100 FLOWERS A nd How The y G o t The ir Nam e s 100 FLOWERS A nd How The y G o t The ir Nam e s diana wells Illustrate d by Ippy Patte r so n algonquin books of chapel hill 1997 Published by algonquin books of chapel hill Post Office Box 2225 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515-2225 a division of workman publishing 225 Varick Street New York, New York 10014 © 1997 by Diana Wells Illustrations © 1997 by Ippy Patterson All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Published simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wells, Diana, 1940– 100 flowers and how they got their names / Diana Wells; illustrated by Ippy Patterson p cm Includes index ISBN 1-56512-138-4 Flowers — Nomenclature (Popular) Plant names, Popular Flowers — Folklore I Title QK13.W46 1997 582.13'014— dc20 96–22296 CIP 20 19 18 17 Fo r m y siste r She ila (1936 –1995) and he r ne phe w, m y darling so n, Q uin (1971–1995) CONTENTS Introduction xi Abelia African Violet Anemone Aster Astilbe Azalea 11 Baby Blue Eyes and Poached Eggs 13 Balloon Flower 15 Bear’s Breeches 17 Beauty Bush 19 Begonia 21 Bleeding Heart 23 Bluebell 25 Bougainvillea 27 Butterfly Bush 29 California Poppy 31 Camellia 33 Candytuft 35 Carnation, Pink, Sweet William 37 Christmas Rose 39 Chrysanthemum 41 Clematis 43 Columbine 45 Crape Myrtle 47 Crocus 49 Cyclamen 51 Daffodil 53 Dahlia 56 Daisy 58 Datura 60 Daylily 62 Deutzia 64 Dogwood 66 Evening Primrose 68 Everlasting Flower 70 Forget-Me-Not 72 Forsythia 74 Foxglove 77 Fuchsia 79 Gardenia 81 Geranium 84 Gladiolus 86 Gloxinia 88 Hollyhock 90 Honeysuckle 93 Hosta 95 Hyacinth 98 Hydrangea 100 Impatiens 102 0 f l ow e r s Iris 104 Japonica or Flowering Quince 106 Jasmine 109 Kerria 111 Lady’s Mantle 113 Larkspur and Delphinium 115 Lavender 118 Lilac 121 Lily 123 Lobelia 126 Loosestrife 129 Love-in-a-Mist 131 Lupine 134 Magnolia 136 Marigold 139 Montbretia 142 Morning Glory 145 Mountain Laurel 147 Myrtle 150 Nasturtium 152 Orchid 155 Oregon Grape Holly 158 Oswego Tea, Bee Balm, or Monarda 161 Peony 163 Petunia 166 viii Phlox 169 Plume Poppy 172 Poinsettia 174 Poppy 176 Primrose 179 Red-Hot Poker 182 Rhododendron 184 Rose 187 Rudbeckia 190 Scarlet Sage 193 Silver Bell 195 Snapdragon 198 Spirea 200 Stock 202 Sunflower 205 Sweet Pea 207 Tobacco Plant 209 Trumpet Vine 211 Tulip 214 Violet and Pansy 217 Water Lily 220 Weigela 223 Wisteria 226 Yarrow 229 Yucca 231 Zinnia 233 Further Reading Index 240 235 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS T hanking family and friends would be as superfluous as thanking peristalsis, the essentiality of which I take for granted, but there are some whom I would particularly like to thank Frances Greene, Janet Evans, Ellen Fallon, and all the other librarians whom I pestered mercilessly for information and seemingly unobtainable books, which they obtained and I grumpily returned, weeks after they were due Betsy Amster and Angela Miller, my agents Elisabeth Scharlatt, Robert Rubin, Amy Ryan, and Tammi Brooks for their skill and encouragement Pat Stone and the readers of Greenprints for their heart-warming enthusiasm Dr Candido Rodriguez Alfageme and Dr Erik A Mennega for invaluable assistance Dr Peg Stevens for her gentle and unfailing help and kindness Gratitude also to my word processor, so hated at first but finally respected if not loved, even though it never did give me back those pages that disappeared Additional thanks to Claire Wilson and Vic Johnstone for recent corrections INDEX Cleistogamy, 218 Clematis, 43–44 Cleopatra, 22, 175 Clove, 38, 202 Clovis, 105 Clusius (Charles de l’Ecluse), 214 Coats, Alice, 182, 201 Cochineal insects, 56 Colchicum, 63 Colchicine, 63 Cole, Silas, 208 Collenuccio, Pandolfo, 51 Collinson, Peter: and Bartram, 68, 83, 185; gardenia, 83; and Lord Petre, 34 Columbine, 45–46 Comfortable seduction, and Cleopatra, 22 Commelin brothers, 84 Commelin, Jan, 84 Commerson, Philibert, 27–28, 101 Compton, Bishop Henry, 11, 25, 197 Coneflower See Rudbeckia Conjecture: bachelordom antidepressant, 112; blue hair, horticultural parallel to, 100; cats, intrinsic worth of, 27–28; cohabitation, philosophic cogitation concerning, 109; eye-balling, 234; female cycle, floral code and, 33; healthy footwear, 123; horticultural aspirations, 36; horticultural dissembling, 52; imagined expletives, 160; imperial bedfellow, 121; murdered housemaids, 186; seduction strategy, 156; sentimentality, 18; sleeping arrangements, priority of, 10 Consequa, 227 Consolida, 115 Constantinople, 121 Convolvulus, 146 Cook, Captain, 71 Corinthian column, 17, 18 Cornelian cherry, 66 Cornus See Dogwood Cornutia, 96 Cosmos, 233 Cranesbill, 84, 85 Crape myrtle, 47–48 Crete, 35, 70, 108, 164 Crocosmia See Montbretia Crocus, 49–50; saffron, 49–50, 140 Crusades, 6, 90, 105, 135 Crystal Palace, 208, 221 Culpeper, Nicholas, 5, 91, 230 Cunningham, James, 34 Cunningham, Richard, xiii Cupani, Father Franciscus, 207 Curtis, William, 78 Cyclamen, 50–51 Cydonia See Japonica Cyprus, 156 D’Incarville, Father Pierre, Daffodil, 53–55 Dahl, Dr Anders, 56 244 Index Dahlia, 56–57 Daisy, 41, 58–59 Damascus, 188 Damask, 188 Dampier, William, 155 Dana, Mrs William Starr, 130 Darwin, Charles, 46, 73, 78, 130, 135, 146, 167, 180, 194, 199 Darwin, Erasmus, 78, 102 Datura, 60–61 David, Père Armand, 9–10, 30; and Buddleia davidii, 10, 30; and davidia tree, 10 Daylily, 62–63, 142 Deforestation, 20, 30 Delavay, Père Jean Marie, 10 Delphinium, 115–17 Dendranthema See Chrysanthemum Deshima Island, 65, 97, 107 Deutz, Johann van der, 64–65 Deutzia, 64–65 Dianthus See Carnation Dicentra See Bleeding Heart Diervilla, 93, 223, 224, 225 Dierville, M., 223 Digitalis See Foxglove Dillenius, Johann Jacob, 169 Dimorphism, 180 Dioscorides, 70, 84, 175, 198, 229 Dogwood, 66–67 Dombey, Joseph, 88–89 Douglas, David, xiii, 13–14 Downing, Andrew Jackson, 44 Dragons, 198, 199 Drummond, James, 171 Drummond, Thomas, 170, 171 Dumas, Alexandre, 33 Dye, 56, 67, 81, 91, 103, 116, 140, 150 Earle, Alice Morse, 178 East India Company, 34, 42, 65, 97, 107, 227 Edgehill, Battle of, 111 Edible plants, 42, 50, 56–57, 62, 69, 86, 90–91, 103, 140, 154, 155, 159, 177, 187, 193, 204, 206, 222, 230, 232 Egypt: alchemy in, 113; Alexandria, 119; gods of, 104, 221; lotus, 221 Ehret, Georg, 137 Eleanor of Aquitaine, 188 Eliot, George, 78, 132 Elizabeth I, 118 Ellacombe, Canon H N., 29, 52 Ellis, John, 81, 83 Elm, American, 174 Embroidery, 111 Endymion, 26 English bluebell, 25, 26 English literature, flowers in, 33, 55, 93, 99, 106, 108, 112, 208 Epiros, Oracle of, 134 Erodiums, 85 Eschscholtz, Dr., 31 Eschscholzia See California Poppy Euphorbia pulcherrima See Poinsettia 245 INDEX Euphorbus, 175 Euryale amazonica, 221 Evening primrose, 68–69 Everlasting flower, 70–71 Exbury, 186 Extraneous considerations See Conjecture Eye: cataract operations, 97; iris of, 104; and Zinn, 233–34 Fairchild, David, 20 Fairy-bells See Foxglove Fall-blooming plants See AutumnBlooming Plants Ferdinand I, 214 Feverfew, 41 Flag See Iris Fleur-de-lis, 105 Flies, 73 Florist societies, 180 Forget-me-not, 72–73 Forrest, George, 8, 110 Forsyth, William, 74–76 Forsythia, 1, 74–76 Forsythia, white See Abelia Fortune, Robert: dangers encountered by, 24; exploration in China, 23–24; plants collected by, 6, 23, 42, 44, 74, 109, 223–24 Fothergill, Dr John, 43 Fox hunting, 77–78 Fox, Francis, 87 Foxglove, 77–78 France, 18, 27, 48, 49, 56; horticultural society of, 137; Paris, 6, 8, 33; the French Revolution, 31, 48, 61, 89; roses, 188, 189; treaties of, 9; world exhibition in, 154; and World War I, 176 Francis I, 121 Frankincense, 119, 123 Frederick, Prince of Wales, 234 Fuchs, Leonhard, 77, 79–80 Fuchsia, 21, 79–80 Funck, Heinrich Christian, 96 Funkia See Hosta Garden, Dr Alexander, 81–83 Gardenia, 81–83 Gardens: botanical, xii; Belfast, 170; Cairo, 143; Calcutta, 103; Ceylon, 112; Chelsea Physic, 74; Deshima, 65; Edinburgh, 166; Glasgow, 166; Hanover, 4; Hortus Botanicus (Amsterdam), 84; Jardin des Plantes, 211; Jardin du Roi (Paris), 49, 56, 57; Kew, 71, 137, 167, 173, 197, 221, 234; Leyden, 97; Madrid, 56; Montpellier, 137, 211; Padua, 71, 99, 206; St Petersburg, 15; Uppsala, 47, 190, 191 Gauthier, Marguerite, 33, 34 Gay, John, 190 Gelsemium sempervirens, 110 Georgi, Johann, 56 Georgina, 57 246 Index Geranium, 84–85 Gerard, John: bluebell, 26; candytuft, 35; carnation, 38; clematis, 43; columbine, 46; crocus, 49; and descriptive names, xi–xii; forgetme-not, 72; gladiolus, 86; hellebore, 40; honeysuckle, 93; jasmine, 110; lady’s mantle, 113; lavender, 120; lilac, 121; L’Obel’s criticism of, 127–28; marigold, 140; nasturtium, 153; peony, 164; saffron, 49; Shakespeare, 38; snapdragon, 198; stocks, 202, 204; sunflower, 205–6; sweet William, 38; tobacco, 210; and use of flowers, xi–xii; violet, 217, 219; yucca, 232 Germany, 4, 50; Berlin, 19, 57; Bremen, 25 Giboosi, 95, 96 Gillyflower, 38, 202 Ginkgo, 48, 136 Gladiolus, 86–87 Gloxin, Benjamin Peter, 88 Gloxinia, 88–89 Gmelin, Johann Georg, 15 Goatsbeard, Goethe, 126, 194 Golden-bell See Forsythia Gomez de Ortego, Professor Casimir, 233 Goodyer, John, 69, 206 Gordon, James, 34 Göttingen University, 233 Granny’s bonnet See Columbine Graves, flowers on: Muslims, 104; Neanderthal, 90 Gray, Asa, 130 Greek customs: 37, 40, 46, 66, 70, 98, 140, 150, 155–56, 201, 222 Greek mythology and legend, individuals and gods in: Achilles, 116, 229; Adonis, 5, 187; Ajax, 116, 117; Alcyone, 104; Aphrodite, 5, 6, 156, 187; Apollo, 98, 163; Aristaeus, 150; Asclepias, 163; Ceyx, 104; centaurs, 229; Chiron, 229; Circe, 66; Clytie, 205; Cyparissus, 99; Daphne, xi, 98; Dionysus, 40, 201; Echo, 54; Endymion, 26; Gaea, 184; Hades, 54; Hector, 116; Helios, 205; Hera, 40, 49, 217; Hippolytus, 151; Hyacinth, xi, 26, 98; Io, 217; Iris, 104; Melampus, 40; Minerva, 116; Narcissus, xi, 26, 53, 54; Odysseus, 66, 116; Paeon, 163; Paris, 116; Persephone, 5, 54; Phaedra, 151; Pontus, 184; Proetus, 40; Selene, 26; Titans, 205; Zephyr, 98; Zeus, 26, 49, 163, 217 Metamorphosis into plants, xi, 54, 98 Greenhouses (glass houses, hothouses), 212; plants in: African violets, 4; camellia, 34; chrysanthemums, 41, 42; gloxinia, 89; magnolia, 137; poinsettia, 175; red-hot poker, 182; 247 INDEX Greenhouses (continued) sweet pea, 208; trumpet vine, 212; wisteria, 228 Gregory XIII, Grey, Earl, 162 Gronovius, xiii Hakluyt, Richard, EnglishVoiages, 50 Hales, Stephen, 195–96 Halesia See Silver Bell Hall, Dr George, 93 Haruspicy, 140 Harvey, William, 196 Hawaii, 14 Haxton, John, 173 Healing plants See Medicinal Plants Heart’s-ease, 217, 218 Helianthus See Sunflower Helichrysum See Everlasting Flower Helleborus See Christmas Rose Hemerocallis japonica, 95 Hemerocallis See Daylily Henrietta Maria, Queen, 127 Henry II, 188 Henry, Dr Augustine, 30 Hernandez, Francisco, 136 Herodotus, 22 Hill, Thomas See Hyll, Thomas Himalayas, 185 Hohenheim, Theophrastus Bombastus von See Paracelsus Holland, 188, 215, 216; Amsterdam, 64 Hollyhock, 90–92 Honey, 184–85 Honeysuckle, 93–94, 145–46 Hooker, Sir Joseph: appointment of botanists, 16; and Darwin, 167; expeditions of, 71, 185; and naming plants, 103, 171 Hortense, Mlle., 101 Hortensia, 101 Host, Nicolaus Thomas, 96 Hosta, 95–97 Hove, David ten, 64 How, Abraham, 230 Humboldt, Alexander von, 194 Hummingbirds, 148–49, 162, 193, 194 Hunt, Holman, 129 Hutcheson, Captain, 82 Hyacinth, 86, 98–99 Hyacinthus See Hyacinth Hybrid Perpetuals, 188 Hybridization, 4, 6, 34, 44, 52, 57, 59, 63, 80, 87, 99, 121–22, 124, 135, 143, 166, 168, 171, 179, 180–81, 188–89, 200, 203–4, 208, 210, 218–19, 234 Hydrangea, 100-101 Hyll, Thomas, 139 Iberis See Candytuft Iceland poppy, 177 Impatiens, 99, 102–3 India, 60, 120 Indians, American See Native Americans 248 Index Ink, 67, 116 International Botanical Congress, 97 Ionone, 219 Ipomoea See Morning Glory Iris, 104–5 Italy, 162, 198 Jackman, George, 44 Jacob’s ladder, 169 James I/VI, 35, 118 Jamestown weed, 61 Japan: chrysanthemum cultivation in, 42; plants from, 12, 16, 43, 62, 64, 65, 67, 94, 95, 105, 107, 201, 224, 227 Japonica, 106–8 Jasmine, 109–10 Jasminum, 109 Jefferson, Thomas, 61, 105, 110, 154, 159, 208, 226, 227 Jekyll, Gertrude, 44, 79, 152, 182 Jerusalem artichoke, 206 Jessamine See Jasmine Jewel-weed, 102–3 Jimsonweed, 61 Johann, Count, of Nassau, florilegium for, 232 Johnny-jump-up See Violet Jonquil, 53 Josephine, Empress, 57, 138, 189 Kaempfer, Engelbert, 65, 95 Kalm, Peter, 148–49; azalea, 12; dogwood, 67; lobelia, 127; lupine, 134–35; phlox, 171 See also Mountain Laurel Kalmia See Mountain Laurel Kamel, Josef, 34 Karnak, temple at, 104 Kerner, and the hawk moth, 93–94 Kerr, William, 112 Kerria, 111–12 Kingsley, Charles, 29 Kirk, John, 103 Knight, Thomas, 75 Kniphof, Johann Hieronymus, 183 Kniphofia See Red-Hot Poker Kolkwitz, Richard, 20 Kolkwitzia See Beauty Bush Korea, 122, 224 Lady Chatterley, pubic hair of, 73 Lady in the bath See Bleeding Heart Lady’s ear drops See Fuchsia Lady’s mantle, 113–14 Ladies’-thimble See Foxglove Lagerstroemia See Crape Myrtle Lagerström, Magnus von, 47 Lapland, 11 Larkspur, 115–17 Lathyrism, 207 Lathyrus odoratus See Sweet Pea Latour-Marliac, Bory, 220 Laurel See Mountain Laurel Laurocerasus See Mountain Laurel Lavandula See Lavender Lavender, 118–20 249 INDEX Lawson, John, xiii L’Ecluse, Charles de See Clusius Lee, James, 80 Leeches, 183, 185 Lemoine, Victor, 122 Lemon lily See Daylily Leoniceno, Nicolo, 51 Lettsom, John, 75–76 Lewis and Clark Expedition, 158 L’Héritier de Brutelle, Charles Louis, 85, 88–89 Liger, Louis, 89 Lilac, 121–22 Lilium See Lily Lily, 123–25; changing color of, 100, 124; tiger, 112 Limnanthes See Poached Eggs Lincoln Herald, 80 Linnaean Society, 47, 173, 180 Linnaeus, Carolus: andromeda, 132; catalpa, 213; and classification of plants, xii–xiii, 18, 79, 96, 132; datura, 60; daylily, 62; and Dillenius, 169–70; floral clock of, 58; hydrangea, 101; marigold, 141; and naming plants for benefactors, botanists, friends, pupils, xii, 29–30, 34, 47, 57, 68, 81, 84, 93, 137, 147, 183, 190, 191–92, 234; nasturtium, 153; orchid, 155; red-hot poker, 183; sexual system of, 101, 102, 191; Species Plantarum of, 34; tobacco, 210 Liver, 125 Liverwort, xi Livingstone, Dr David, 103 L’Obel, Matthias de, 35, 127 Lobelia, 21, 126–28, 193 Loddiges, Conrad, 89 Loiseleuria, 11 Lombardy poplar, 48 Lonicer, Adam, 93 Lonicera See Honeysuckle Loosestrife, 129–30 Lotus, 221 Loudon, John, 52, 66, 100, 200, 227 Louis XIV, 18, 21, 137, 211–12 Love in idleness See Violet Love-in-a-mist, 131–33 Lunar Society, 78 Lungwort, xi Lupine, 134–35 Lupinus See Lupine Lysimachia See Loosestrife Lysimachus, 129 Lythrum See Loosestrife Macao, Macartney, Lord George, 173 Macleay, Alexander, 173 Macleaya cordata See Plume Poppy Magic and miracles, 6, 25, 40, 60, 78, 100, 113, 187, 198, 207, 229, 230 Magnol, Pierre, 137, 138 Magnolia, 21, 94, 136–38 Mahonia See Oregon Grape Holly 250 Index Mallow, marsh, 90–91 Malmaison, 57, 138, 189 Margaret of Anjou, 58–59 Marguerite See Daisy Maries, Charles, 16 Marigold, 139–41 Marshmallow, 91 Marvell, Andrew, 58 Masson, Francis, 71, 85, 87 Matthiola See Stock Mattioli, Pierandrea, 203 Maule’s pear, 107 Mauretania, kingdom of, 175 Medicinal plants, xi–xii, 7, 151; barberry, 159–60; chrysanthemum, 41, 42; cyclamen, 51; daylily, 62; dogwood, 66, 67; euphorbia, 175; evening primrose, 69; foxglove, 78; geranium, 84; hellebore, 40; hollyhock, 90, 91; jewel-weed, 102–3; lady’s mantle, 113; lily, 123; liverwort, xi; lungwort, xi; marigold, 140; navelwort, 132; Oswego tea, 161, 162; peony, 163, 164; poppy, 177; rose, 187–88; sage, 193; starwort, 7; tobacco, 209–10; “wort” plants, origins of name, 7; yarrow, 229–30 Mediterranean, 20, 35, 40, 86, 87, 122, 134, 150, 155, 202 Menzies, Archibald, 71 Mertens, Franz Karl, 25 Mertensia See Bluebell Mexico, 56, 88, 136, 172, 193, 233 Meyer, Frank, 19–20 Mice: ethics of, 87; as tailors, 111 Michaelmas daisy See Aster Michaux, André, 47–48 Michaux, François, 48 Micholitz, Wilhelm, 157 Middle East, plants from, 18, 50, 131 Midges, 103 Milfoil See Yarrow Millais, John, 129–30 Miller, Philip, 203 Milne, A A., 85 Mimosa pudica, Missionaries, 29–30, 34, 212 Miss Kim, 122 M’Mahon, Bernard, 158–60 Moldenke, Harold, 131 Monarda, 161–62 Monardes, Nicolas: Joyfull Newes out of a Newe Founde Worlde, 153, 210; nasturtium, 153–54; Oswego tea, 162; sunflower, 205; tobacco and Nicot, 210 Monet, Claude, 152, 220 Monson, Lady Ann, xiii Montbret, Antoine François Ernest Conquebert de, 142–43 Montbretia, 142–44 Montpellier, University of See Gardens, Montpellier Moonflower, 146 Morning glory, 145–46 251 INDEX Mosquitoes, 15, 22 Moths, 93–94, 210, 231 Mount Shasta, 59 Mountain laurel, 147–49 Myosotis See Forget-Me-Not Myrtle, 150–51 Namesake, plants inappropriate to: bartramia, 68–69; begonia, 21; buddleia, 30; camellia, 33, 34; gardenia, 81, 83; massonia, 85; hosta, 95–96 Nandina bamboo, 112 Nanking, Treaty of, 2, 23 Napoleon I, 194; and Josephine, 138, 189, 218; Miss Willmott and, 181; and Napoleonic wars, 31, 188; relatives of on thrones, 166 Narcissus, 53, 54 Nasturtium, 152–54 Native Americans, 60, 61, 91, 116, 117, 147, 161, 230, 232 Nativity flower, 174 Neckham, Alexander, 18 Nees von Esenbeck, Christian, 89 Nelson, Admiral, 143 Nelson, David, 71 Nematodes, 141 Nemophila See Baby Blue Eyes Nicot, Jean, 209 Nicotiana See Tobacco Plant Nicotunia, 168 Nigella See Love-in-a-Mist Nomenclature: American independence in, 82, 161; and possession, xi; rules and complications of, xi–xii, xiii–xiv, 26, 33, 34, 53, 88–89, 95–97, 107 North America: American Civil War, 230; American Revolution, 82; Boston Tea Party, 162; daylilies, 63; plants from, xii, 7, 8, 12, 13, 25, 48, 66–67, 68, 105, 116, 127, 134, 147, 159, 169, 185, 190, 201, 205, 206, 227, 228; Southern gardens, 34 North, Marianne, 183 Nullification, Doctrine of, 174 Nuttall, Thomas, 116–17, 228 Nymphaea See Water Lily Obedience plant See Snapdragon Oenothera See Evening Primrose Old man’s beard See Clematis Oliver Twist, 208 Olive tree, 122 Opium, 2, 112, 176–77 Orchid, 98, 103, 155–57 Orchis See Orchid Oregon grape holly, 158–60 Orris, 219 Oswego tea, 161–62 Ovid, 184 Ox-eye daisy See Daisy Paeonia See Peony Paeony See Peony Pallas, Peter, 165 Panama, 22 252 Index Pansy, 227–29 Papaver See Poppy Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim), and Doctrine of Signatures, 51 Paradise See Biblical References, Old Testament, Paradise Parkinson, John: asters, 7; candytuft, 36; clematis, 43; daffodils, 53–54; datura, 60–61; daylily, 63; dogwood, 66; evening primrose, 68, 69; everlasting flower, 71; gladiolus, 87; hollyhock, 90; honeysuckle, 94; hyacinth, 98; impatiens, 102; naming problems of, 63; snapdragon, 198; thistles, 18; tulip, 214–15; violet, 218; yucca, 231–32 Parson’s Nursery, 94 Parthenogenesis, 114 Passe, Crispian de, 206 Passion flower, 69 Paxton, Joseph, 221 Pearce, Richard, 21, 22 Pelargonium See Geranium Peony, 163–65 Perfume, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 219 Periwinkle, See also Myrtle Persia, 109, 121, 187, 188 Peru, 21, 30, 88, 153, 154, 172 Petre, Lord, 34 Petunia, 166–68, 210 Philadelphia, 68, 77, 228 Philippines, 34 Phillips, Henry, 119 Phlox, 169–71 Pigs: exchange value of, 119; in Greek mythology, 66; gustatory proclivities of, 52; smell of phlox likened to pigsties, 171; sowbread, 52 Pink, 37–38 Pinny See Peony Pirates, 2, 24, 85, 155 Pisum lupinum, 134 Plant breeding See Hybridization Plant collecting, perils of, xiii, 1–2, 9–10, 18, 23, 25–26, 34, 47, 48, 85, 97, 103, 116–17, 157, 166–67, 170, 194 Plantain lily, 95, 96 Plants, transportation of, 2, 9, 10, 23–24, 48, 94, 112 Platycodon See Balloon Flower Plessus, Madeleine du, 33 Pliny the Elder, 5, 51, 70, 100, 124, 163 Plume poppy, 172–73 Plumier, Charles, 21, 79–80, 127, 137 Poached eggs, 13–14 Poeppig, Eduard, 221 Poinsett, Dr Joel Roberts, 174–75 Poinsettia, 174–75 Poison ivy, 103 Poisonous plants, 40, 60, 61, 115, 148, 175, 185, 210 Policeman’s helmet, 103 Poll, Jan van de, 64 253 INDEX Pollination, 59, 73, 93–94, 122, 135, 136, 156, 180, 210, 231 Ponticum, 184–85 Poppy, 31, 32, 176–78 Portugal, 209 Potato, 57, 59, 86 Pot marigold, 139, 140 Potter, Beatrix, 111 Price, James, 148 Priestly, Joseph, 196 Primrose, 68, 179–81 Primula See Primrose Privet, 121 Propagation See Hybridization Proust, Marcel, 156 Puritans, 114 Pyrus japonica, 107 Quince, flowering, 106–8 Quinine, 21, 22, 67 Raffenau-Delile, 142–43 Rand, Isaac, 82 Rauwolf, Leonhardt, 99 Ray, John, 29, 99 Red-hot poker, 182–83 Redouté, Pierre Joseph, 88, 89, 138, 143, 208 Reed, Henry, 106 Reeves, John, 42, 227 Rhododendron, 184–86, 200 See also Azalea Rhoeadine, 176 Ribbon bedding See Carpet Bedding Robin, Jean, 49 Robinson, William, 44 Roman mythology, Jupiter, 140 See also Greek Mythology and Legend, Individuals and Gods in, Zeus Romans, 53, 62, 118, 123, 132, 151, 164, 184, 187 Roosevelt, Theodore, and conservation, 20 Rosa See Rose Rose, 187–89 Rosetta stone, 143 Rossetti, Dante Gabriel, 130 Rothschild, Lionel, 185, 186 Royal Horticultural Society, 75, 220, 224 Rudbeck, Olof, the Elder, 190 Rudbeck, Olof, the Younger, 190, 191 Rudbeckia, 190–92 Ruskin, John, 130, 176, 179 Russell, George, 135 Russia: expedition to, 31; exploration of, 7–8, 15, 147; irises in Siberia, 105 Sackville-West, Vita, 15, 171 Saffron, 49–50 Sage, culinary, 193 Sage, scarlet See Scarlet Sage Saint John, 230 Saint Paul, Baron Ulrich von, Saint Paul-Illaire, Baron Adalbert Emil Walter Redcliffe le Tanneux von, 3–4 Saintpaulia ionantha, 254 Index Salvia See Scarlet Sage Saponin, 232 Scarlet sage, 193–94 Scholars, laudable exertions of, xiii, 30, 51, 70, 123, 130, 212 Scilla, 26 Scopolamine, 61 Scott, Sir Walter, and Rob Roy, 182 Selene, 26 Shakespeare, William: and Gerard, 38; honeysuckle or woodbine, 93, 145–46; Lady Macbeth, 119; Ophelia, 129–30; Puck, 217 Shanghai, 20, 30, 94 Shasta daisy, 41, 59 Sheep, in Greek Mythology, 116 Sherard, Dr James, 169 Sherard, William, xiii Shirley poppy, 177–78 Short-day plants, 42, 175 Siddal, Elizabeth, 130 Siebold, Philipp von, 97 Silas Marner See Eliot, George Silver bell, 195–97 Sinning, William, 89 Sinningia speciosa, 89 Smith, Captain John, 119 Smithsonian, 175 Snails, utilization of slimy propensities and seed dispersal, 40 Snapdragon, 198–99 Snowdrop tree See Silver Bell Soap, 67, 119 Soulange-Bodin, Etienne, 137 Soulié, Père Jean André, 10 South Africa, plants from, 84, 87, 126, 182, 192 South America: plants from, 21, 27, 60, 79, 126, 140, 153, 166, 167, 168; plants from Brazil, 89, 156, 193; plants from Peru, 30, 172; plants from “tropical” America, 145 Southern gardens See North America, Southern Gardens Sowbread, 52 Spain, 36, 198; explorers from, 31; government of and New World resources, 56, 88, 194; Madrid, 56, 233, 234 Spanish hyacinth See Bluebell Speculation, unsubstantiated See Conjecture Spiraea See Spirea Spirea, 200–201 See also Astilbe Sprengel, Christian, 73, 96 Spurge, 175 Starwort, Staunton, George, 173 Staunton, Thomas, 173 Stewartia, 234 Stock, 202–4 Stourhead, 186 Strawflower See Everlasting Flower Suleiman the Magnificent, 121, 214 Summer lilac See Butterfly Bush Sunflower, 205–6 Sweden, 147, 149 255 INDEX Sweet pea, 207–8 Sweet potato, 146 Sweet William, 37–38 Sweet, Robert, 87 Syringa See Lilac Tagetes, 140 Tagliabue brothers, and trumpet vine hybridization, 212 Tahiti, 27, 28 Tanzania, Tawny lily See Daylily Tea roses, 188 Tea, 34, 109, 161, 162, 188 Theophrastus, 37, 169 Thiophenes, 141 Thoreau, Henry David, 135 Thorn apple See Datura Thouin, André, 57, 208 Thunberg, Carl, 64, 95, 107, 192 Tobacco plant, 168, 209–10 Torch lily See Red-Hot Poker Touch-me-not See Impatiens Tournefort, Joseph de: bush honeysuckle, 223; career of, 18; classification system of, 18, 29; death of, 18; saffron, 50; trumpet vine, 212, 213 Toxic roots, 59 Tradescant, John, the Elder, 7, 87, 212 Tradescant, John, the Younger, 7, Tree celandine See Plume Poppy Trimorphism, 130 Tritoma See Red-Hot Poker Tritonia See Montbretia Tropaeolum See Nasturtium Trumpet vine, 211–13 Tübingen, University of, 79 Tulip, 214–16 Tulipa See Tulip Tulipomania, 215 Turkey, 99, 114, 121, 214, 216 Turner, William: bluebell, 26; cyclamen, 51–52; and hair dye, 140; herbal of, 52; lavender, 119; and sufferance of infants, 52 Tweedie, James, 166–67, 168 Twining plants, 145–46, 153 Uvedale, Robert, 207–8 Veitch, Henry, 20 Versailles, 211 Viburnum, 16 Victoria Falls, 87 Victoria, Queen, 112, 221, 224 Victorians, 17, 33, 52, 57, 59, 71, 112, 132, 167, 186, 193, 208, 210 Vinblastine, 151 Vinca, 150, 151 Viola See Violet Violet, 4, 217–19 Virginia, 25, 35, 61, 136 Virginia bluebell See Bluebell Virgin’s bower See Clematis Vitruvius (Roman architect), 17 256 Index Waller, Horace, 103 Ward, Nathaniel, 23; Wardian case, 23, 94, 112 Warner’s Jessamin, 83 Wars of Roses, 188 Water lily, 220–22 Waterer, John, 200 Weigel, Christian Ehrenfried von, 224–25 Weigela, 223–25 Wendland, Hermann, White, Gilbert, 29, 40, 109 Wilde, Oscar, 55, 112 Wilks, William, 29, 178 Willmott, Ellen, 133, 172, 181 Wilson, Ernest: and seeds of beauty bush, 20; regal lily, 124–25 Wistar, Caspar, 78, 226, 228 Wisteria, 226–28 Withering, William, 78 Woodbine, 93 Wordsworth, Dorothy, 55 Wordsworth, William, 55 Wort See Medicinal Plants Xenophon, 184 Yarrow, 229–30 Yucca, 231–32 Zanzibar, 103 Zeno, 134 Zinn, Johann Gottfried, 233 Zinnia, 233–34 Zinn’s zonule, 233 Zouche, Lord Edward: career of, 35; sending candytuft seeds, 35 257 ... knew with certainty it did not exist to comfort me—I was incidental to it, as I was to the universe itself And that, after all, is perhaps why I continued to write about flowers Not only had their... amounts of soil have been deposited and water drains away rapidly Though they thrive on 80 percent humidity, they must not be overwatered They get much of their water from the atmosphere through the... Chinese botanical treasures was still limited to the Portuguese island of Macao and whatever plants the Chinese deigned to offer them The British wanted to explore the interior and take 100 F L