Chapter V: Part 5

Our figure, which exhibits a small plant, of this superb species of tuberous Geranium, was taken in the month of June, this year, 1802, at Messrs. Colville’s nursery, King’s Road, Chelsea, and where it is still in high perfection, this present month of July. We have every reason to believe, from all the authorities we are masters of, that this plant has not, till now, flowered in Europe. It forms a very large tuberous root, by the dividing of which it is to be propagated; as we suspect the seeds will not ripen on this species more than most of its congeners. It has the same manner with the rest of the tuberous species, losing its leaves in winter, when they are subject to rot, if much watered. Appears to flourish in sandy peat, with a small portion of rotten dung.

PLATE CCXLVII.

GERANIUM CILIATUM.

_Fringed-leaved Geranium._

CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.

_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus, pentacoccus.

ONE POINTAL. Five summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.

See GERANIUM GRANDIFLORUM, Pl. XII. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium foliis intigerrimis, concavis, lanceotis, marginibus ciliatis; floribus pentandris; radice tuberosa.

Geranium with quite entire leaves, concave, lance-shaped, and fringed at the edge; flowers with five fertile chives; root tuberous.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement.

2. The Chives spread open, magnified.

3. The Pointal, magnified.

The singular shape and number of the leaves of this plant, which are but two, large, concave, thickish, between lance and egg-shaped, and fringed at the edge, constitute the most essential specific difference it possesses; the flowers, and other parts, much resemble many of its fellows. It is from the Cape of Good Hope, and introduced to us by Messrs. Colvills, nurserymen, of the King’s Road, Chelsea; who received it, from thence, at the same time with the Geranium incrassatum, of our last. For the treatment, and increase, we must refer to any other of the tuberous kind of Geranium.

PLATE CCXLVIII.

PROTEA UMBELLATA.

_Umbellated Protea._

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA 4-fida seu 4-petala. Antheræ lineares, insertæ petalis infra apicem. Calyx proprius nullus. Semina solitaria.

BLOSSOM 4-cleft or 4 petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the point. Cup proper none. Seeds solitary.

See PROTEA FORMOSA, Pl. XVII. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Protea foliis lineari-spathulatis, glabris; capitulis terminalibus; bracteis multifidis; floribus luteis.

Protea with linearly-spathulate leaves, smooth; heads of flowers terminate the branches; floral leaves many cleft; flowers yellow.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. One of the floral leaves or scales of the general empalement, magnified.

2. A flower, magnified.

3. One of the heads of flowers, divested of the scales, or floral leaves.

4. The Pointal and seed bud, of one of the florets, magnified.

The Protea umbellata has been cultivated in England since the year 1777, at which time it was first raised from seeds; received from the Cape of Good Hope by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, at whose nursery our figure was taken in the month of August 1800. It is a very hardy plant, and not at all subject to the very common fate of its congeners; that is, to damp in the leaves, or rot at the root in winter; is propagated by cuttings, to be made in the month of April or May, and treated as directed for the other Proteas. The plant seldom grows higher than three feet, and does not make many branches; but is of a lively green colour, both leaves and stem. We have, as usual, adopted the name this plant is generally known by, it having been so named by the younger Linnæus in his Suppl. Plant. 118, and by Thunberg in his Dissertatio de Protea, p. 34, and his Prodromus 26. But why or how a small, close head of flowers may be denominated an umbel we must confess our ignorance in this application of terms.

PLATE CCXLIX.

PITCAIRNIA SULPHUREA.

_Sulphur-coloured Pitcairnia._

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

_HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, semi-superum, tubulosum, basi ventricosum, trifidum, persistens; laciniis lanceolatis, erectis.

COROLLA tubulata, calyce duplo longior, marcessens, trifida, demum tripetala; laciniæ lineari-oblongæ, suberectæ.

STAMINA. Filamenta sex, filiformia. Antheræ oblongæ, erectæ.

PISTILLUM. Germen superum, ovato-triquetrum. Stylus filiformis longitudine staminum. Stigmata tria, contorta.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula ovatis, obtuse triquetra, trilocularis; loculis sub-cylindraceis, sub-distinctis.

SEMINA numerosa, alata, linearia.

EMPALEMENT. Cup one leafed, half superior, tubular, swelling at the base, three-cleft; segments lance-shaped, erect.

BLOSSOM. tubular, twice the length of the cup, withering, three-cleft, at last three petalled; segments linearly-oblong, nearly upright.

CHIVES. Threads six, thread-shaped. Tips oblong, erect.

POINTAL. Seed-bud above, three-sided-egg-shaped. Shaft thread-shaped the length of the chives. Summits three, twisted.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule egg-shaped, bluntly three cornered, three valved; cells nearly cylindrical, not very distinct.

SEEDS numerous, winged, linear.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Pitcairnia foliis non spinosis, flaccidis, longissimis; corollis sulphureis.

Pitcairnia with leaves without spines, weak and very long; blossoms sulphur coloured.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement and floral leaf.

2. One of the Petals shewn from the inside to expose the Honey-cup at its base.

3. The Chives and Pointal.

4. The Pointal and Seed-bud, the three summits detached and untwisted.

5. The Seed-vessel cut across.

This species of Pitcairnia was sent in the year 1799, from the island of St. Vincent, by Mr. Anderson, to T. Evans, Esq. Stepney; at whole gardens the plant has flowered, for the first time, in England this year, in the month of April, and at which time our figure was taken. The Pitcairnias are all natives of West India Islands, and stand, as the link, between the Bromelia or Pine-apple plant, and the Tillandsia; to either of which Genera the first sight of the leaves, only, would consign them. Five species are now in Britain, and we do not doubt, but the species are as numerous, as those of Tillandsia. The cultivation of all the species is perfectly easy, as they require no particular soil, or management, if kept in the hot-house; where they grow luxuriantly and throw out, from the roots, abundance of suckers; which should be taken off, to encourage the flowering of the central shoot.

PLATE CCL.

IXIA COLUMNARIS. _Var. grandiflora._

_Columnar-chived Ixia._ _Large flowered Var._

CLASS III. ORDER I.

_TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA sex-petala, patens, æqualis. Stigmata tria, erectiusculo-patula.

BLOSSOM six petals, spreading, equal. Summits three, upright-spreading.

See IXIA REFLEXA, Pl. XIV. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Ixia filamentis basi cohærentibus; floribus subcapitatis corollis purpureo-violaceis, maximis.

Ixia with threads united at the base; flowers grow nearly headed: blossoms purple violet, very large.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The two valves of the sheath.

2. An intire flower cut open in the tube only, which is extended nearly to the end of the threads.

3. The Chives cut open, magnified.

4. The Pointal complete, one of the Summits detached and magnified.

5. The Seed-vessel cut across.

We have nothing farther to fay upon this fine variety of the Columnar-chived Ixia than what has been said on the other varieties of this species; but, that it was introduced from Holland with the changeable coloured variety in 1799; and that it flowers the end of June; in which month our drawing was made, this year, at the Hammersmith Nursery.

PLATE CCLI.

LACHENALIA PURPUREO-CÆRULEO.

_Sweet violet-colour’d Lachenalia._

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

_HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Six Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA 6-petala, infera; petalis tribus interioribus longioribus.

STAMINA erecta. Capsula subovata, trialata. Semina globosa.

BLOSSOM 6-petals, beneath; the three inner petals the longest.

CHIVES erect. Capsule nearly egg-shaped, three-winged. Seeds globular.

See LACHENALIA PENDULA. Pl. XLI. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Lachenalia corollis campanulatis, pedunculatis; petalis obtusis, revolutis; staminibus corolla longioribus; foliis lanceolatis; floribus purpureo-cæruleis, odoratissimis.

Lachenalia with the blossoms bell-shaped, and with foot-stalks; petals obtuse and rolled back; chives longer than the blossom; leaves lance-shaped; flowers of a purplish blue colour, and very sweet-scented.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A flower shewn from the outside.

2. The same shewn from the inside.

3. The Pointal and seed-bud.

This very fine species of Lachenalia, with its variety, have been figured by Prof. Jacquin in his Icones, and Collectanea; but whether from dried specimens or not we cannot determine. As yet there is no figure, of either, in any British publication. Mr. Williams, of Turnham Green, nurseryman, was the first who had it to flower in this kingdom, and to his kindness in sending us a fine specimen, this year, in April, we are indebted for our present figure. It is equally hardy with the rest of the species of the Genus, and propagates abundantly by the root; delights most in a sandy peat soil.

PLATE CCLII.

HEBENSTREITIA AUREA.

_Golden-flowered Hebenstreitia._

CLASS XIV. ORDER II.

_DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA._ Two Chives longer. Seeds covered.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, tubulosum, membranaceum, emarginatum, subtus longitudinaliter dehiscens.

COROLLA monopetala, unilabiata; tubus cylindricus, calyce longior, latere inferiore ad dimidium dehiscens; limbus unilabiatus, adscendens, planiusculus, quadrifidus, subæqualis.

STAMINA. Filamenta quatuor, horum duo priora sub fauce margini corollæ inserta, extantia; duo seriora, interiora, inferiora, reflexa ad latera. Antheræ lunares, compressæ, extrorsum truncatæ.

PISTILLUM. Germen minimum. Stylus filiformis, per fissuram corollas reflexus. Stigma simplex.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula oblonga, unilocularis, bivalvis.

SEMINA duo, oblonga, hinc convexa, trisulca, inde plana.

EMPALEMENT. Cup one-leafed, tubular, membranaceous, notched at the end, splitting lengthways from beneath.

BLOSSOM one-petalled, one-lipped; tube cylindric, longer than the cup, splitting from the lower side half way; border one-lipped, ascending, flattish, four-cleft, the clefts nearly equal.

CHIVES. Threads four, of which the upper pair is inserted into the edge of the blossom under the throat, standing out; the lower anterior pair is bent back to the sides. Tips crescent-shaped, flattish, appearing cut off on the outside.

POINTAL. Seed-bud very small. Shaft thread-shaped, bent back through the fissure of the blossom. Summit simple.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule oblong, one-celled, two-valved.

SEEDS two, oblong, convex on one side, three-furrowed and flat on the other.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Hebenstreitia foliis linearibus, integris, sub-teretibus, obtusis, glabris; floribus congestis, racemosis, aurantiis.

Hebenstreitia with linear leaves entire, roundish, blunt, smooth; flowers grow crowded together in long bunches, of a gold colour.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A flower.

2. The Empalement magnified.

3. A Blossom cut open with the chives remaining attached, magnified.

4. The Pointal natural size.

5. The same, magnified.

The Hebenstreitias may all be reckoned as rather biennial plants than perennial shrubs; they must be increased every year to keep up a succession, which is a matter of no difficulty; as, if cuttings of any of the species are put into separate small pots, and kept from the air by a hand-glass, for about a month, they will become flowering plants by September, if the cuttings are made in May. Our present plant was introduced in 1796 by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, at whose nursery the drawing was made this year in the month of March. They mostly flower in spring, and autumn; the flowers are very fragrant at night. They are natives of the Cape of Good Hope.

PLATE CCLIII.

TALINUM PATENS.

_Panicled Purslane._

CLASS XI. ORDER I.

_DODECANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Twelve Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium diphyllum, parvum, superum, apice compressum, persistens.

COROLLA. Petala quinque, plana, erecta, obtusa, calyce majora.

STAMINA. Filamenta multa, capillaria, corolla dimidio breviore. Antheræ simplices.

PISTILLUM. Germen subrotundum. Stylus simplex, brevis. Stigmata quinque, oblonga, longitudine styli.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula tecta, ovata, trivalvis. Receptaculum liberum.

SEMINA plurima, parva.

EMPALEMENT. Cup two-leaved, small, above, compressed at the tip, remaining.

BLOSSOM. Five petals, flat, smooth, upright, blunt, larger than the empalement.

CHIVES. Threads many, hair-like, shorter by half than the blossom. Tips simple.

POINTAL. Germ roundish. Shaft simple, short. Summits five, oblong, the length of the shaft.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule covered, egg-shaped, three-valved. Receptacle free.

SEEDS numerous, small.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Talinum foliis lanceolato ovatis, sessilibus, planis; panicula ramosa, terminali; floribus rubris.

Purslane with leaves between lance and egg-shaped, without foot-stalks, flat; panicle branching and terminal; flowers red.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement and Pointal.

2. A Chive, magnified.

3. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit.

4. The Seed-vessel nearly ripe, and the cup.

5. A ripe Capsule, cut transversely.

6. A Seed, magnified.

We now exhibit a plant which may, perhaps, be known by many, under the name of Portulaca, rather than that of Talinum. But, as the adoption of this new formed genus, upon a division of the species which have capsules of a different construction, from the old generic character of Portulaca, seems generally to obtain, amongst modern botanists; such as Jussieu, Cavanilles, Willdenow, &c. we shall not dissent; although we, at the same time, take the liberty to say, from the particular tendency of the old genus Portulaca, to vary in most parts of the flower, both as to number and character, we have taken up the present genus, but reluctantly. This plant is a native of the West Indies, and is, by some, considered as an annual; whilst by others it is treated of as a shrub; but, indeed, it partakes of both characters, in some measure; for the stem generally decays down, near to the earth, and often the whole plant dies, after flowering. It grows to the height of two feet, half of which is formed of the flower-stem. It makes a very gay appearance about August, and seeds abundantly. Our figure was taken from a plant in the collection of J. Vere, Esq. Kensington Gore; where it flowers, annually, in the highest perfection. Introduced, says the Kew Catalogue, by Chevalier Murray, in the year 1776.

PLATE CCLIV.

GERANIUM PROCUMBENS.

_Procumbent Geranium._

CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.

_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus, 5-coccus.

ONE POINTAL. Five summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium caule subcarnoso, prostrato; foliis cordatis, lobatis, crenato-dentatis; calycibus pentaphyllis; floribus tetrandris, corollis irregularibus.

Geranium with the stem rather fleshy, and prostrate; leaves heart-shaped, lobed, between scolloped and toothed; cups with five leaves; flowers with four fertile chives; blossoms irregular.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement.

2. The Chives spread open, and magnified.

3. The Pointal, and Seed buds, magnified.

This pretty Geranium is rather a delicate plant, and must be kept very dry in the winter; as, from the situation of its branches, which are pressed to the earth, and rather fleshy, they will be very apt to rot, if loo often watered, or placed in a damp part of the green house. It was introduced in the year 1781, by G. Hibbert, Esq. in whose collection, only, we have as yet seen it. Mr. Allen informs us, that it is to be propagated as well by cuttings, as from the seeds, which it does not produce plentifully. It has the appearance, if we may judge by analogy, to be but a biennial, and not an abiding plant. It flowers in April and May, and should be planted in light rich earth.

Here we have a botanical treat for the learned, who have adopted the new arrangement of this very vagarious tribe; for in this one plant are united some of the most essential characters of the three L’Heritierian Genera, which, justly, formed but divisions of Linnæus’s original genus; agreeing with Geranium and Erodium in the nectariferous cup; with Pelargonium in the blossom and seed; but differing from all three, in having but four fertile chives, with six abortive ones. A fact ascertained by the examination of above fifty flowers, taken from four different plants.

PLATE CCLV.

MORÆA NORTHIANA.

_Northian Moræa._

CLASS III. ORDER I.

_TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA hexapetala; petala tria interiora patentia, angustiora. Stigma trifidum.

BLOSSOM six petals; the three inner petals spreading, narrower. Summit three-cleft.

See MORÆA TRICOLOR. Pl. LXXXIII. Vol. II.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Moræa scapo foliisque falcatis, glaberrimis, distichis; floribus terminalibus; petalis tribus exterioribus ovatis, concavis, pendulis, tribus interioribus sub-erectis, medio retrofractis, apicibus revolutis.

Moræa with the flower-stem and leaves scymitar-shaped, very smooth, pointing different ways; flowers terminal; the three outer petals egg-shaped, concave, hanging down, the three inner ones nearly erect, broke back about the middle, and rolled back at the ends.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The whole plant in miniature.

2. The outer valve of the sheath.

3. The inner valve of the sheath.

4. The Seed-bud, Chives, and Pointal, as they stand in the flower.

5. The Pointal only, the Chives being removed.

About the year 1789 this very fine species of Moræa was introduced to our gardens by the late, elegantly tasted Mrs. North, lady to the Right Hon. the Lord Bishop of Winchester; to whose fervor and liberality in botanical pursuits we owe much of the present prevailing taste for the science. The plant was brought to England by the Hon. Mr. F. North, on his return from Portugal; the only remnant of a number, which he had procured from the gardens of the late Queen of Portugal; immediately on its arrival it was consigned, in a very sickly state, to the care of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, who had the good fortune to recover it.

It is a native of the Brazils, flowers about July or August, propagates itself by suckers, which it makes from the root, should be planted in light rich earth, and should be treated as a tender hot-house plant. The leaves grow frequently to the length of two feet, or more; forming the appearance of a large fan; the flower-stem proceeding from nearly the centre. The flowers surpass, in delicacy and beauty of pencilling, any of this very handsome tribe, and are as transitory as beautiful, their duration being but of six hours, at most. It seldom happens that more than one flower is open at a time; but the plant from which our drawing was made, in 1797, at the Right Hon. the Marquis of Blandford’s, then resident at Bill Hill, Berks, was in the highest perfection we have ever hitherto seen it.

PLATE CCLVI.

IXIA MACULATA. _Var. minor, flore purpureo._

_Spotted-flowered Ixia._ _Small Var. with a purple flower._

CLASS III. ORDER I.

_TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA 6-partita, patens, æqualis. Stigmata erectiusculo-patula.

BLOSSOM six divisions, spreading, equal. Summits three, between upright and spreading.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Ixia foliis ensiformibus, glabris, scapo duplo brevioribus; floribus alternis, sub-spicatis, minoribus, purpureis; petalis basi obscuris, ovatis, concavis; stigmatibus bifidis.

Ixia with sword-shaped leaves, smooth, twice as short as the flower-stem; flowers alternate, rather spiked, smaller, and purple; petals dark at the base, egg-shaped, concave; summits two-cleft.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement.

2. A Flower cut and spread open.

3. The Seed-bud, Chives, and Summits, one summit magnified.

This variety of Ixia blossoms about June; and, like the rest of this species, continues in flower near a month. It is one of the hardiest, and certainest blowers, amongst the whole genus, and propagates freely; no particular treatment is necessary for it, but what has been often repeated for the management of these plants.

PLATE CCLVII.

FALKIA REPENS.

_Creeping Falkia._

CLASS V. ORDER II.

_PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA._ Five Chives. Two Pointals.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, sub-inflatum, corolla duplo brevius, quinquangulatum, quinquepartitum; angulis medio dilatatis, compressis extantibus; laciniis ovatis, acutis.

COROLLA monopetala, campanulata, crenato-decem-partita; limbo patente.

STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, filiformia, tubo corollæ inserta, erecta, inæqualia, corolla breviora. Antheræ ovatæ, compressæ.

PISTILLA. Germen quatuor, supera, glabra. Styli duo, capillares, divaricati, longitudine corollæ. Stigmata orbiculata, lanata.

PERICARPIUM nullum.

SEMINA quatuor, globosa, arillata, in fundo calycis.

EMPALEMENT. Cup one leaf, a little inflated, shorter by half than the blossom, five-cornered, five-parted; the angles widened in the middle, flattened, standing out; segments egg-shaped, pointed.

BLOSSOM one-petal, bell-shaped, ten-parted by scollops; border spreading.

CHIVES. Threads five, hair like, inserted into the tube of the blossom, erect, unequal, shorter than the blossom. Tips egg-shaped, flattened.

POINTALS. Seed-buds four, above, smooth. Shafts two, hair-like, straddling, the length of the blossom. Summits orbicular, woolly.

SEED-VESSEL none.

SEEDS four, globular, covered by a coat, at the bottom of the cup.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Falkia foliis cordatis, petiolis longissimis; caule repente.

Falkia with heart-shaped leaves, and very long foot-stalks; creeping stem.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Cup.

2. A Blossom spread open, with the chives in their place.

3. A Chive magnified.

4. The Pointals, natural size.

5. The same, magnified.

This pretty little plant was first found by Masson and Thunberg, when on their journey together in the interior of the country of the Cape of Good Hope, and was named by Thunberg after Professor Falk of Petersburgh. It was introduced to the Kew gardens in the year 1774. Much as it resembles Convolvulus, it still has a greater affinity to Nolana in all its outward parts, but especially in the cup of the flower, and the situation and character of the seeds. Although the plant is not shrubby, the stems, which are wiry, do not die down in winter, but take root, if laid close to the earth. It is encreased by parting the roots in May; should be planted in sandy loam, and kept in the green-house, where it will blossom in July or August. Our figure is from a plant which flowered in the collection of J. Vere, Esq. Kensington Gore.

It is rather singular that the indefatigable, and generally accurate, Willdenow, should have continued this plant in the sixth class, when he had such authority, as may be found, page 325, Vol. I, in the Catalogue of the Kew Garden (where it unquestionably has flowered) for the removal of it to its proper one, the fifth. It is true, he had reason to suppose, that no man would be rash enough to form a new Genus, without a due examination of the plant, on which he grounds his authority; and that, as Thunberg had discovered and named it, his authority was sufficient, and of greater weight than any other. But, unfortunately, in this instance, for the transcriber, the describer has been mistaken, and has led his followers into error. Indeed, the whole plant in its habit and character has so little affinity to any hexandrous genus, that, although Thunberg might have found a single flower, or even a whole plant, whose flowers had six chives (a circumstance we have not been able to discover, upon an examination of the flowers from four different plants), in such a case, as a botanist, he ought to have looked farther, before he made so violent a decision; and Willdenow ought to have taken it for granted the alteration would not have been made, but upon due consideration.

PLATE CCLVIII.

BANKSIA PRÆMORSA.

_Bitten-ended-leaved Banksia._

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

_Receptaculum commune_ elongatum, squamosum. Corolla tetra-petala. Stamina limbo inserta. Capsula bivalvis, disperma, interjecto seminibus dissepimento mobili. Semina alata.

_Common Receptacle_ elongated, scaly. Blossom of four petals. Chives inserted into the limb of the blossom. Capsule two valves, two seeds, and a moveable partition between them. Seeds winged.

See BANKSIA SERRATA, Pl. LXXXII. Vol. II.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Banksia foliis cuneatis præmorsis, serratis, subtus albo-punctatis, supra glabris; floribus externè purpureis.

Banksia with wedge-shaped leaves, appearing bitten at the ends, sawed, dotted with white on the under part, smooth on the upper; flowers purple on the outside.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower not yet expanded, with the germ at the base.

2. The same open, the extremities of one of the petals magnified, to shew the situation of the Chive in its place.

3. The Pointal complete, the summit magnified.

The first plants which were seen of this plant in England, were raised from seeds, at the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1788. It is a handsome growing shrub, and the plant from which our figure was made had grown to the height of seven feet; it having been planted in the conservatory of the Clapham collection, where it flowered, for the first time, this year, in July, continuing in high beauty near two months. It is a plant of most difficult increase, rarely that it is to be propagated by cuttings; and the wood rots, if laid into the earth. A light soil, of sandy peat, and a small portion of sandy loam, appears most congenial to its growth. There are hopes, from the perfect state of the cones, that ripe seeds may be procured in this country.

PLATE CCLIX.

GERANIUM PILOSUM.

_Hairy Geranium._

CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.

_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

MONOGYNA. Stigmata 5. Fructus rostratus, 5-coccus.

ONE POINTAL. Five summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.

See GERANIUM GRANDIFLORUM. Pl. XII. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium foliis pilosis, pinnatis; foliolis profundè laciniatis, acutis; umbella 4-6 flora; pedunculis calycibusque pilosis; floribus pentandris; radice tuberosa.

Geranium with hairy winged leaves; leaflets deeply torn, and sharp pointed; umbel from 4 to 6 flowers; fool-stalks of the flowers and cups hairy; flowers with five fertile chives; root tuberous.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement cut open, to shew its tubular character.

2. The Chives and Pointal.

3. The Chives cut open, and magnified.

4. The Pointal, with the five Glands, or Honey-cups, at the base.

5. The same, magnified.

This very pretty Geranium was introduced to the Clapham collection, in the year 1801, by Mr. Niven, from the Cape of Good Hope. It is as hardy as any of the family, which have tuberous roots; may be increased by cutting a portion off the old root, in spring, and giving it the heat of the hot house, at that season of the year. It rarely produces ripe seed; so says Mr. Allen the manager of the collection; and he recommends the planting of it in sandy peat earth.

PLATE CCLX.

ORNITHOGALUM ODORATUM.

_Sweet-scented Star of Bethlehem._

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

_HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX nullus.

COROLLA. Petala sex, lanceolata, infra medium erecta, supra medium patentia, persistentia, colorem demittentia.

STAMINA. Filamenta sex, erecta, alterna basi dilatata, corolla breviora. Antheræ simplices.

PISTILLUM. Germen angulatum. Stylus subulatus, persistens. Stigma obtusum.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula subrotunda, angulata, trilocularis, trivalvis.

SEMINA plura, subrotunda.

OBS. Filamenta in aliis plana, erecta, alterna apice trifido, media lacinia antherarum sustinente; in aliis alterna, simplicia.

EMPALEMENT none.

BLOSSOM. Petals six, lance-shaped, below the middle upright, above the middle spreading, remaining, losing their colour.

CHIVES. Six threads upright, each alternate one widening at the base, shorter than the blossom. Tips simple.

POINTAL. Seed-bud angular. Shaft awl-shaped, remaining. Summit blunt.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule roundish, angular, three-celled, three-valved.

SEEDS many, roundish.

OBS. The threads in some are flat and upright, the alternate ones trifid at top, the middle segment supporting the tip; in others the alternate ones are simple.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Ornithogalum racemo elongato; filamentis subulatis; petalis lanceolatis, obtusis, apice calloso-inflexis; foliis depressis, linearibus, planis.

Star of Bethlehem with the bunch of flowers lengthened; threads awl-shaped; petals lance-shaped, blunt, thick, and turned inwards at the point; leaves bent downward, linear, and smooth.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower prop.

2. The Chives and Pointal, the petals being removed.

3. The Pointal.

4. The same, magnified.

This species of Star of Bethlehem, from the Cape of Good Hope, is a rival in fragrance to the great-flowered, or Arabian species, to which it is much affined in every part but the colour of the blossom; which, in this, is yellowish, and in that, it is white with a dark eye. It is rather a delicate bulb; and to make it flower, should be kept in the hot-house, where, it will blossom about May or June. Our drawing was made from a plant which had been received, from the Cape, by Mr. Hibbert, the preceding year, 1800; and we much fear, what has been said of the great-flowered species, may be considered as referential also to this; viz. that the bulbs never flower, but the first year after importation. We have not been able to trace the appearance of a flower, from any of the bulbs, this year, which has led us to this conjecture; indeed, many of the species of this genus have this character; more particularly, those from Africa.

It has flowered at Vienna, and has been figured by Professor Jacquin in his Ic. Plant. rar. vol. ii. tab. 432.

PLATE CCLXI.

CAMERARIA LATIFOLIA.

_Bastard Mangeneel._

CLASS V. ORDER I.

_PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium quinquefidum, acutum, connivens, minimum.

COROLLA monopetala, infundibuliformis; tubus cylindricus, longus, basi apiceque ventricosus; limbus quinquepartitus, planus; laciniis lanceolatis, obliquis.

STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, minima, e medio tubi. Antheræ conniventes, filo longo terminatæ.

PISTILLUM. Germina duo, cum appendicibus ad latera. Stylus cylindricus. Stigma capitatum, apice acutum, bifidum.

PERICARPIUM. Folliculi duo, horizontaliter reflexi, oblongi, juxta latera baseos utrinque lobum emittentes, uniloculares, univalves.

SEMINA numerosa, ovata, membranæ majori ovatæ ad basin insertæ, imbricata.

EMPALEMENT. Cup five-cleft, pointed, converging, very small.

BLOSSOM one-petal, funnel-shaped; tube cylindrical, long, bellied out at the base and top, border five-parted, flat; segments lance-shaped, oblique.

CHIVES. Threads five, very small from the middle of the tube. Tips converging, terminated by a long thread.

POINTAL. Seed-buds two, with lateral appendages. Shaft cylindrical. Summit headed, pointed at top, and two-cleft.

SEED-VESSEL. Seed-pods two, horizontally reflexed, oblong, sending forth a lobe each way near the side of the base, one-celled, one-valved.

SEEDS numerous, egg-shaped, inserted on the larger egg-shaped membrane at the base, tiled.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Cameraria foliis ovatis, nitidis, acuminatis, parallelo-costatis; floribus corymbosis, terminalibus.

Bastard Mangeneel with egg-shaped leaves, shining, tapered, and ribbed transversely; flowers grow in broad-topped spikes, terminal.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower cut open, magnified, with the Chives in their place.

2. The Cup, magnified.

3. The Pointal and Cup, the summit magnified.

4. One of the Seed-pods, natural size.

The genus Cameraria, seems to have been rather hastily taken up by Plumier, as a distinct genus from Nerium; for certainly, the small difference in the shape of the seed-pod, in which consists the whole distinctive character of this genus, can hardly be thought of sufficient moment to that end. As we have found it, we leave it; but could not refrain from the foregoing remark, as it appears so singular, that amongst so many who have published the plant, not one should have discovered the surrounding nectary, or honey-cup, to the mouth of the blossom, and the long threads at the end of the tips; two such very powerful features, which distinguish Nerium, from all the rest of this natural order.

It is a native of Jamaica, Cuba, and Domingo; grows to the height of thirty feet, and is considered as a timber tree in those islands. The whole plant is full of a milky juice, similar to what is found in most plants of this natural order. In England, it must be treated as a hot-house plant; may be increased by cuttings; flowers in August, and should be planted in rich earth.

Our figure was taken from a plant in the Stepney collection, belonging to Thos. Evans, Esq.

PLATE CCLXII.

XERANTHEMUM SPIRALE.

_Spiral-leaved Everlasting-Flower._

CLASS XIX. ORDER II.

_SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA._ Tips united. Superfluous Pointals.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Receptaculum paleacem. Pappus setaceus. Calyx imbricatus, radiatus; radio colorato.

Receptacle chaffy. Feather bristly. Empalement tiled, rayed; the ray coloured.

See XERANTHEMUM SPECIOCISSIMUM, Vol. I. Pl. LI.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Xeranthemum foliis spiraliter-imbricatis carinatis, sub-obliquis; floribus solitariis, maximis.

Everlasting Flower with spirally-tiled leaves, keeled, rather oblique; flowers solitary, very large.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. An outer scale of the Empalement.

2. An Hermaphrodite Floret, with the Feather of the Seed.

3. A Female Floret, a little magnified.

4. The Pointal, magnified.

This species of Everlasting Flower is very common near Cape Town; yet, ’till the year 1800, it has never been introduced to Britain. Montague Burgoyne, Esq. of Mark Hall, Essex, was the first to procure seeds of it, and it has flowered with him, this year 1802. Our drawing was made in July, but the flower lasts near three months; it is the largest of the genus we have as yet seen, and certainly one of the most beautiful. All the species, from the Cape, are very liable to rot from damps, in the winter; they should be kept on an airy, dry shelf, as near the glass as possible, during the foggy months. They, in general, ripen seeds with us, but are with difficulty increased by cuttings; which should be made early in spring, planted in pots of sand, and kept quite dry for some time after they are planted. The grown plants thrive best in a very sandy peat earth.

PLATE CCLXIII.

VACCINIUM STAMINIUM.

_Green-wooded Whortle-berry._

CLASS VIII. ORDER I.

_OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Eight Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX superus. Corolla monopetala. Filamenta receptaculo inserta. Bacca quadrilocularis, polysperma.

CUP superior. Blossom of one petal. Threads fixed to the receptacle. A berry with four cells and many seeds.

See VACCINIUM ARETOSTAPHYLLOS, Vol. I. Pl. XXX.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Vaccinium foliis oblongo-ovatis, acutis, integerrimis, subtus subglaucis; pedunculis nudis; antheris exsertis; floribus solitariis; stamina decem.

Whortle-berry with oblong-oval leaves, pointed, quite entire, and rather sea-green underneath; fruit-stalks naked; tips without the blossom; flowers solitary; ten chives.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower complete.

2. The Chives and Pointal.

3. The Chives, Pointal, and Seed-bud, magnified.

The species here figured of Whortle-berry, according to the Kew catalogue, was introduced, first, from North America, to us, by Mr. William Young, in the year 1770. It is a hardy, deciduous shrub; grows to the height of three feet; very bushy, with the flowers but thinly scattered over it; they are white, and deeply cut in the border, which is rather inclined to spread. It is increased by layers; the berries seldom ripening in England. A light, sandy peat soil, with a small portion of loam, is the fittest for its growth; and it acquires a higher degree of beauty, when sheltered from the scorching rays of the sun, in summer. Our figure was taken in June, 1801, at the nursery of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, from a plant which had been imported in February, the same year, from Pennsylvania, North America.

PLATE CCLXIV.

PROTEA GLOMERATA.

_Woolly-headed Protea._

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA 4-fida seu 4-petala. Antheræ lineares, insertæ petalis infra apicem. Calyx proprius nullus. Semina solitaria.

BLOSSOM 4-cleft or 4 petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the point. Cup proper, none. Seeds solitary.

See PROTEA FORMOSA, Vol. I. Pl. XVII.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Protea foliis bipinnatis, filiformibus; pedunculo communi elongato, nudo, pedicellis capitulis longioribus; corollis extus lanatis.

Protea with doubly winged leaves, thread-shaped; common foot-stalk lengthened, naked, partial foot-stalks longer than the heads of flowers; blossoms woolly without.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Floret, natural size.

2. The Blossom, magnified.

3. The Pointal, natural size, with the summit detached, magnified.

4. A Cone, after the flowers have all fallen off.

In the year 1789, this species of Protea was first raised from seeds; received at the Hammersmith nursery from Vienna; they having been collected for the Emperor’s gardens at Schonbrun, and from thence transmitted to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy. Many plants have since been raised, in different collections; and our present figure was made, from a fine specimen, in the Hibbertian collection. It is rather delicate when young, but not easily destroyed when grown to a foot in height. It will attain to five or six feet, and makes a very pretty appearance, when in full flower. It may be propagated by cuttings, but with difficulty, and must be planted in light yellow loam.

PLATE CCLXV.

CYRTANTHUS OBLIQUUS.

_Oblique-leaved Cyrtanthus._

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

_HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Involucrum polyphyllum; foliolis lanceolatis, persistentibus.

COROLLA monopetala, clavata, curva, apice sexfida; laciniis ovato-oblongis, incurvis, concavis, tribus alternis apice glandulosis.

STAMINA. Filamenta sex, tubo corollæ inserta, erecta, subulata, corolla dimidio breviora. Antheræ sagitatæ, erectæ, inclusæ.

PISTILLUM. Germen inferum, obtuse-trigonum. Stylus filiformis, longitudine floris. Stigma obsolete-trifidum.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula subovata, trilocularis, trivalvis.

SEMINA plura, plana, oblonga, incumbentia.

EMPALEMENT. Fence many-leaved; leaflets lance-shaped, remaining.

BLOSSOM one petal, club-shaped, bent, six-cleft at top; segments oblong egg-shaped, turned inwards and concave, the three outer ones glandular at the end.

CHIVES. Six threads inserted into the tube of the blossom, upright, awl-shaped, half the length of the blossom. Tips arrow-shaped, upright, within the blossom.

POINTAL. Seed-bud beneath, obtusely three-cornered. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the flower. Summit obscurely three-cleft.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule nearly egg-shaped, three-celled, three-valved.

SEEDS many, flat, oblong, lying upon one another.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Cyrtanthus foliis linearibus, obtusis planis, oblique flexis, floribus pendulis, tricoloratis.

Cyrtanthus with linear, obtuse leaves, flat, and bent obliquely; flowers hanging down and three-coloured.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. Part of the Bulb, and the leaves of the plant in miniature.

2. A Flower, cut and spread open, with the Chives in their place.

3. The Pointal and Seed-bud, natural size. Summit magnified.

This most beautiful, and rare plant, together with C. angustifolius, (the other species) were introduced, in the year 1774, to the Kew Gardens, by Mr. F. Masson, from the Cape of Good Hope. Mons. L’Heritier, when in England, procured drawings of both species, and figured them in his Sertum Anglicum, tab. 15 and 16, under the names of Amaryllis cylindracea, and A. umbrella: but, as we have had formerly occasion to mention our objections, in following that gentleman in his alterations of accepted Genera, in this country; we have, in the present instance, chose rather the authority of Martyn, Curtis, Willdenow, &c. in preference; who all have followed the Kew Catalogue in the name of this Genus. It is true, Thunberg, in his Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, P. 1. p. 59, has it still under the Genus, Crinum; and, as Crinum pendulum, our present subject, was known for many years. It is a very scarce plant, and is to be found but in few collections; the increase being only from the root, and the importation of the bulbs has been but seldom. The seeds do not come to maturity with us, of this species; although those of the C. angustifolius are constantly perfected. It must be treated as a dry stove plant, or kept on a shelf in the hot-house; should be planted in sandy loam, and have plenty of room in the pot. Flowers in July and August.

From the choice collection of Joseph Cowper, Esq. of Clapton, we were obligingly favoured with the plant, from which this figure was taken.

PLATE CCLXVI.

PLATYLOBIUM OVATUM.

_Oval-leaved Flat-Pea._

CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.

_DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Chives in two Sets. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX campanulatus, quinquefidus; laciniis duabus supremis maximis, obtusis. Stamina omnia coalita. Legumen pedicillatum, compressum, dorso alatum, polyspermum.

CUP bell-shaped, five-cleft; the two upper segments very large and obtuse. The Chives all united. Pod on a foot-stalk, compressed, winged along the back, many seeded.

See PLATYLOBIUM SCOLOPENDRUM. Pl. CXCI. Vol. III.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Platylobium foliis ovatis, glaberrimis, distichis; floribus solitariis, axillaribus; ramis teretibus.

Flat-Pea with egg-shaped leaves, very smooth and pointing opposite ways; flowers grow solitary from the insertion of the leaves; branches cylinder-shaped.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement of the Flower.

2. The Standard, or upper petal of the blossom.

3. One of the Wings, or side petals of the same.

4. The two lower Petals, or Keel of the blossom.

5. The Chives, magnified.

6. The Seed-bud, magnified.

This species of Flat-Pea was brought from New South Wales, at the same time as P. scolopendrum, and P. lanceolatum, to which last it has much affinity; but, we think, possesses a sufficient number of differing characters to constitute a distinct species. It has not as yet been increased, we believe, in Britain; any attempt, to that end, has hitherto proved abortive; from which circumstance the plants are at present scarce, and are to be found in few collections. The same treatment to preserve, and render the plant flourishing, is required for this, as for the other species. Our Drawing was made in 1801, at the Nursery of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, who first introduced it.

PLATE CCLXVII.

JATROPHA PANDURÆFOLIA.

_Fiddle-leaved Physic-Nut._

CLASS XXI. ORDER VIII.

_MONOECIA MONADELPHIA._ Chives and Pointals separate. Threads united.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

_Masculi flores._

CALYX. Perianthium vix manifestum.

COROLLA monopetala infundibuliformis; tubus brevissimus; limbus quinquepartitus, laciniis subrotundis, patentibus, convexis, subtus concavis.

STAMINA. Filamenta decem, subulata, in medio approximata, quinque alterna breviora, erecta, basi connexa. Antheræ subrotundæ, versatiles.

PISTILLUM. Rudimentum debile in fundo floris latet.

_Feminei flores_ in eadem umbella cum Masculis.

CALYX nullus.

COROLLA pentapetala, rosacea.

PISTILLUM. Germen subrotundum, trisulcatum. Styli tres, bifidi. Stigmata simplicia.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula subrotunda, tricocca, trilocularis; loculis bivalvibus.

SEMINA solitaria, subrotunda.

_Male flowers._

EMPALEMENT. Cup scarcely perceptible.

BLOSSOM one petal, funnel-shaped; tube very short; border five-parted; segments roundish, spreading, convex, concave beneath.

CHIVES. Ten threads awl-shaped, close together in the middle, the five alternate ones shorter, upright, connected at the base. Tips roundish, versatile.

POINTAL. A weak rudiment lies hid in the bottom of the flower.

_Female flowers_ in the same umbel with the males.

EMPALEMENT none.

BLOSSOM five-petalled, rosaceous.

POINTAL. Seed-bud roundish, three furrowed. Three shafts, two-cleft. Summits simple.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule roundish, three-seeded, three celled; cells with two valves.

SEEDS solitary, roundish.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Jatropha calyculata; foliis panduræformibus, apice acutis, basi inequaliter acutè-lobatis; floribus atro-coccineis.

Physic-Nut with a flower cup; fiddle-shaped leaves, sharp-pointed at the end, and unequally sharp-lobed at the base; flowers deep crimson.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Cup and Pointal of a female flower.

2. The Cup and Chives of a male flower.

3. The Pointal and Seed-bud of a female flower, without the cup.

This plant, a native of the Island of Cuba, was imported from thence, by Mr. J. Fraser, King’s Road, Chelsea, in the year 1801. It is, unquestionably, as handsome a plant as any at present cultivated in our hot-houses, and its continuing to produce fresh umbels of flowers, during at least nine months of the year, renders it, perhaps, the most desirable. It grows to the height of near three feet, producing but few branches. The leaves are extremely irregular in their form, and, when the plant is in a sickly state, the older ones are subject to be slightly blotched, on the under side. Few tropical plants that thrive with so little heat, or care; nevertheless, we have not any hopes, of its ever becoming a proper subject for the green-house; but as yet our experience on that point will not permit us to decide upon it. It should be planted in a mixture of leaf mould, rotten dung, and loam; and may be propagated by cuttings. From a plant at the Hammersmith nursery, ripe seeds have been procured this year; they have the exact appearance of the seeds of the lesser Palma Christi, but rather smaller in size and have the same oily character. Indeed, there is so little difference between some species of the Genus Ricinus, and Jatropha, that botanists have been puzzled where to place them. Our drawing was made from a plant in the collection of the Right Hon. the Marquis of Blandford, White Knights, Berkshire.

PLATE CCLXVIII.

GLADIOLUS PLICATUS.

_Plaited-leaved Gladiolus._

CLASS III. ORDER I.

_TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA sexpartita, ringens. Stamina adscendentia.

Blossom sixdivided, gaping. Chives ascending.

See GLADIOLUS ROSEUS, Pl. XI. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Gladiolus foliis ensiformibus, plicatis, villosis; corollis regularibus; spatha trivalvi; scapo laterali.

Gladiolus with sword-shaped leaves, plaited and hairy; blossoms regular; sheath three-valved; flower-stem lateral.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The three-valved Sheath.

2. A Blossom spread open, to shew the situation and direction of Tips.

3. The Pointal, and Seed-bud, one of the Summits magnified.

The varieties, generally comprehended as such, of this species of Gladiolus, are extended, in number, beyond any others with which we are, as yet, acquainted, of this extensive genus. Already, we have drawings of 22; and many more, certainly, there are, even in this kingdom; but we shall content ourselves with figuring, in the Bot. Rep. 3 or 4, of the most curious. One of the varieties of this plant, has been in cultivation with us since the year 1757, when it was raised by Mr. Miller from Cape seeds. The one represented in our present figure, was received, from Holland, in the year 1794, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith; it is one of the hardiest, and surest flowering varieties of the species; for there are but few of them which blossom freely. The bulbs should be planted in sandy peat, about October, and taken into the hot-house, or placed on a hot-bed, in January, to encourage a rapid and early growth; by which means, they are more frequently induced to throw out their flower stems the beginning of April, which otherwise, often prove abortive. The roots should not be removed from the pots, till the leaves are somewhat decayed.

This is the Glad. plicatus of Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 53; Thunb. Diff. de Glad, n. 24; Jac. Ic. Rar. 2. t. 237; of the Kew Cat. Vol. I. p. 63; Martyn’s Miller, art. Glad. 5. and of Willdenow’s Spe. Plant. T. 1. p. 220; yet, we cannot refrain from joining in opinion with the late Mr. Curtis that it approaches as near Ixia, as Gladiolus; for the Ixia rubro-cyanea of the Bot. Mag. is but a variety of this species. But we cannot so readily _baboonify_ our senses, with trifling changes, as to think, with a modern reforming author, that a new genus was necessary, in this instance, to rectify this part of the Species Plantarum, of the _incompetent_! _Linnæus._

PLATE CCLXIX.

GERANIUM LACINIATUM.

_Var. bicolor._

_Ragged-leaved Geranium._

_Two coloured-flower Var._

CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.

_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque.

FRUCTUS ROSTRATUS; pentacoccus.

ONE POINTAL. Five Summits.

FRUIT furnished with long awns; five dry berries.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium foliis radicalibus integris laciniatisque; laciniis acutis; petiolis filiformibus; calycibus monophyllis; staminibus quinque fertilibus; radice tuberosa; floribus bicoloribus.

Geranium with the leaves growing from the root entire and jagged; segments pointed; foot stalks thread-shaped; cups one-leaved; five fertile chives; root tuberous; flowers two-coloured.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement, a little magnified.

2. Chives, natural size.

3. The same, magnified and spread open.

4. The Pointal and seed-bud, magnified.

This very handsome variety of the ragged-leaved geranium, is but little different from the purple-flowered Var. figured No. CCIV. of this work, Vol. III, except in the colour of the flowers, and that the leaves are rather more cut. It was introduced the same year to the Hibbertian collection, flowers in the same month and requires the same treatment, as the above variety.

PLATE CCLXX.

PROTEA PULCHELLA.

_Waved-leaved Protea._

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA 4-fida seu 4-petala. Antheræ lineares, insertæ petalis infra apicem. Calyx proprius nullus. Semina solitaria.

BLOSSOM 4-cleft or four petalled. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the point. Cup proper, none. Seeds solitary.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Protea foliis lanceolatis, undulatis, rubro marginatis, pilosis; squamis calycis tricoloratis; capitulo erecto, terminali.

Protea with lance-shaped leaves, waved, margined with red and hairy; scales of the cup three-coloured; flower head upright, and terminal.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Floret complete with the seed-bud.

2. The four Petals of the same, with the Tips shewn at their ends.

3. Pointal and Seed-bud.

This Protea, from the Cape of Good Hope, merits the attention of those who wish to beautify their collections, with distinguished objects; as, it flowers the third year from the seed, and is equally handsome with Protea mellifera. The cone for two months before it opens is extremely beautiful, and it is in flower nearly one more; and this, at a time when the plant has, scarcely, attained a foot in height. It is not inclined to branch till it has flowered, but from the lower part of the cone the branches begin to extend. The leaves from their hairiness have a whitish appearance, are finely edged with a light pink, and are slightly waved. It is propagated by cuttings, should be planted in light sandy loam, and flowers in September. Our drawing was made from a plant in the Hibbertian collection; to which it was introduced by Mr. Niven, in the year 1799, amongst the first seeds which were sent, by him, from the Cape.

PLATE CCLXXI.

ASCLEPIAS GIGANTEA.

_Gigantic Swallow-wort, or Auricula tree._

CLASS V. ORDER II.

_PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA._ Five Chives. Two Pointals.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium quinquefidum, acutum, parvum, persistens.

COROLLA. Monopetala, plana vel reflexa, quinquepartita, laciniis ovato-acuminatis, levitèr cum sole flexis.

_Nectaria_ quinque, tubo filamentorum infra antheras adnata, carnosa seu cucullata, e fundo corniculum acutum introrsum flexum exserentia.

STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, in tubum, basi ventricosum, connata. Antheræ oblongæ, erectæ, biloculares, membrana inflexa, stigmati incumbente terminatæ, utrinque ala reversa deorsum latescente. Pollen connatus in corpuscula decem, obverse-lanceolata, plana, in loculis antheræ dependentia e filis brevibus, sæpe flexuosis; quæ per paria annexa sunt tuberculis quinque, cartilagineis, didymis, angulis stigmatis, inter antheras, adhærentibus.

PISTILLA. Germina duo, oblonga, acuminata. Styli duo, subulati. Stigma utrisque commune, magnum, crassum, pentagonum, supra apicibus antherarum tectum, medio umbilicatum.

PERICARPIUM. Folliculi duo, magni, oblongi, acuminati, ventricosi, uniloculares, univalves.

SEMINA numerosa, imbricata, pappo coronata. Receptaculum membranaceum, liberum.

EMPALEMENT. Cup five-cleft, sharp, small, remaining.

BLOSSOM one petal flat or reflexed, five-parted; divisions pointedly egg-shaped, slightly bending with the sun.

_Honey-cups_ five, growing to the tube of the threads below the tips, fleshy or hooded, protruding a sharp horn from the bottom which bends inwards.

CHIVES. Five threads collected into a tube swelling at the base. Tips oblong, upright, two-celled, terminated by an inflex membrane laying on the summit, having a reversed wing on each side, growing broader downwards. The pollen is collected into ten small bodies inversely lance-shaped, flat, hanging down into the cells of the tips by short threads, often flexible, which are fixed by pairs to five skinny twin tubercules, adhering to the angles of the summit, between the tips.

POINTALS. Seed-buds two, oblong, tapered. Shafts two, awl-shaped. Summit common to both, large, thick, five-cornered, covered at top by the ends of the tips, umbilicate in the middle.

SEED-VESSEL. Two pods, large, oblong, tapered, bellied, one celled, one valved.

SEEDS numerous, tiled, crowned with a feather. Receptacle skinny, free.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Asclepias foliis candidis, obovato-oblongis; petiolis brevissimis; laciniis corollæ reflexis.

Swallow-wort with whitened leaves, between inversely egg-shaped and oblong; foot-stalks very short; segments of the blossom reflexed.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement.

2. The Chives and Pointal, natural size.

3. The Chives and Pointal, without the five outer scales or honey-cups, magnified.

4. One of the outer scales, magnified.

5. One of the inner, upright scales, which surround the seed-buds, magnified.

6. The Seed-buds, Shafts and Summit, with the chives attached to the summit, magnified.

The Gigantic Swallow-wort, a native of the East Indies, is a very tender hot-house plant; is very subject to lose its leaves in winter, and requires the assistance of the bark-bed to keep it in perfection. In the Kew Catalogue, it is said to have been cultivated so long ago as the year 1690, at the Royal Gardens, Hampton Court. To render it vigorous and flourishing, it should be planted in rich earth; composed of, one half rotten dung, and the other leaf mould and loam; and watered but sparingly in winter. It is seldom propagated but from seeds, which are frequently procured from the East, and as often from the West Indies. In the island of Jamaica, it is known by the name of the Auricula tree, where it attains to the height of six or seven feet. Our drawing was taken from a most magnificent specimen, obligingly sent us by Mrs. Methuen, (of which our figure represents but a small side bunch), measuring above a foot in diameter. The plant, we believe the finest in England, is in the collection of Paul Methuen, Esq. Corsham, Wilts.

Much as we are inclined to tread in the beaten path of our predecessors, and, more particularly, that of the greatest luminary of this intricate science, Linnæus, yet can we, but with regret, forbear an alteration we think so necessary, in the classification of this genus. That the class Gynandria may, or ought to be excluded from the twenty-four, we shall not be forward to give our suffrage, in conjunction with some modern reformers; and, as they term themselves, improvers upon the Linnæan system; but, whilst it is retained, this genus has stronger claims, in our opinion, upon it, than any which has hitherto been thrown to it. Indeed we had so classed it, upon such grounds had formed its generic character; and had hopes, no one would have disputed our position as just, upon an inspection of the dissections annexed to the figure. Yet fearing, by some, it might be considered as a perplexing innovation; for innovation in all cases is certainly more or less so, the genus having passed the scrutinising ordeal of so many botanists; we have, reluctantly, for the present, given up what, nevertheless, we shall consider as necessary for some bolder hand than ourselves to undertake.

PLATE CCLXXII.

EMBOTHRIUM LINEARE.

_Narrow-leaved Embothrium._

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

_TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX nullus. Corolla tetrapetala. Stamina limbo petalorum inserta. Folliculus polyspermus. Semina alata.

EMPALEMENT none. Blossom four-petalled. Chives inserted into the limb of the petals. A one-celled pod many seeded. Seeds winged.

See EMBOTHRIUM SERICEUM, Pl. C. Vol. II.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Embothrium foliis linearibus, subtomentosis, uninerviis; florum racemis axillaribus; corollis albis. Semina nuda.

Embothrium with linear leaves rather downy, one-nerved; the small heads of flowers grow from the insertion of the leaves; the blossoms white. Seeds naked.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower, complete.

2. One of the petals, with the chive at the end.

3. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit, magnified.

4. A ripe Seed-pod burst and empty.

5. A ripe Seed.