Prunella Grandiflora. Great-Flowered Self-Heal.

Class and Order.

Didynamia Gymnospermia.

Generic Character.

Filamenta bifurca; altero apice antherifera. Stigma bifidum.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

PRUNELLA grandiflora foliis omnibus ovato oblongis subserratis, calicis labio superiore profunde trilobo. Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. Gmel. p. 920. Jacq. Fl. Austr. v. 4. t. 377.

PRUNELLA prima. Clus. Hist. xlii.

PRUNELLA cÆrulea magno flore. Bauh. Pin. 261.

The plant here figured, which we have several years cultivated in our garden at Brompton, without discovering in it the least disposition to vary, is undoubtedly the same as is figured by Prof. Jacquin, in his Fl. Austr. under the name of grandiflora; he regards it as a distinct species, and as such it is introduced in Prof. Gmelin's ed. of the Syst. Nat. of LinnÆus: Mr. Aiton, in his Hort. Kew. following LinnÆus, makes it a variety of the vulgaris, a common English plant, which we have never seen to vary much in the size of its flowers.

Prof. Jacquin informs us, that it grows wild, mixed with the laciniata (a kindred species with yellowish flowers) on the Alps; it is found also in similar situations in various other parts of Europe.

In July and August, it puts forth its large shewy blossoms, of a fine purple colour.

Such as are partial to hardy herbaceous plants, of ready growth, which are ornamental, take up but little room, and are not apt to entrench on their neighbours, will be induced to add this to their collection.

It is propagated by parting its roots in autumn.

---