a_.

Its trivial name of _tricolor_ it receives from the three colours
observable in the flowers; but it must be noticed, that it is only at
the middle period of its flowering, that these three colours are highly
distinguishable; as it advances, the brilliant orange of the top flowers
dies away; the spots on the leaves also, which when the plant is young,
give it the appearance of an orchis, as it advances into bloom become
less and less conspicuous.

Like most of the Cape plants, the _Lachenalia_ requires to be sheltered
in the winter; during that season it must therefore be kept in a
greenhouse, or hot-bed frame, well secured.

It flowers in the spring, but its blowing may be accelerated by the
warmth of the stove, for it bears forcing well enough.

It is increased by offsets from the bulbs.

[83]

HIBISCUS SYRIACUS. SYRIAN HIBISCUS; commonly called ALTHAEA
FRUTEX.

_Class and Order._

MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ duplex, exterior polyphyllus. _Capsula_ 5-locularis, polysperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

HIBISCUS _syriacus_ foliis cuneiformi ovatis superne incise-serratis,
caule arboreo. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 630._

ALCEA arborescens syriaca. _Bauh. Pin. p. 316._

ALTHAEA frutex flore albo vel purpureo. _Park. Par. p. 369._

[Illustration: No 83]

The _Hibiscus syriacus_, known generally by the name of _Althaea frutex_,
is a native of Syria, and forms one of the chief ornaments of our
gardens in autumn; we view it, however, with less delight, as it is a
sure indication of approaching winter.

There are many varieties of it mentioned by authors, as the _purple,
red-flowered, white-flowered, variegated red and white flowered_, and
the _striped-flowered_, to which may be added, another variety, lately
introduced, with double flowers: it varies also in its foliage, which is
sometimes marked with white, sometimes with yellow.

As from the lateness of its flowering, and the want of sufficient
warmth, it rarely ripens its seeds with us; the usual mode of increasing
it is by layers, and sometimes by cuttings; but the best plants are
raised from seeds. MILLER observes, that the scarce varieties
may be propagated by grafting them on each other, which is the common
method of propagating the sorts with striped leaves.

In the time of PARKINSON it was not looked on as a hardy shrub:
he thus writes,--"they are somewhat tender, and would not be suffered to
be u