h, rarely produces any seed, so that it is to be propagated only by
dividing its roots; it is a hardy herbaceous plant, a native of Germany,
and will grow in almost any soil provided it be planted in a shady
situation.

[233]

CHIRONIA BACCIFERA. BERRY-BEARING CHIRONIA.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ rotata. _Pistillum_ declinatum. _Stamina_ tubo corollae
infidentia. _Antherae_ demum spirales. _Peric._ 2-loculare.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CHIRONIA _baccifera_ frutescens baccifera. _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14._
_Murr. p. 229._ _Ait. Kew. v. 1. p. 258._

CENTAURIUM minus arborescens pulpiferum. _Comm. rar. 9. t. 9._

CENTAURIUM minus africanum arborescens angustifolium. _Old. afr. 26._

The _Chironia baccifera_, a native of Africa, is a plant not unfrequent
in our greenhouses; its flowers are curious in their structure, of a
lively hue, and suceeded by round seed-vessels, which, when ripe, have
the appearance of red berries, whence its name of _baccata_; if we
carefully examine these seed-vessels, we shall find that they are not
properly berries, for on cutting them transversly, they are found to be
hollow and to be divided into two cells (_vid. Pl._) in which are
contained small black seeds, whose surface is beautifully reticulated
with impressed dots; the sides of the seed-vessel are fleshy, and do not
appear to divide or split in any regular manner for the discharge of the
seed; they must however be regarded rather as capsules than berries: in
the genus _Hypericum_, the seed-vessels are found to vary in a somewhat
similar manner; in this part of the fructification there is not,
therefore, that deviation which has been supposed, but there is a very
great one in the antherae, which do not ultimately become spiral.

This plant, which grows to the height of a foot and a half or two feet,
becomes very bushy, rather too much so in point of ornament, and
produces both flowers, and fruit, during most of the summer.

Though regarded as a greenhouse plant, it does not ripen its seeds well
unless kept in the stove; is with difficulty raised from cuttings, from
seeds readily, by which it requires to be frequently renovated.

Was cultivated by Mr. MILLER in 1759. _Ait. Kew._

[Illustration: _No 233_]

[Illustration: _No 234_]

[234]

LINUM ARBOREUM. TREE FLAX.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_C