spread open : lower lip bifid, the segments ovate and acute. Corolla tubular,
from an inch and half to two inches in length, two lipped, the
upper side densely clothed with brilliant scarlet w o o l; upper lip entire,
straight, or slightly bent inwards at the point, concave : tower one bending
downwards, three-lobed, the two side lobes soon become bent back :
the middle one much broader, dilated at the end, spreading, slightly emarginate.
Stamens 2, fertile. Filaments inserted in the tu b e : fertile ones
attached to a pedicle by the middle, with a tooth on each near where they
join, connected to each other by red hooked hairs, inserted in the back of
the anthers: sterile ones very small, white, on each side of the fertile ones.
Style slender and smooth at the base, widening upwards, and bearded
with red hairs on each side, and smooth between. Stigma bifid, the segments
unequal, the upper one longest and slenderest, reflexed at the
point.
For this grand and superb addition to our gardens, we are obliged to
Messrs. W . and J. Newman, Nurserymen, at Chichester, who inform us
that they have cultivated it this seven years, but did not know its merits
till last Autumn, when it flowered so fine in the open borders till the sharp
frost came in November, when it was placed in the Greenhouse, and
flowered all the Winter; and a plant in fine flower was kindly sent to us
in March last, which we planted in a border in our garden in very rich
soil, about half rotten dung; it there grew so luxuriantly, that the young
shoots were as thick as the little finger, and all terminated by large racemes
of flowers; but before they were in full perfection, a very strong
wind broke it off near the ground; another plant in less rich sod is now
very strong, and flowers abundantly, but it is not near so fine as the one
that was broken; it was cultivated in the Botanic Garden at Madrid,
many years a g o ; and a specimen shown by us to Don Mariano Lagasca,
was immediately recognised by him as an old acquaintance, and pronounced
to be the S. fulgens of Cavanilles; in Messrs. Humboldt and Bonpland’s
large work it is published as a new species, under the name of S. cardinalis,
which mistake is righted by Kunth in his Synopsis, where it is
stated to be a native of Mexico, growing between Tolucca and lianguiHo,
at an altitude of nine thousand, four hundred and twenty feet above the
level of the s e a ; it certainly is a plant that ought to be in every collection,
as it requires so little care, wanting nothing but a slight covering in severe
frost; young cuttings, planted under hand-glasses in the open ground, root
readily.
The generic name is derived from salvere, to save, on account of the
healing qualities of Salvia officinalis, or common Sage, with which, as
Lagasca remarks, are confused several very distinct species, chiefly natives
of Spain.
1. Calyx. 2. Tube of the Corolla split open, to show the insertion of the Stamens,
and their connection : also the two very small white sterile ones, one on each side of the
others. 3. Stamen detached, to show how it is connected by tlie middle to a pedicle.
4. The four naked Seeds, divested of the Calyx, also the long slender Style, bearded on
each side towards the point, terminated by the unequal bifid Stigma.
W i