s than those of the _glauca_, the seeds
of which usually ripen well, and afford the means of increasing the
plant most readily. To have a succession of small handsome bushy plants
for the greenhouse, the old ones must either be frequently cut down, or
young ones raised from seed, or cuttings, the stems as they grow up
becoming naked at bottom.

It is a hardy greenhouse plant, and may be kept well enough through the
winter in a common hot-bed frame, or planted against a south wall, and
matted as myrtles usually are in such situations; we have known the
_glauca_, treated in prove a charming ornament.

It is a native of Spain, growing, as CLUSIUS informs us, by road-sides,
in sandy places, and on the declivities of hills.

Cultivated here in 1656, by J. TRADESCANT, jun. H. K.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

[186]

SELAGO OVATA. OVAL-HEADED SELAGO.

_Class and Order._

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-fidus. _Cor._ tubus capillaris; limbus subaequalis, _Sem._
1.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SELAGO _ovata_ spicis strobilinis ovatis terminalibus, foliis
sparsis linearibus, caule fruticoso. _L'Herit. Stirp. nov. tom. 2.
t. 33._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 2. p. 355._

LIPPIA _ovata_ capitulis ovatis, foliis linearibus integerrimis.
_Linn. Mant. p. 89._

LINNAEUS in his _Mantissa_ has somewhat largely described this plant
under the name of _Lippia ovata_, evidently from a dried specimen, which
may account for the flowers being described of a dark violet colour; he
recommends it to such as might have an opportunity of seeing the living
plant, to observe if it was not referable to some other genus;
accordingly Mons. L'HERITIER, who, when lately in England, saw it in the
royal garden at Kew, joined it to the genus _Selago_, retaining the
trivial name of _ovata, bractaeata_ would perhaps have been a better
name; for though its ovate inflorescence may be peculiar to the species,
its bracteae or floral leaves are so very singular that they constitute
the most prominent feature of the plant.

Mr. AITON informs us, that it was introduced to the royal garden at Kew,
from the Cape, by Mr. MASSON, in 1774.

It recommends itself not so much on account of its beauty, curious
structure of its flowering spikes, and the fragrance of its blossoms.

It is a greenhouse plant, and flowers during most of the summer; its
blossoms are white with a yellow spot