LOTUS angustifolia, flore luteo purpurascente, infulæ S. Jacobi. _Comm.
hort. 2. p. 165. t. 83._

[Illustration: No 79]

This species of _Lotus_ has been called black-flower'd, not that the
flowers are absolutely black, for they are of a very rich brown inclined
to purple, but because they appear so at a little distance; the light
colour of the foliage contributes not a little to this appearance.

"It grows naturally in the Island of St. James; is too tender to live
abroad in England, so the plants must be kept in pots, and in the winter
placed in a warm airy glass cafe, but in the summer they should be
placed abroad in a sheltered situation. It may be easily propagated by
cuttings during the summer season, and also by seeds, but the plants
which have been two or three times propagated by cuttings, seldom are
fruitful." _Miller's Gard. Dict._

It continues to flower during the whole of the summer; as it is very apt
to die off without any apparent cause, care should be taken to have a
succession of plants from seeds, if possible.




[80]

SPIGELIA MARILANDICA. MARYLAND SPIGELIA, OR WORM-GRASS.