flower, so artificially arranged that the flowers, being uppermost, afforded a mattress at once elastic and fragrant. Cloaks, and such bedding as could be collected, stretched over this vegetable couch, made it both soft and warm." -ROB ROY, chap. 20.

HELIOTROPE.

HELIOTROPIUM.

HELIOTROPEE.

sun,

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

The word Heliotrope is derived from two Greek words, signifying the and to turn the leaves or flowers of this plant having been supposed to turn with the sun. For the same reason it is called Turnsole, which is, indeed, only a French translation of the Greek name. The Italians call the common European species, orologio dei cortegiani [courtiers' dial]; eliotropio; verrucaria.—French, l'heliotrope commun; l'herbe aux verrues; le verrucaire, from its use in taking off warts; le tournesol.

THE Peruvian Heliotrope is chiefly admired for its fragrance it is an elegant and delicate plant, but not showy. The blossom is very small, of a pale blue, often inclining to white, and shedding an almond-like perfume, which has gained the plant general favour. It should be housed in autumn, before the weather becomes sharp. If in a pure atmosphere, it will flower great part of the winter: but, though carefully guarded from cold, it must be placed where the air is refreshed by frequent ventilation. In dry summer weather it should have a little water every evening: in winter, not more than twice or thrice a week, and very little at a time.

The Indian, Glaucous, and Small-flowered kinds are annual plants-natives of the West Indies-flowering in June, July, and August; and may be treated in the same manner as the Peruvian.

The Canary Heliotrope (to which the gardeners, it is not known for what reason, have given the name of Madame de Maintenon) is not so tender*: it must be sheltered from frost, but should have plenty of fresh air in mild weather. Cuttings from this species, planted in summer, placed in the shade, and regularly watered, will take root in five or six weeks in the

open air.

The Trailing Heliotrope, from the Cape of Good Hope, and the European, are hardy annual plants, which may be sown in September or October, kept in the open air, watered as the others, and will flower in July and August.

The Heliotrope is said to owe its existence to the death of Clytie, who pined away in hopeless love of the god Apollo:

"She with distracted passion pines away,
Detesteth company; all night, all day,
Disrobed, with her ruffled hair unbound,
And wet with humour, sits upon the ground:
For nine long days all sustenance forbears;
Her hunger cloy'd with dew, her thirst with tears:
Nor rose; but rivets on the god her eyes,
And ever turns her face to him that flies.

At length, to earth her stupid body cleaves:
Her wan complexion turns to bloodless leaves,
Yet streak'd with red: her perish'd limbs beget

A flower, resembling the pale violet ;

Which with the sun, though rooted fast, doth move;
And being changed, changeth not her love."

SANDYS'S OVID, Fourth Book.

* If the name, “Madame de Maintenon,” is of French origin, it was perhaps a piece of flattery to Louis the Fourteenth, as the sun to which his favourite lady always turned her eyes.

LABIATE.

HELMET-FLOWER.

SCUTELLARIA.

DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA.

The common European species is also called the hooded willow herb; skull cap.-French, la toque [skull cap]; centaurée bleue [blue centaury]; tertianaire, from its use in curing the tertian ague.—Italian, terzanaria; scodelletta [skull cap].

THE kinds of Helmet-flower most generally cultivated in our gardens, are, the Oriental, with yellow flowers, blowing in May, June, and July; the Alpine, which has a violet-coloured flower with a white lip-a native of CochinChina, and of several parts of Europe; the Florentine, with large violet-coloured flowers; and the Tall Helmetflower, with purple blossoms, from the Levant. They may be sown in autumn, in separate pots, in a dry, poor earth; must be sparingly watered, and stand in the open air. They will not last many years: the Oriental kind will not bear transplanting.

HELONIAS.

MELANTHACEE.

HEXANDRIA TRIGYNIA.

THE Helonias is a native of North America. The flowers are handsome; their colour white or red, according to the species: they may be increased by offsets taken from the roots in autumn. They like a light, fresh soil, and are hardy enough to thrive in the open air. The roots must not be removed oftener than every third year. The earth should be moderately moist.

HEPATICA.

ANEMONE HEPATICA.

RANUNCULACEE.

POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA.

Called formerly the noble liverwort.-French, l'anémone hépatique; l'hépatique des jardins.-Italian, anemone fegatella.

THE Hepatica is a Swiss species of the anemone: there are many varieties, both single and double, varying in colour, and generally blowing in great profusion in February and March. The flower lies a year within the bud, complete in all its parts. The double flowers last longer than the single, and are much handsomer. They thrive best when exposed only to the morning sun; cold does not injure them. They should be kept moderately moist, and may be increased by parting the roots, which should be done in March, when they are in flower; but not oftener than every third or fourth year. Frequent removal weakens, and sometimes destroys them.

A remarkable instance is recorded of change of colour in these flowers. Some roots of the Double Blue Hepatica being sent from a garden in Tothill-fields to another at Henley upon Thames, when they came to blossom produced white flowers, owing to the difference of the soil: but it is yet more curious, that being returned to their former station, they resumed their original blue colour.

t

N

HIBISCUS.

MALVACEÆ.

MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.

THE China Rose and the Changeable Rose are species of the Hibiscus; and the former is reckoned the most beautiful of this handsome genus. It is called by the Indians the Gem of the Sun. With them it grows to a moderately-sized tree; here it is but a shrub. Its native country has not been correctly ascertained, but it is very common both in China and Cochin-China for gardenhedges, as well as in their gardens, and in those of the East Indies. The Indians make these beautiful flowers into festoons and garlands on all occasions of festivity, and even in their sepulchral rites. They are also put to a very different and humble use: that of blacking shoes, whence it has been named the Shoe-flower. The women blacken their hair and eye-brows with these roses, which blow nearly all the year round. There is a variety with white flowers.

The Hibiscus Mutabilis, or Changeable Rose, has leaves as large as those of the vine. The flower first opens white, from which it changes to rose-colour, and finally to purple. In the West Indies, all these changes take place in the same day; but here they occupy the space of a week. This plant is a native of the East Indies; from whence the French, who call it la fleur d'une heure, carried it to their settlements in the West Indies.. It blows in November.

A third species of Hibiscus is the Venice Mallow, or Hibiscus Trionum, one of the very few species belonging to this beautiful genus which may be raised and preserved with