_Cal._ 4-fidus. _Petala_ 4. _Caps._ oblonga, infera. _Sem._ papposa.
EPILOBIUM angustifolium, foliis sparsis linearibus obsolete denticulatis aveniis, petalis æqualibus integerrimis, _Ait. Hort. Kew. 2. p. 5._
EPILOBIUM _angustifolium_, var. _Lin. Sp. Pl._
EPILOBIUM flore difformi, foliis linearibus. _Hall, Hist. Helv. p. 427. n. 1001._
Though the _Epilobium_ here figured has not been many years introduced into this country, it is a plant which has long been well known, and described.
LINNÆUS makes it a variety only of the _Epilobium angustifolium_; HALLER, a distinct species, and in our opinion, most justly.
Those who have cultivated the _Epilobium angustifolium_ have cause to know that it increases prodigiously by its creeping roots. The present plant, so far as we have been able to determine from cultivating it several years, in our Garden, Lambeth-Marsh, has not shewn the least disposition to increase in the same way, nor have any seedlings arisen from the seeds which it has spontaneously scattered: we have, indeed, found it a plant rather difficult to propagate, yet it is highly probable that at a greater distance from London, and in a more favourable soil, its roots, though not of the creeping kind, may admit of a greater increase, and its seeds be more prolific.
It is a native of the Alps of Switzerland, from whence it is frequently dislodged, and carried into the plains by the impetuosity of torrents.
It flowers with us in July and August, and being a hardy perennial, and perhaps the most elegant species of the genus, appears to us highly deserving a place in the gardens of the curious.
Receptaculum setosum. Pappus simplex. Corollæ radii infundibuliformes, longiores, irregulares.
CENTAUREA montana calycibus serratis, foliis lanceolatis decurrentibus caule simplicissimo. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 785._
CYANUS montanus latifolius S. Verbasculum cyanoides. _Bauh. Pin. 273._
It has been suggested by some of our readers, that too many common plants, like the present, are figured in this work. We wish it to be understood, that the professed design of the Botanical Magazine is to exhibit representations of such. We are desirous of putting it in the power of all who cultivate or amuse themselves with plants, to become scientifically acquainted with them, as far as our labours extend; and we deem it of more consequence, that they should be able to ascertain such as are to be found in every garden, than such as they may never have an opportunity of seeing. On viewing the representations of objects of this sort, a desire of seeing the original is naturally excited, and the pleasure is greatly enhanced by having it in our power to possess it. But, while we are desirous of thus creating Botanists, we are no less anxious to gratify the wishes of those already such; and we believe, from a perusal of the Magazine, it will appear that one-third of the plants figured, have some pretensions to novelty.