1. p. 10._ _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 56._

JASMINUM flavum odoratum. _Barr. Ic. 62._

The flowers of most of the species of Jasmine are odoriferous, trivial
names therefore expressive of this quality are ineligible, as wanting
character; the present name is peculiarly objectionable, inasmuch as
several other species are greatly superior to this in point of
fragrance; a lesson for Botanists to abstain from trivial names of the
superlative degree, such as _odoratissimum_, _foetidissimum_,
_maximum_, _minimum_, &c.

The present species, according to Mr. AITON, is a native of Madeira, and
was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1730; it is now a plant common in most
greenhouses: it will form a shrub of considerable size, which requires
no support; its leaves are glossy, inclining to yellow, growing for the
most part three together, sometimes pinnated; its blossoms, which are
yellow, make their appearance from May to November: in point of
hardiness it is superior to many greenhouse plants, and may be
propagated without difficulty by cuttings.

[286]

PORTLANDIA GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-FLOWERED PORTLANDIA.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ clavato-infundibuliformis. _Antherae_ 4-6. longitudinales.
_Caps._ 5-gona, 2-valvis, retusa, 2-locularis, polysperma, coronata
calyce 5-phyllo.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PORTLANDIA _grandiflora_ floribus pentandris. _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed.
14._ _Murr. p. 213._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 228. foliis ovatis._
_Syst. Nat. ed. 13._ _Gmel. p. 360._

PORTLANDIA _grandiflora_ floribus pentandris, capsulis ovatis,
foliis oblongis acuminatis. _Swartz. Obs. Bot. p. 69._

Dr. BROWN, in his Natural History of Jamaica, gives to this genus the
name of _Portlandia_, in honour of the Duchess Dowager of PORTLAND, who
employed many of the leisure hours of a long and happy life, in the
pursuits of natural history, in which she was eminently skilled.--She
was the friend and patron of Mr. LIGHTFOOT, who dedicates to her his
_Flora Scotica_; the fine collection of rare and valuable trees and
shrubs which enrich part of the grounds at Bulstrode, were of her
planting.

Dr. SWARTZ, in his Observations on the Plants of the West-Indies,
informs us, that this species grows wild in Jamaica, where (_incolit
calcareosa petrosa_) it inhabits calcareous rocky places[3], forms a
small tree about the height of