in the English gardens, and is
generally known by the title of Convolvulus major. Of this there are
three or four lasting varieties; the most common hath a purple flower,
but there is one with a white, another with a red, and one with a
whitish-blue flower, which hath white seeds. All these varieties I have
cultivated many years, without observing them to change. If the seeds of
these sorts are sown in the spring, upon a warm border where the plants
are designed to remain, they will require no other culture but to keep
them clear from weeds, and place some tall stakes down by them, for
their stalks to twine about, otherwise they will spread on the ground
and make a bad appearance. These plants, if they are properly supported,
will rise ten or twelve feet high in warm Summers: they flower in June,
July, and August, and will continue till the frost kills them. Their
seeds ripen in Autumn." _Miller's Gard. Dict. ed. 4to. 1771._

[114]

SILENE PENDULA. PENDULOUS CATCHFLY.

_Class and Order._

DECANDRIA TRIGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

Calyx ventricosus. Petala 5, unguiculata coronata ad faucem, Capsula
3-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SILENE _pendula_ calycibus fructiferis pendulis inflatis: angulis decem
scabris. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 421._

VISCAGO hirsuta sicula, lychnidis aquaticae facie, supina. _Dill. Hort.
Elth. 421. t. 312. f. 404._

[Illustration: No 114]

Grows spontaneously in Sicily and Crete; is an annual of humble growth,
and hence a suitable plant for the borders of the flower garden, or the
decoration of Rock-work, as its blossoms are shewy, and not of very
short duration.

It flowers in June and July, and if once permitted to scatter its seeds,
will come up yearly without any trouble.

[115]

LATHYRUS SATIVUS. BLUE-FLOWER'D LATHYRUS, or
CHICHLING-VETCH.

_Class and Order._

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Stylus_ planus, supra villosus, superne latior. _Calycis_ laciniae
superiores 2 breviores.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LATHYRUS _sativus_ pedunculis unifloris, cirrhis diphyllis
tetraphyllisque, leguminibus ovatis compressis dorso bimarginatis.
_Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 662._

LATHYRUS sativus, flore fructusque albo. _Bauh. Pin. 343._

[Illustration: No 115]

A native of France, Spain, and Italy, and distinguishable when in flower
by the blue colour of