers of the common pimpernel are never open except in fair weather, and have, from their fenfibility to the prefence or abfence of the fun, been called "the poor man's weather-glafs," the flowers of our plant pay fo little regard to the changes of the atmosphere, that when once fully expanded, they remain open night and day.

It is readily propagated by cuttings, and will, if planted in the open ground, produce seeds; but to preferve it through the winter, must be entirely protected from frost.

Is of late introduction among us from Paris.

VENTENAT fays, it is a native of Africa, near Mogadore

219 HULL Selleri tion Library N° M syd Edwards del Pub by TCurtis st Geo Crefcent Apr 1.1805 ESanfem sculp N°831 [831] ANAGALLIS FRUTICOSA. sHRUBBY PIMPERNEL. *********** Class and Order. ****** PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Generic Character. Cor. rotata. Capf. circumfciffa. specific Character and synonyms. ANAGALLIS fruticofa; foliis ternis cordato-lanceolatis am- plexicaulibus, caule fruticofo tereti: ramis angulofis. Ventenat. Pl. Select. 18. ANAGALLIS grandiflora. Bot. Repof. 367. Most of the known species of Anagallis fo nearly resemble each other, that it is not easy to find botanical characters that will with sufficient accuracy diftinguish them, and this has led some Botanifts to believe that most of the supposed species are mere varieties, deriving their origin from climate, foil, and cultivation. Some have carried this opinion fo far as to fup- pofe that this splendid plant is the offspring of ANAGALLIS arvenfis, improved by art, a notion however which appears to us sufficiently improbable. If there are no very prominent marks of distinction except that of the shrubby perennial stalk, a change which some other annuals have been known to undergo from climate and other circumftances, yet there are feveral differences, more minute indeed than might be wished, but which, when united, may be sufficient to diftinguish them. Thus in ANAGALLIS arvenfis the leaves and flower-stalks are usually oppofite, or if more than two, are generally by fours, rarely if ever three, which is the the more natural number in our plant, though in this they sometimes grow by pairs and now and then by fours. The leaves are also more lance-shaped and less oval than in arvenfis, the anthers too are pointed and incurved at the upper ex- tremity. In the economy of the two plants there is a remark- able difference, for while the flowers of the common pimpernel are never open except in fair weather, and have, from their fenfibility to the prefence or abfence of the fun, been called "the poor man's weather-glafs," the flowers of our plant pay fo little regard to the changes of the atmosphere, that when once fully expanded, they remain open night and day. It is readily propagated by cuttings, and will, if planted in the open ground, produce seeds; but to preferve it through the winter, must be entirely protected from frost. Is of late introduction among us from Paris. VENTENAT fays, it is a native of Africa, near Mogadore.