SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Atragene foliis oppositis, triternatis; foliolis rugosis, ferratis; floribus solitariis, tomentosis, cernuis; calyce magno, cæruleo, marginato.
Atragene with opposite, twice-three-divided leaves; leaflets rough and sawed; flowers solitary, downy, nodding; empalement large, blue, and bordered.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Leaf of the empalement.
2. A Petal of the flower.
3. A Chive complete.
4. The Pointals as they stand in the flower.
5. A ripe seed, with its feathered tail.
This is, unquestionably, the Austrian Atragene of Jacquin’s Vind. 249; and, we think, no one who has had an opportunity of comparing the A. alpina with this plant, but will determine it a distinct species. It is a hardy, climbing shrub; growing frequently, eight or ten feet in a season, and covers itself pretty abundantly with foliage; the foot-stalks of the old leaves becoming cirrhi or tendrils, and the wood growing to a considerable thickness. The flowers begin to appear about May; and continue in succession, till July. It may be propagated by layers; but, the surest mode is by seed, which may be sown as soon as ripe, and which will be perfected from the first flowers, by August. It grows the most flourishing in light rich earth; but will live in the most common. Our figure was made from a plant in the Hammersmith collection, to which it was first introduced in the year 1792.[Pg 148]