Fumaria Cava Hollow-rooted Fumitory

<p><em>Class and Order.</em></p>

<p>Diadelphia Hexandria.</p>

<p><em>Generic Character.</em></p>

<div>

<p><em>Cal</em>. diphyllus. <em>Cor.</em> ringens. <em>Filamenta</em> 2 membranacea singula <em>Antheris</em> 3. </p>

</div>

<p><em>Specific Character and Synonyms.</em></p>

<div>

<p>FUMARIA <em>cava</em>, caule simplici, bracteis longitudine florum integris, radice cava.</p>

<p>FUMARIA <em>bulbosa</em> radice cava major. <em>Bauh. Pin. p. 143.</em></p>

<p>RADIX <em>cava</em> major. <em>Park. Parad. p. 275.</em> </p>

</div>

<div> <img src="/images/flowers/img035tb.jpg" alt="" title="" height="400" width="247" /> No232. <br />

<a href="/images/flowers/img035.jpg">View larger image</a> </div>

<p>The hollow-rooted Fumitory differs from the <em>solida</em>, already figured, and that constantly, in a variety of particulars; its root is always, as far as we have observed, hollow, appearing sometimes, as Parkinson informs us, &quot;like a shell, every part of which when broken will grow;&quot; frequently acquiring a very great size; the plant itself usually grows to twice the height of the <em>solida</em>, bearing foliage and flowers proportionably large; its bracte&aelig; or floral leaves, which in the <em>solida</em> assume a kind of finger'd appearance from the manner in which they are divided, in this are entire or but slightly indented; it flowers also about three weeks earlier.</p>

<p>Of the <em>Fumaria cava</em> there are three principal varieties in point of colour, viz. the white, the blush-coloured, and the purple, which, though plentiful in our gardens formerly, are now rarely met with; Mr. Chappelow informs me, that he found them all this spring, in an old plantation at Teddington, where they produced the most pleasing effect.</p>

<p>It begins to flower in March and continues in bloom three weeks or a month, rarely produces any seed, so that it is to be propagated only by dividing its roots; it is a hardy herbaceous plant, a native of Germany, and will grow in almost any soil provided it be planted in a shady situation.</p>