Malus japonica, foliis alternis, lanceolatis et spathulatis, glabris, et lucidis: marginibus serrulatis, suffruticibus, et interdum arborescentibus. Rami et ramuli alterni, recti, ad basin nodosi, colore schisti: floribus fasciculatis, plerumque quaternis, læte coccineis: petalis concavis, quinque vel decem. Floret in Martio et Aprili.
Japan Apple, with alternate leaves lance-and spathula-shaped, smooth, and shining: with finely sawed margins, shrubbyish, and sometimes growing to a tree. The small and large branches are alternate and straight out, knotty at the base, and of a slaty colour. Flowers grow in bunches mostly of four together, of a bright scarlet colour. The petals are concave, and from five to ten in number. Flowers in March and April.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A petal.
2. The empalement, chives, and pointals.
3. The same spread open, one tip magnified.
4. Seed-bud and pointals, summit magnified.
This handsome fruit-tree will doubtless soon become an object of general cultivation in this country, from the brilliance and duration of its fine scarlet blossoms. It is perfectly hardy, but flowers with most freedom in the shelter of the green-house. The fruit is about the size and shape of a walnut. Why or wherefore Pyrus is the generic title adopted for Apple we were at first at a loss to conjecture, but upon investigation find it built on the egotism too inseparable from human nature, and must confess ourselves very sorry to be under the necessity of placing the defect to its original source; the celebrated Linnæus, who it appears altered it from Malus (the genus of Tournefort) to Pyrus, for no other reason but that his own system (unquestionably the best in almost every other particular) might not bear any resemblance to that of Tournefort. Jussieu in the Introduction to his Genera Plantarum, commenting on this very subject, concludes with this most excellent remark: “Such is the love of undivided praise!” We have therefore returned the genus back to its old standard, not through any desire to alter, but absolute necessity; regarding the absurdity of its nomination under the generic title of Pyrus as already too long retained; for whilst the tree is known by its fruit, that fruit should certainly be called by its name.
For the introduction of this fine plant we are indebted to the Hon. C. Greville, in whose conservatory at Paddington it first flowered, and from whence our figure was taken.[Pg 61]
PLATE CCCCLXIII.
PÆONIA PAPAVERACEA.