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produce. The caper is cultivated extensively in the neighbourhood of Tunis, and exported both to America and Europe. In commerce, the buds are of three different qualities, the nonpareil, the capucine, and the capotte. M'Culloch says, the best capers imported into Britain are from Toulon; some small salt capers come from Majorca, and a few flat ones from about Lyons. In the year 1832, 6213 lbs. were entered for home consumption. (Com. Dict.) The caper plant has, we believe, been introduced into Australia, and it is highly probable that it would thrive particularly well in that dry and warm climate; as it would, doubtless, in the Himalaya, and in other parts of India. For these reasons, we have departed from the rule we laid down, p. 230., which would have obliged us to print our account of this species, as being only half-hardy, in small type.

2. C. FONTANE`SII Dec. Desfontaines's Caper Bush.

Identification. Dec. Prod., 1. p. 245.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 279.

Synonymes. C. ovata Desf. Fl. Atl., 1. p. 404.; Caprier oval, Fr.
Engraving. Bocc. Sic., t. 42.

Spec. Char., &c. Stipules spinose, hooked. Leaves ovate, cordate at the base, acutish at the tip. (Don's Mill., i. p. 279.) Flowers dull white. Fruit club-shaped. A deciduous bush, closely resembling C. spínòsa, of which it is, in all probability, only a variety. It was found in Mauritania, near Oran, in fissures of rocks, by M. Desfontaines, and it is also to be met with in Sicily, Italy, Spain, and the states of Barbary. In the Nouveau Du Hamel it is stated that it differs from C. spinòsa in nothing but the forms of the leaves, which are oval-acuminate, while those of the other are round. It appears to have been introduced into England in 1800, but we have not seen it. As it is, doubtless, equally hardy with the other, it well merits a place against a conservative wall.

From the habits common to the genus Capparis, and more especially from the principal part of the plant which contains the vital power being under ground, it is not improbable that all the greenhouse species might stand against a conservative wall with very little protection. One only is introduced, namely C. ægypta Lam., from Egypt; but there are described by De Candolle, and by G. Don C. nepalensis Dec., from Nepal; C. nummulària Dec., C. quiniflora Dec., and C. umbellata R. Br., from New Holland; C. canéscens Banks, from New South Wales; C. heteracántha Dec., and C. leucophylla Dec., from between Bagdad and Aleppo; C. volkamèria Dec., C. citrifolia Lam., C. cluytiafolia Burch., C. oleöides Burch., C. coriacea Burch., C. albitrúnca Burch., which is a tree 16 ft. high, C. punctata Burch., and C. racemòsa Dec., all from the Cape of Good Hope; and C. saligna Vahl, from Santa Cruz.

CHAP. XI.

OF THE HARDY AND HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER CISTA CEÆ.

DISTINCTIVE Characteristics. Thalamiflorous. Sepals 5, incompletely whorled, two of them being exterior. Petals 5, crumpled in æstivation, very fugitive. Stamens numerous. Fruit capsular, usually 3-valved or 5-valved, occasionally 10-valved; either 1-celled, with parietal placentæ in the middle of the valves; or imperfectly 5-celled or 10-celled, with dissepiments proceeding from the middle of the valves, and touching each other in the centre. Embryo inverted. Properties balsamic. (Lindl. Introd. to N. S., and Key.)

Description, History, &c. The species are all low ornamental shrubs, subevergreen or evergreen, most of them trailers, and only a few of them attaining the height of 5 ft. or 6 ft. They are natives of the south of Europe and north of Africa, but are scarcely known in America or Asia. One or more of the species of the Cistàceæ have been known from the days of Hippocrates. Linnæus included the whole of what were known in his time under two genera, Cistus and Hudsònia; but a new arrangement was published by Professor De Candolle (Prod. i.), in 1824, which he had adopted from Dunal, and this was followed by Sweet, in 1830, in his Cistinca; and by G. Don, in 1831, in his edition of Miller's Dictionary. This arrangement we shall adopt

in the present chapter, though we are convinced that most of the species described are mere varieties, some of them of the most fugitive kind. Our own opinion is, that all the different alleged species of the genera Cistus, Helianthemum, and Hudsònia are, properly, only races or varieties of three or four aboriginal forms. The Cistaceae have no medical properties; but the resinous balsamic substance called ladanum or labdanum is produced from C. créticus, C. ladaníferus, C. laurifòlius, and one or two other species. (See Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 408.) Some of the species which inhabit Turkey and Greece are liable, in those countries, to be injured by the growth of the hypocistis on their roots. The hypocistis is the Cýtinus Hypocístis L., Gynándria Octándria L., Aristolochièæ Juss., and Cytíneæ R. Br. It is nearly allied to Nepenthes and Aristolochia; and is a succulent parasite of a rich red colour, bearing a distant resemblance in size and form to the Orobánche. It has been known from the days of Theophrastus, but, as far as we know, has never been seen in a living state in Britain. It is figured in Du Ham., i. t. 68.; and in Gerard's Herbal, p. 1275. The use of the Cistàceæ in gardens is for ornamenting rockwork, or for keeping in pits during the winter, and planting out in flower-borders in spring; as, from the tenderness of the finer species, they are unfit for a permanent place in a shrubbery or arboretum. Most of the larger-growing kinds require some protection during winter; but they will all grow freely in any soil that is dry; and they are readily propagated by seeds, which, in fine seasons, they produce in abundance, or by cuttings; the plants, in both cases, flowering the second year. In the London nurseries the plants are generally kept in pots; and the price of the commoner sorts is from 1s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. a plant; at Bollwyller, where they are mostly green-house plants, it is 1 franc 50 cents; and in New York, ?.

The hardy ligneous species are included in three genera; which are thus contradistinguished by De Candolle and G. Don:

CI'STUS. Calyx of 5 sepals, 2 outer ones unequal or absent. Capsule covered by the calyx, 10-5-celled, from having a dissepiment in the middle of each valve.

HELIANTHEMUM. Calyx of 3 equal sepals, or of 5 unequal sepals. Capsule triquetrous, 1-celled, 3-valved, with a narrow dissepiment, or a placentarious nerve in the middle of each valve.

HUDSO`NIA. Calyx of 5 equal sepals. Capsule 1-celled, 3-valved, 1-3-seeded.

GENUS I.

CI'STUS L. THE CISTUS, or ROCK ROSE.

Monogynia.

Lin. Syst. Polyándria

Derivation. From the Greek word kisté, a box or capsule, or the Anglo-Saxon, cist, a hollow vessel; on account of the shape of its capsules. In Martyn's Miller, the name is said to be derived from that of the youth Cistus, whose story is to be found in Cassianus Bassus. Others derive it from kis, a worm or weevil.

Identification. Tourn., Lin., Dec., G. Don.

Synonymes. Holly Rose Gerard; Gum Cistus; Ciste, Fr.; Cisten Rose, Ger.

Gen. Char. Calyx of 5 sepals; sepals disposed in a double series; 2 outer ones unequal, sometimes wanting. Petals 5, equal, somewhat cuneated, caducous. Stamens numerous, usually exserted from the glandular disk. Style filiform. Stigma capitate. Capsule covered by the calyx, 5- or 10-valved, with a seminiferous partition in the middle of each valve, therefore 5 or 10-celled. Seeds ovate, angular. Embryo filiform, spiral.— Elegant, erect shrubs or subshrubs, with opposite, exstipulate, entire or somewhat toothed leaves, and axillary, 1- or many-flowered peduncles. Flowers large, beautiful, resembling a single rose, red or white. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.)

i. Erythrocistus, Dec. i. p. 264.

Derivation. From erythros, red, and cistus; because the flowers of all the species in this section are red or purple.

Sect. Char. Outer sepals narrowest, and usually smallest; inner ones concave at the base, with scarious margins. Petals rose-coloured, red, or purple, with a yellow spot at the base of each. Capsule 5-celled, from having 5 seminiferous partitions, one in the middle of each valve. (Dec. Prod., i. p. 264.; Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) Low shrubs, evergreen, sub-evergreen, or deciduous, generally with large showy flowers.

A. Peduncles 1-flowered, axillary or terminal, solitary or umbellate. Style cylin drical, generally longer than the Stamens. Stigma capitate, 5-furrowed. (Ibid.)

1. CI'STUS PURPUREUS Lam. The purple-flowered Cistus, or Rock Rose. Identification Lam. Dict., 2. p. 14.; Ker, in Bot. Reg., t. 408.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264.; Swt. Cist., t. 17.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 298.

Synonymes. C. créticus Hort. Kew.; the purple Gum Cistus, the purple Shrubby Cistus; Ciste pourpre, Fr.; purpurrothe Cisten Rose, Ger.

Engravings. Bot. Reg., t. 408.; Swt. Cist., t. 17. ; and our fig. 64.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, and more or less rugose; reticulately veined, with undulated margins. Petioles short, hairy, connected at the base, and sheathing the stem. Flowers terminal, from 1 to 6, on short peduncles. Bracteas sessile, leaf-like, pubescent, broad and concave at the base, where they are connected, and terminating in acute points. Pedicels short, and with the calyx hairy; calyx of 5 sepals. Petals 5 or 6, obovate or wedge-shaped; very much imbricate, more or less crumpled. Stamens numerous, filaments smooth. Style very short; and stigma large, capitate, 5-lobed, papillose. (Swt. Cist., 17.) A shrub about 3 ft. or 4 ft. high, and much branched; the branches are erect, and clothed with a brownish pubescence. The flowers are very large and handsome, of a bright reddish purple, with a yellow spot at the base, above which is a large dark velvet mark, surrounded with red, and slightly branched. The petals are imbricate, and much crumpled. It is a native of the Levant; but when it was introduced into England is uncertain: it seems to have been cultivated by Gerard under the name of Cistus más angustifolius, "with flowers of a purple colour, in shape like unto a single-flower briar rose, having leaves very like those of sage, wrinkled somewhat like unto a cloth new dried before it be smooth." It is rather tender; but, if planted near or against a wall, requires no other protection. It flowers abundantly in June and July, and is very ornamental. It grows very fast, and is easily propagated by cuttings.

2. C'STUS HETEROPHY'LLUS Desf. The various-leaved Cistus, or Rock Rose.

Identification. Desf. Atl., 1. p. 411. t. 104.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264.;
Swt. Cist., t. 6.; Don's Mill.. 1. p. 298.
Synonymes. The Gum Cistus of Algiers; Ciste hétérophylle, Fr.
Engravings. Desf. Atl., 1. t. 104.; Swt. Cist., t. 6. ; and our fig.65.
Spec. Char., &c. Leaves ovate-lanceolate; petioles
very short, hairy, and sheathing at the base;
margins of the leaves revolute, green on both
sides. Peduncles hairy, one-flowered, with two
leafy bracteas about the middle of them. Flowers
large, terminal. Calyx of 5 hairy sepals. Petals 5
or 6, imbricate, obovate, with roundish points.
A stiff upright woody shrub, with short rigid
branches, thickly clothed, as well as the other
parts of the plant, with a hairy pubescence. The

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flowers are of a bluish rose colour, with a bright yellow spot at the base; and the petals are imbricate, and much crumpled. The leaves are very small, and the whole plant has the appearance of a miniature tree. It is a native of uncultivated hills in Algiers; but by whom it was discovered, and when brought to the country, are unknown. It is rather tender, and requires protection during winter. It does best trained against a wall, where it has a very brilliant appearance in June and July, when it is covered with flowers. The seeds sometimes ripen in this country; and, when they do, they afford the best means of propagating the plant, as it does not strike freely from cuttings. It requires a light rich soil, and does best in a mixture of sandy loam and peat. (G. Don. Sweet.)

3. C. PARVIFLO`RUS Lam. The small-flowered Cistus, or Rock Rose. Identification. Lam. Dict., 2. p. 14.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264.; Swt. Cist., t. 14.; and Don's Mill., 1.p. 298. Engravings. Swt. Cist., t. 14. Smith's Fl. Græc., t. 495.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves ovate, acute, somewhat tomentose, drawn out into the footstalks at the base, and somewhat connate. Peduncles 1-flowered, 3 or 4 together, almost terminal. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) A shrub about 3 ft. in height; a native of Crete. Mr. Sweet thinks it was probably introduced by Dr. Sibthorp, having been found in our collections ever since the doctor's return from that country. The petals are small, purplish, or pale rose-coloured, and distinct or separated from each other. It flowers in June and July, and sometimes ripens seeds, from which, or from cuttings, it is readily propagated. Plants were in the Chelsea Botanic Garden, and in the Fulham Nursery, in 1826. (Sweet.)

4. C. COMPLICA TUS Lam. The complicated Cistus, or Rock Rose.

Identification. Lam. Dict., 2. p. 14; Don's Mill., 1. p. 298.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves roundish-ovate, bluntish, approximate, clothed with white tomentum; under surface reticulated; footstalks dilated at the base, with pilose margins, channeled above, and sheathing at the base. Peduncles short, 1-flowered, three or four together, somewhat terminal. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) A shrub, from the Levant, and from the mountains of Valencia, in Spain, growing to the height of 3 ft., and producing small rose-coloured or purplish flowers in June and July. Introduced into England in 1818.

5. C. VILLO'SUS Lam.

The villous Cistus, or hairy Rock Rose.

Identification. Lam, Dict., 2. p. 12.; Lin. Sp., 736.; Willd. Sp., p. 1181.; Hort. Kew., 2d. edit., 3. p. 303.; Dec. Prod., 1 p. 264.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 298.

Synonymes. C. salvifolius Hort.; C. undulatus Manch; Cistus más major folio rotundiore Duh. ; C. créticus Hort. Lam.; the shrubby Cistus Mart. Mill.; Ciste velu, Fr.; Raube Cisten Rose, Ger. Engravings. Duh. Ar., 1. t. 64. ; Swt., t. 35.; Willd., p. 2. 1181.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves roundish-ovate, wrinkled, tomentose, and hairy, stalked; footstalks furrowed, connate at the base. Peduncles 1-flowered, 1 or 3 together. Sepals villous. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) A shrub 3 ft. high. A native of the south of Europe and the north of Africa, which has been in the English and French gardens for the last two hundred years. It is, as Mr. Sweet observes, one of the commonest species in all the nurseries about London, where it is sold under several names, and generally for C. salviæfòlius; which, however, is a white-flowered species, though it resembles the present plant in habit. This shrub forms a "snug compact bush," and continues in flower for a long time. The flowers vary in colour from a pale lilac to a dark purple, and even very much on the same plant at different times. In severe winters it requires a little protection; and it will generally be found safe to keep a reserve of young plants in pots, in a pit or cold-frame. Variety.

C. v. 2 rotundifòlius. The round-leaved villous Cistus, or Rock Rose. C. rotundifolius Sweet; C. villòsus B viréscens Dec. (Swt. Cist. t. 75.)-Leaves more obtuse than in the species.

6. C. CRETICUS L. The Cretan Cistus, or Rock Rose.

Identification. Lin. Sp., 1. p. 738.; Jacq. Icon. rar., 1. t. 95.; Smith's Fl. Græc., 495.; Buxb. Cent. 3. p. 34. t. 64. f. 1.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264.; Swt. Císt., t. 112.

Synonymes. Lèdon Diose.; Ciste de Crète, Fr.; Cretische Cisten Rose, Ger.

Engravings. Jacq. Icon. rár., 1. t. 95.; Fl. Gr., t. 495.; Buxb. Cent., 3. p. S4. t. 64. £. 1.; Swt. Cist., 112., and our fig. 66.

A A

Varieties. C. c. 2 crispatus Dec. has the leaves waved or curled; and C. c. S taúricus Dec. has the leaves flat, and very villous, on the under surface.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves spathulate-ovate, tomentosely hairy, wrinkled, tapered into the short footstalk, waved on the margin. Peduncles 1-flowered. Sepals villous. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) This species, Sweet observes, resembles C. villòsus and C. undulatus in appearance, and is often confused with those species in collections. In the nurseries, C. purpureus is very often sold for it; but the fine yellow spots at the base of its petals readily distinguish it from that species. It is a shrub, a native of Crete, Syria, and Greece, growing to the height of 2 ft., and generally requiring protection in the gardens about London; which as it does not often receive, it is, in consequence, scarce. The gum ladanum is the produce of this species. Dioscorides tells us that in his time

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the gum that exuded from the glands of the leaves was obtained by driving goats in among the shrubs, or by these animals naturally browsing upon them, when the substance adhered to their hair and beards, whence it was afterwards combed. This resin being at present collected to supply an extended commerce, a peculiar instrument is employed for the purpose, which is figured and described by Tournefort, and which is a kind of rake with a double row of long leathern straps. (See Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. iii. fig. 21.) The following is the description of the mode of gathering the gum given by Sieber in his Voyage to Crete :-" It was in the heat of the day, and not a breath of wind stirring; circumstances necessary to the gathering of ladanum. Seven or eight country fellows, in their shirts and drawers, were brushing the plants with their whips; the straps whereof, by rubbing against the leaves of the shrub, licked up a sort of odoriferous glue, sticking on the leaves; this is a part of the nutritious juice of the plant, which sweats through the texture of the leaves like a fatty dew, in shining drops, as clear as turpentine. When the whips are sufficiently laden with this grease, they take a knife and scrape it clean off the straps, and make it up into a mass or cakes of different sizes: this is what comes to us under the name of ladanum, or labdanum. A man who is diligent will gather three pounds in a day, or more, which they sell for a crown on the spot. This sort of work is rather unpleasant than laborious, because it must be done in the sultry time of the day, and in the deadest calm; and yet the purest ladanum cannot be obtained free from filth, because the winds of the preceding day have blown dust upon the shrubs." (Sieber's Crete, as quoted in Murray's Encyc. of Geog., p. 835.) Formerly ladanum was a good deal used in pharmacy, but at present it is comparatively neglected. In the west of Europe, a considerable quantity of it, however, is annually collected in Crete, and sent to Constantinople, where it is chewed by the Turks, and used in various preparations of laudanum, and for fumigating churches and mosques.

7. C. INCA NUS L. The hoary Cistus, or Rock Rose. Identification. Lin. Sp., 737.; Smith's Fl. Græc., 494.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 298.; Cist., t. 44.

Synonymes. C. albidus Hort.; C. cymòsus Dec.; Ciste cotonneux, Fr.; be. staubte Cisten Rose, Ger.

Engravings. Bot. Mag., t. 45.; Swt. Cist., t. 44.; and our fig. 67.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves spathulate, tomentose, wrinkled, somewhat 3-nerved, sessile, somewhat connate at the base, upper ones narrower. Peduncles 1-3-flowered. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) A shrub, a native of Spain and France, about Narbonne, and which has been in our gardens since the time of Gerard. It grows to the height of 3 ft., form

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ing a hoary bush, with reddish purple flowers, having the petals emarginate,

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