bii
i f
or spathulate, attenuated down the petiole, blunt, or
emarginate at the p o in t; stem ones narrower and
more acute, tapering to the base. Racemes 3 to
9-flowered, lengthening after flowering. Pedicles
cylindrical, about 3 lines long. Calyx of 4 sepals,
gibbous on each side at the base, about the length or
a little longer than the pedicles ; sepals linear, acute.
Flowers of a purplish lilac, about half the size of
M. marítima; petals obovate, emarginate, their ungues
about the length of the calyx. Stamens, 4 long, and
2 short. P o d straight, nearly cylindrical, pubescent
when young. Style very short and acute.
M a l c o m í a was first established as a distinct genus
by Mr. Brown, in the second edition of the Hortus
Kewensis, and contains a natural and distinct group of
plants that had been hitherto referred to C h e i r a n t h u s
and H e s p e r i s ; and M. Decandolle has described
15 species, 12 of them annual, 1 biennial, and 2 perennial.
The present species is annual, and very proper
for the edging of borders, or to be sown in clumps near
the edges of flower borders, in the same manner as the
more common M. marítima, (generally known by the
name of Virginian Stock ;) the seeds may be sown any
time between February and Ju n e ; and by sowing them
at various seasons, a succession of flowers may be kept
up all the Summer; those sown the early part of the
season, will produce plenty of seeds; whereas them
that are sown later, will be more doubtful, and their
seeding will depend on the mildness of the season.
Our drawing was taken at the Nursery of Mr. Colvill,
in June last.
[iff]
1. Calyx. 2. Petal. 3. The G Stamens with the young Siliqua in the midst
of them. 4. Stamen detached. 6. The young Siliqua terminated with a short
acute Style, all slightly magnified.
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