LIMONIUM peregrinum foliis asplenii. _Bauh. Pin. 192._

LIMONIUM Rauwolfii Marsh Buglosse. _Parkins. Parad. p. 250._

[Illustration: 71]

That this singular species of _Statice_ was long since an inhabitant of
our gardens, appears from PARKINSON, who in his _Garden of
Pleasant Flowers_, gives an accurate description of it, accompanied with
an expressive figure; since his time it appears to have been confined to
few gardens: the nurserymen have lately considered it as a
newly-introduced species, and sold it accordingly.

It is one of those few plants whose calyx is of a more beautiful colour
than the corolla (and which it does not lose in drying); it therefore
affords an excellent example of the _calyx coloratus_, as also of
_scariosus_, it being sonorous to the touch.

Being a native of Sicily, Palestine, and Africa, it is of course liable
to be killed with us in severe seasons, the common practice is therefore
to treat it as a green-house plant, and indeed it appears to the
greatest advantage in a pot; it is much disposed to throw up new
flowering stems; hence, by having several pots of it, some plants will
be in blossom throughout the summer; the dried flowers are a pretty
ornament for the mantle-piece in winter.

Though a kind of biennial, it is often increased by parting its roots,
but more advantageously by seed; the latter, however, are but sparingly
produced with us, probably for the want, as PARKINSON expresses