aracter and Synonyms._

SALVIA _aurea_ foliis subrotundis integerrimis, basi truncatis
dentatis. _Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 71._ _Ait. Hort.
Kew. V. 1. p. 45._

SALVIA _Africana_ frutescens folio subrotundo glauco, flore magno
aureo. _Comm. Hort. 2. 183. t. 92._

Such as are delighted with the singular rather than the beautiful
appearances of plants, cannot fail of ranking the present species of
sage among their favourites.

It been called _aurea_, from the colour of its flowers, _ferruginea_
would perhaps have been more expressive of them; when they first open
indeed they are of a yellow colour, but they quickly and constantly
become of the colour of rusty iron.

The leaves are nearly round, and have a pleasing silvery hue: a few of
them only, and those chiefly at the extremities of the young shoots, are
of the form described by LINNAEUS in his specific character of the plant,
and hence COMMELIN'S description (_vid. Syn._) is to be preferred, as
leading us with more certainty to a knowledge of the plant; the colour
of the leaves, the colour and unusual magnitude of the blossoms, are
indisputably the most striking features of the species, and therefore to
be resorted to: for my own part, as a friend to the advancement of the
science, rather than as the follower of that great man, I see no good
reason why colour should not in many instances, especially where
expressive characters are wanting, form a part of the specific character
in plants, as well as in animals: we are told indeed of its inconstancy.
I would ask--who ever saw the colour of the leaves or blossoms of the
present plant to vary? and, on the contrary, who ever saw its leaves
constant in their form?

The _Salvia aurea_ is a native of the Cape, and was cultivated by Mr.
MILLER in 1731, it is a hardy greenhouse plant, is readily propagated by
cuttings, and flowers from May to November.

If suffered to grow, it will become a shrub of the height of six or
seven feet.

[Illustration]

[183]

SYRINGA VULGARIS. COMMON LILAC.

_Class and Order._

DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 4-fida. _Capsula_ bilocularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SYRINGA _vulgaris_ foliis ovato-cordatis integris. _Linn. Syst.
Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 57._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 1. p. 15._

SYRINGA caerulea, _Bauh. Pin. 398._

LILAC sive Syringa caerulea. The blew Pipe tree. _Park.