Linaria. (TOURN.) Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla personata, tubo abbreviato inflato basi calcarato, palato ad faucem prominulo, interdum depresso. Stamina basi pilosa. Stylus apice incrassatus vel bifidus; stigmate emarginato vel bilobo. Capsula operculis circumscissis vel plurimis valvæformibus vel dentiformibus dehiscens.

Herbæ, vel rarius suffrutices. Folia alterna, opposita vel verticillata, integerrima, lobatave. Flores ad summitates ramorum racemosi, seu spicato-racemosi, vel solitarii axillares.

Calyx divided into 5 parts. Corolla personate; tube shortened, inflated, spurred at the base; palate prominent at the throat, sometimes depressed. Stamens hairy at the base. Style thickened at the apex, or divided; stigma notched, or two-lobed. Capsules dehiscing by means of lids cut round, or in many by valviform or dentiform dehiscings. Herbs, rarely shrubs. Leaves alternate, opposite or verticillate, entire or lobed. Flowers arranged at the top of the branches either in racemes, or spiked racemes, or solitary axillary.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

L. delphinoides. Caule gracili ramosissimo, glabro; foliis alternis subulatis; floribus racemosis purpureis striatis calcaribus arcuatis longissimis; pedunculis et calicibus pilosis; corollæ lobis superioribus obtusis, inferioribus emarginatis; calycibus reflexis.

Stem slender, very much branched, smooth; leaves alternate, subulate; flowers racemose, purple-striped spurs bowed very long; peduncles and calices hairy, upper lobes of the corolla obtuse, the inferior ones notched; calices reflexed.

Linaria delphinoides.-Gay.

DESCR.—Biennial? Stem about 12 inches high, very much branched; smooth, except at that part where it begins to bear flowers, then pubescent. Leaves alternate, subulate. Flowers pedicellate, arranged in racemes, purple. Pedicels pubescent. Corolla purple-striped, twolipped, the upper lip bifid, divisions obtuse, entire; the lower lip trifid, divisions obtuse and notched; palate inflated, much paler than the other part of the flower, and more delicately striated. Spur slender, and delicately bowed, or gracefully curved. Tube of the corolla about three lines long. Calyx pubescent, divisions reflexed. Stamens 4, two long and two shorter. Anthers dehiscing longitudinally, and towards the axis. Pollen yellow, minute, opaque, oblong. Style thickened towards the apex. Stigma entire.

THIS is an exceedingly pretty plant, growing in the collection of the Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society, in whose garden it was raised from seeds, which were received at that establishment in 1838, from St. Petersburgh,

through the late Mr. Hunneman. Out of the whole packet of seed only one plant was produced, and that was preserved in the cold frame during last winter, from which cuttings were struck in the spring, and which have been covered with flowers for the last three months. They have been growing out of doors in common garden soil. The plant has the appearance of being only biennial. It appears to perfect many capsules of seeds, but it may be readily increased by cuttings, which strike freely.

Being a very free flowerer, and of low growth, it is well adapted for ornamenting the flower beds or borders.

The authority for the specific name is Mr. Gay, as stated in the fourth index of the St. Petersburgh Garden; but of what country it is a native we are unable to say.

The etymology of the generic name Linaria, is given in vol. i. page 50; the specific name delphinoides, alludes to the resemblance of the flowers to those of Delphinium.