The Botanical Magazine/Volume 2/41

by William Curtis

[41]

Calceolaria pinnata. Pinnated Slipper-wort.

Class and Order.

Diandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Cor. ringens inflata. Caps. 2-locularis, 2-valvis. Cal. 4-partitus æqualis.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

   CALCEOLARIA pinnata foliis pinnatis. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 64.

   CALCEOLARIA foliis scabiosæ vulgaris. Fewill Peruv. 3, t. 12. fig. 7.

N^o41

There being no English name to this plant, we have adopted that of Slipper-wort, in imitation of Calceolaria, which is derived from Calceolus, a little shoe or slipper.

This species of Calceolaria is one of the many plants introduced into our gardens, since the time of Miller: it is an annual, a native of Peru, and, of course, tender: though by no means a common plant in our gardens, it is as easily raised from seed as any plant whatever. These are to be sown on a gentle hot-bed in the spring; the seedlings, when of a proper size, are to be transplanted into the borders of the flower-garden, where they will flower, ripen, and scatter their seeds; but being a small delicate plant, whose beauties require a close inspection, it appears to most advantage in a tan stove, in which, as it will grow from cuttings, it may be had to flower all the year through, by planting them in succession.

This latter mode of treatment is used by Mr. Hoy, Gardener to his Grace of Northumberland, at Sion-House, where this plant may be seen in great perfection.