Part 3
This plant is a native of New Holland, and was introduced from thence by the Right Honourable the Marchioness of Rockingham, at the same time with the Bauera rubioides of this work; and from a specimen communicated by her Ladyship in September, 1801, our drawing was taken. It is a hardy green-house plant, continuing in flower from August till December; makes a very bushy handsome shrub, especially when planted in a conservatory. Is easily propagated by cuttings, made in the month of April, and kept on a gentle heat until they are rooted. It thrives most in sandy peat, with a small mixture of sandy loam.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXV.
ORCHIS BICORNIS.
_Two-horned Orchis._
CLASS XX. ORDER I.
_GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA._ Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
NECTARIUM corniforme pone florem.
HONEY-CUP like a horn behind the flower.
See ORCHIS CILIARIS, Pl. XLII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Orchis bulbis indivisis; corollis galea bicalcarata; labio quinque-partito.
Orchis with undivided bulbs; helmet of the blossom two spurred, lip five-parted.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower, natural size.
2. The same, magnified, with the front petals cut away to expose the parts of fructification, one of the chives being liberated from its cell.
This singular little Orchis was first introduced to us, from the Cape of Good Hope, by Mr. F. Masson, in 1787, but has been lost to our gardens since near that time till last year, when we had the pleasure of seeing it again in the collection of T. Evans, Esq. Stepney; but we much fear, without a fresh supply of roots, it will again soon stand but as a name in our catalogues. It is a very tender and delicate plant; and, like nearly the whole of this natural order, difficult to propagate or preserve in a cultivated state; wherefore we cannot pretend to recommend any particular method. The bulb which flowered at Stepney was planted in sandy peat, and appeared in good health. It flowers in September, loses its leaves soon after flowering, and is extremely fragrant.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXVI.
OLEA APETALA.
_Petal-less Olive._
CLASS II. ORDER I.
_DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Two Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, tubulatum, parvum; ore quadridentato, erecto, deciduum.
COROLLA monopetala, infundibuliformis; tubus cylindraceus, longitudine calycis; limbus quadripartitus, planus; laciniis subovatis.
STAMINA. Filamenta duo, opposita, subulata, brevia. Antheræ erectæ.
PISTILLUM. Germen subrotundum. Stylus simplex, brevissimus. Stigma bifidum, crassiusculum; laciniis emarginatis.
PERICARPIUM. Drupa subovata, glabra, unilocularis.
SEMEN. Nux ovato-oblonga, rugosa.
EMPALEMENT. Cup one-leafed, tabular, small; mouth four-toothed, erect, deciduous.
BLOSSOM one petal, funnel-shaped; tube cylindrical, the length of the cup; border four-divided, flat; segments nearly egg-shaped.
CHIVES. Two threads, opposite, awl shaped, short. Tips upright.
POINTAL. Seed-bud roundish. Shaft simple, very short. Summit two-cleft, thickish; clefts notched at the ends.
SEED-VESSEL. A pulpy berry, rather egg-shaped, smooth, one-celled.
SEED. A nut oblong-egg-shaped, rough.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Olea foliis elipticis, floribus racemosis, apetalis.
Olive, with eliptically-shaped leaves, flowers in long bunches without petals.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A. Flower expanded, magnified.
2. The same with the Chives exposed, magnified.
3. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit, magnified.
4. A half ripe Berry.
5. The same cut transversely.
Our present figure represents a plant a native of New Holland and New Zealand, in the Pacific Ocean; but, we have great reason to think, it has been referred, rather rashly, to the genus under which it is here named; and that it possesses a distinctive character sufficient on which to have formed a new one. We have, nevertheless, as usual, taken it up under the title it is in general known by, as published by Vahl, in his Symbolæ Botanicæ, Part III. p. 3, and quoted from him into Willdenow’s Sp. Plant. p. 46, and thence into Professor Martyn’s ed. of Miller’s Dict. article Olea, 5. Whether the fruit of this plant will ever turn to account, when cultivated, as an article of food, time must evince; but, certainly, it bears an appearance of much hope. It is a strong woody growing shrub, forming itself into a handsome round-headed plant; and, when in full flower, has a very pretty appearance, having all the necessary qualities of such plants as are fit for planting out in a conservatory. It is propagated by cuttings; should be planted in sandy peat earth, mixed with a small portion of loam; producing its flowers about February or March. Our drawing was made from a plant in the Hammersmith Collection, to which it was first added in the year 1791; having been raised from seeds communicated to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy by Colonel Paterson.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXVII.
GERANIUM UNDULATUM. _Var. Minor._
_Waved-flowered Geranium._ _Lesser Var._
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus, penta-coccus.
ONE POINTAL. Five Summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.
CENTER See GERANIUM GRANDIFLORUM, Pl. XII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis radicalibus lanceolatis, integerrimis, petiolis longitudine foliorum; petalis cuneiformibus, equalibus, undulatis; floribus pentandris; radice tuberosa.
Geranium with the root leaves lance-shaped, quite entire; foot-stalks the length of the leaves; petals wedge-shaped, equal, waved; flowers with five fertile chives; root tuberous.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement cut open, natural size.
2. The Chives cut and spread open, magnified.
3. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summits.
This very handsome tuberous Geranium, and which we have rather placed as a variety than a species, might perhaps by some have been considered as sufficiently distinct to have formed a species; but, indeed, much difficulty arises in the determining, amongst this variable tribe, where to fix determinate specific character. Our present figure was taken from the Hibbertian Collection, where as yet the plant is only to be seen in Britain. It flowers in June or July; does not perfect its seeds, nor has the appearance of easily propagating from the root; the usual method with this link of the Geranium family. It thrives in sandy peat and leaf mould.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXVIII.
HÆMANTHUS MULTIFLORUS.
_Many-flowered Blood-Flower._
CLASS VI. ORDER I.
_HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Six Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX. Involucrum hexaphyllum, maximum, umbelluliferum; foliolis erectis, oblongis, persistentibus.
COROLLA monopetala, erecta, sexpartita; laciniis erectis, linearibus; tubo brevissimo, angulato.
STAMINA. Filamenta sex, subulata, tubo corollæ inserta, corolla longiora. Antheræ incumbentes, oblongæ.
PISTILLUM. Germen inferum. Stylus simplex, longitudine staminum. Stigma simplex.
PERICARPIUM. Bacca subrotunda, trilocularis.
SEMINA solitaria, triquetra.
EMPALEMENT. Fence six-leaved, large, bearing a small umbel; leaflets upright, oblong, permanent.
BLOSSOM one petal, upright, six-parted; segments upright, linear; tube very short, angular.
CHIVES. Threads six, awl-shaped, inserted into the tube of the blossom, longer than the blossom. Tips laying on the threads, oblong.
POINTAL. Seed-bud beneath. Shaft simple, the length of the chives. Summit simple.
SEED-VESSEL. Berry roundish, three-celled.
SEEDS solitary, three-sided.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Hæmanthus foliis plicatis, undulatis, erectis, lato-lanceolatis; umbella globosa; floribus confertis; petalis patentibus; scapo ad basin maculato.
Blood flower with plaited leaves, waved, upright and broad-lance shaped; umbel globular; flowers crowded; petals spreading; flower-stem spotted at the base.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Leaves and part of the Flower-Stem, in miniature.
2. A Flower, complete, natural size.
3. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit.
4. A Seed-bud, cut transversely.
5. The embryo of a Seed.
This plant is said to have been in our European gardens so long ago as the year 1603: having, at that time, been sent to Paris by the younger Robin from Guinea. But however this may be, as yet there is no figure of the plant by which it may be known from many of this beautiful tribe, except the one by the late Mr. Nodder. We are indebted for its last introduction to the honourable the Sierra Leone Company, who received, in 1792, the roots of this plant, amongst many others, from that settlement; which were by them presented to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, at Hammersmith. Our figure was taken in June from a plant in flower this present year, 1803, in the collection of J. Vere, Esq. Kensington Gore, where, from particular management of Mr. Anderson, the same root has flowered several times; a circumstance that but rarely happens with these bulbs after the first year from importation. As a native of so hot a clime it must be kept in the bark bed of the hot-house; and, when the plant is not in flower, should be watered but sparingly. We as yet are unacquainted with any mode by which it may be propagated. It flourishes most in rich mould. Our figure represents the plant in a small specimen, as the head of flowers is frequently, in this country, of three times the size.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXIX.
VICIA GALEGIFOLIA.
_Goat’s-Rue-leaved Vetch._
CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.
_DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Chives in two sets. Ten Chives.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, tubulatum, erectum, semi-quinquefidum, acutum; dentibus superioribus brevioribus, conniventibus; omnibus æqualis latitudinis.
COROLLA papillionacea.
_Vexillum_ ovale, ungue lato oblongo, apice emarginatum cum acumine, lateribus reflexum, linea longitudinali compressa elevata.
_Alæ_ duæ, oblongæ, erectæ, semicordatæ, ungue oblongo, vexillo breviores.
_Carina_ ungue oblongo bipartito, ventriculo compresso, semiorbiculato, alis breviore.
STAMINA. Filamenta diadelphia (simplex et novemfidum). Antheræ erectæ, subrotundæ, quadrisulcæ.
_Nectarii glandulæ_ intra stamen compositum et germen e receptaculo oritur, brevis, acuminata.
PISTILLUM. Germen lineare, compressum, longum. Stylus filiformis, brevior, ad angulum erectum adscendens. Stigma obtusum, sub apice transverse barbatum.
PERICARPIUM. Legumen longum, coriaceum, uniloculare, bivalve, acumine terminatum.
SEMINA plura, subrotunda.
EMPALEMENT. Cup one-leaf, tubular, upright, half five-cleft sharp; the upper teeth the shortest, approaching; all the teeth of equal breadth.
BLOSSOM butterfly-shaped.
_Standard_ oval, with a broad oblong claw, notched at the top, with a point in the middle, sides reflexed, compressed and raised in a line running lengthways.
_Wings_ two, oblong, erect, half-heart shaped, with an oblong claw, shorter than the standard.
_Keel_, with an oblong two-parted claw, the hollow part compressed like a half circle shorter than the wings.
CHIVES. Threads in two sets, (one alone, the other nine-cleft.) Tips upright, roundish four-furrowed.
_Honey-cup_, gland arising from the receptacle between the united threads and the seed-bud; short and tapered.
POINTAL. Seed-bud linear, compressed and long. Shaft thread-shaped, shorter, turned upwards from an angle. Summit blunt, bearded transversely on the upper part at the end.
SEED-VESSEL. Pod long, tough, one-celled, two-valved terminated by a point.
SEEDS many, rather round.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Vicia pedunculis multifloris erectis; floribus striatis; foliolis ovalibus, subtruncatis, reflexis.
Vetch with many-flowered, upright fruit-stalks; flowers streaked; leaflets oval, rather appearing cut off at the points, reflexed.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup.
2. The Standard, or upper Petal of the Flower, shewn in front.
3. The same, shewn from the back-side.
4. One of the Wings of the Blossom.
5. The Keel of the same.
6. The Chives, natural size.
7. The Pointal, natural size.
8. The Chives, magnified, shewn from the front side.
9. A half-ripe Pod.
This pretty plant is a native of New Holland, and was first received in seeds from thence under the name of Indigofera coccinea, in the year 1800, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith. It grows into a bushy plant, making a number of branches from the root, but is rather a woody than herbaceous plant; yet the branches have all the character of most of the species of this genus. It has not as yet been increased by cuttings, but from every appearance the seeds will ripen in this country; and there is little doubt but the roots may be divided with safety. It flourishes in a mixture of sandy peat and loam. Our figure was taken from a plant in the Collection of Messrs. Colvilies, King’s Road, Chelsea; where it has likewise flowered this present August, 1803.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXX.
PULTENÆA ILICIFOLIA.
_Holly-leaved Pultenæa._
CLASS X. ORDER I.
_DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Ten Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX quinque-dentatus, utrinque appendiculatus. Corolla papillionacea, alis vexillo brevioribus. Legumen uniloculare, dispermum.
CUP five-toothed, with an appendage on each side. Blossom butterfly-shaped, wings shorter than the standard. Pod one-celled, two seeded.
See PULTENÆA DAPHNOIDES, Pl. XCVIII. Vol. II.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Pultenæa foliis hastatis, serratis, rigidis; floribus axillaribus, racemosis.
Pultenæa with halbert-shaped leaves, sawed and harsh; flowers grow from the insertion of the leaves in long bunches.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup, natural size.
2. The same, magnified.
3. The Standard, or upper petal of the blossom.
4. One of the Wings of the same.
5. The two petals of the keel of the same.
6. The Chives and Pointal.
7. The Chives, magnified.
8. The Seed-bud, Shaft and Summit, magnified.
This species of Pultenæa was introduced, from New Holland, about the year 1792, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, and is undoubtedly one of the handsomest of the genus. It is difficult to increase as the seeds do not mature, and it is very rarely propagated by cuttings. It grows to the height of three or four feet; and, when in flower, makes a very brilliant appearance. It is not a long-liv’d plant; is very impatient of wet, and is easily hurt by the cold, so should be kept in a dry and warm part of the green-house, or even on a shelf in the hot-house, during the winter months. It thrives in very sandy peat earth without any mixture. Our drawing was made from a plant in the Hibbertian Collection, in the month of June, 1801.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXI.
ARETHUSA PLICATA.
_Plaited-leaved Arethusa._
CLASS XX. ORDER I.
_GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA._ Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX. Spatha foliacea. Perianthium nullum.
COROLLA, ringens; petala quinque, oblonga, subæqualia, duo exteriora, omnia conniventia in galeam.
_Nectarium_ monophyllum, basi tubulosum, intra corollæ fundum, bipartitum; labio inferiore reflexo, lato, rugoso, longitudine petalorum, propendente; labio superiore lineari, tenerrimo, stylo adnato, apice lobato.
STAMINA. Filamenta duo, brevissima, pistilli apici insidentia. Antheræ ovatæ, compressæ, tectæ duplicatura labii interioris nectarii.
PISTILLUM. Germen oblongum, inferum. Stylus oblongus, incurvus, labio interiore nectarii vestitus. Stigma infundibuliforme.
PERICARPIUM. Capsula oblongo-ovata, unilocularis, tri-valvis, angulis dehiscens.
SEMINA numerosa, acerosa.
EMPALEMENT. Sheath leafy. Cup none.
BLOSSOM gaping. Five petals, oblong, nearly equal, two outer, all converging into a helmet.
_Honey-cup_ one-leafed, tubular at the base, within the bottom of the blossom, two-parted; lower lip reflexed, broad, wrinkled, the length of the petals, hanging down forwards; upper lip linear, very delicate, fixed to the shaft, lobed at top.
CHIVES. Two threads, very short, sitting on the top of the pointal. Tips egg-shaped, flattened, covered by the folding of the inner lip of the honey-cup.
POINTAL. Seed-bud oblong, beneath. Shaft oblong, incurved, cloathed by the inner lip of the honey-cup. Summit funnel-shaped.
SEED-VESSEL. Capsule oblong egg-shaped, one-celled, three-valved, splitting at the angles.
SEEDS numerous, chaffy.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Arethusa radice globosa; folio cordato, plicato, hirsuto.
Arethusa with a globular root; leaf heart-shaped, plaited and hairy.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Plant, after the Flower has disappeared.
2. The Petals of the Flower, spread open.
3. The Honey-cup, spread open.
4. The Chives and Pointal.
5. The same, magnified; the hood, to which the chives are attached, lifted up.
This singular little bulbous rooted plant was received this year, 1803, in the month of April, amongst a number of other curious new seeds and bulbs, from the East-Indies, by Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq. by whom they have been communicated to different collections. Although the plant has considerable affinity with Arethusa, yet we entertain doubts whether it should not be placed to Limodorum, as it wants many of the generic characters of the former genus, and but few, and those but trivial in its correspondence, to the latter. We have, notwithstanding, given it the title under which it was sent, submitting our judgment to what we conceive better authority. There is little doubt but the plant will soon be lost in our collections, as but few of this natural order are either to be propagated or kept by any cultivation we are at present acquainted with. Our figure was taken from a plant which flowered in the hot-house of J. Vere, Esquire, Kensington Gore, in the month of July, before there was any appearance of either root or leaf from the bulb. It was in flower at the same time in the Collection of Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. Wormley-Bury, Herts.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXII.
PITCAIRNIA LATIFOLIA.
_Broad-leaved Pitcairnia._
CLASS VI. ORDER I.
_HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Six Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX triphyllus, semisuperus. Petala 3. Squama nectarifera ad basin petalorum. Stigmata tria contorta. Capsula tria, introrsum dehiscentes. Semina alata.
EMPALEMENT three-leaved, half superior. Petals three; with a scaly honey-cup at the base of the petals. Three summits twisted. Three capsules, splitting from the inside. Seeds winged.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Pitcairnia foliis integerrimis, basi subspinosis.
Pitcairnia with leaves quite entire, rather spiney at the base.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. One of the Petals, with its scale at the base.
3. The Chives and Pointal, cleared from the Petals.
4. The Pointal, the Summits detached, magnified.
5. The Seed-bud, cut transversely.
The species of Pitcairnia here figured is a native of Jamaica, and was first introduced to Britain by Mr. A. Anderson, in the year 1785. It does not flower so readily as some of the other species, but is equally easy to increase; flourishes in rich earth, and may be kept on a shelf of the hot-house until its flower-stem appears; when, to encourage its flowering, it should be plunged in the bark-bed.--Our drawing was made, in the month of July, from a plant in the Collection of J. Vere, Esquire, Kensington Gore.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXIII.
GERANIUM BARBATUM. _Var. Minor._
_Bearded-leaved Geranium._ _Lesser Var._
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
MONOGYNIA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus, penta-coccus.
ONE POINTAL. Five Summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis pinnatis; foliolis inequaliter, dentatis, apice barbatis; floribus umbellatis; petalis linearibus, recurvatis; staminibus quinque fertilibus, binis longioribus; scapo polystachio; radice tuberosa.
Geranium with winged leaves, leaflets unequally toothed, and bearded at the point; flowers grow in umbels, petals linear, recurved; five fertile chives, two longer; flower-stem branched; root tuberous.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup cut open, to shew its tubular structure.
2. The Chives and Pointal, natural size.
3. The Chives cut open, magnified.
4. The Pointal, natural size.
5. The same, magnified.
Our present figure is taken from a plant in the Hibbertian Collection, Clapham; and is a very strong variety of the Bearded-leaved Geranium of a former number, taken from the same source. It is, as far as appearances lead, no way differing in character from the rest of the tuberous species of this genus, to require any other treatment. Flowers in June or July.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXIV.
MAGNOLIA PURPUREA.
_Purple-flowered Magnolia._
CLASS XIII. ORDER VII. _of Schreb. Gen. Plants._
_POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA._ Many Chives. Many Pointals.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX 3-phyllus. Petala 6-12. Capsulæ 2-valves, imbricatæ. Semina baccata, pendula.
CUP 3-leaved. Petals 6-12. Capsules 2-valved, tiled. Seeds, berries, pendulous.
See MAGNOLIA PUMILA, Pl. CCXXVI. Vol. IV.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Magnolia foliis obovatis, flaccidis; floribus purpureis; petalis obovatis, divaricatis.
Magnolia with inversely egg-shaped, flaccid leaves; flowers purple; petals inversely egg-shaped and straddling.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Chives and Pointals.
2. A Chive, magnified.
3. The Pointals.
This fine species of Magnolia is a native of China and Japan, was introduced to us by the late Mr. Slater of Laytonstone, to whom we are so much indebted for the greatest number of beautiful plants which have been imported from thence by any individual. It is a very free growing plant; will resist the severity of our winters, if planted in a warm situation, and is deciduous; but if kept in the conservatory, it retains its leaves the whole year, and flowers about June. It is propagated with ease by laying, or by cuttings, and thrives in peat earth, with a small mixture of loam. The plant from which our figure was taken is in the magnificent Conservatory of the Right Honourable the Marquis of Blandford, White Knights, near Reading, Berks; and, we believe, the finest specimen of this species of Magnolia in Britain.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXV.
CODON ROYENI.
_Prickly Codon._
CLASS XI. ORDER I.
_DODECANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Twelve Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, duodecempartitum; foliolis subulatis, persistentibus, erectis, alternis brevioribus.
COROLLA monopetala, campanulata, basi torulosa; limbo duodecimpartito, aquali.
_Nectarium_ duodecim loculare ex squamis 12, unguibus staminum insertis, conniventibus, receptaculum tegentibus.
STAMINA. Filamenta duodecim, longitudine corollæ. Antheræ crassæ.
PISTILLUM. Germen superum, conicum. Stylus simplex, longitudine staminum. Stigmata duo, longa, setacea, divergentia.
PERICARPIUM. Capsula bilocularis.
SEMINA plurima, subrotunda, nigra.
EMPALEMENT. Cup one-leaf, twelve-divided; leaflets awl-shaped, remaining, upright, the alternate ones shorter.
BLOSSOM one petal, bell-shaped, rather swelled at the base; border twelve-divided, equal.
_Honey-cup_ twelve-celled, consisting of 12 scales, inserted into the claws of the chives, approaching, covering the receptacle.
CHIVES. Twelve threads, the length of the blossom. Tips thick.
POINTAL. Seed-bud above, conical. Shaft simple, the length of the chives. Summits two, long, like bristles, straddling.
SEED VESSEL. Capsule two-celled.
SEEDS numerous, roundish, black,
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Codon foliis alternis, cordato-ovatis, acuminatis, setaceo-spinosis; floribus subcapitatis, terminalibus.
Codon with alternate leaves, between heart-shaped and oval, tapered to the point, with spine-like bristles; flowers grow nearly in heads, terminating the branches.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. A Blossom spread open, with the chives in their place.
3. The same shewn from the outside.
4. The Seed-bud, Shaft and Summits.
5. The Seed-bud, cut transversely.
As an interesting desideratum, this plant has stood long amongst botanical collectors; but till the year 1801, it was never seen, in a vegetating state, in Britain; at which period, it was introduced to our gardens, by Mr. Niven, from the Cape of Hope. It is not, we believe, (although considered hitherto as such,) an annual; but rather, a half woody shrub, easily destroyed by moisture. As the seed appears to ripen freely, although there seems no other mode of perpetuating the plant, we shall stand in no danger of losing it; its attractions are, indeed, not great as to beauty, but much so as to singularity; since we have no plant to which it affines in general habit. The seeds should be sown on a gentle hot-bed, in March, and transplanted when about two inches high, into pots, to flower, which they will do about September. Our drawing was made at the Hammersmith Nursery. Having had the opportunity of examining the flowers, of more than twenty plants; we are convinced it has been wrong placed by Van Royen to decandria; for although many flowers may be found, even on the same plant, some with eight, others with ten chives, yet at least 90 out of 100 have twelve; wherefore we have, without scruple, placed it to dodecandria.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCXXVI.
PHARNACEUM LINEARE.
_Linear-leaved Pharnaceum._
CLASS V. ORDER III.
_PENTANDRIA TRIGYNIA._ Five Chives. Three Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX. Perianthium pentaphyllum; foliolis subovatis, concavis, patentibus, æqualibus, persistentibus, intus coloratus, margine tenui.
COROLLA nulla; hinc calycis margo tenuis et calyx interne coloratus.
STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, subulata, longitudine calycis. Antheræ basi bifidæ.
PISTILLA. Germen ovatum, trigonum. Styli tres, filiformes, longitudine staminum. Stigmata obtusa.
PERICARPIUM. Capsula ovata, obsoletè trigona, tecta, trilocularis, trivalvis.
SEMINA numerosa, nitida, orbiculata, depressa, margine acuto cincta.
EMPALEMENT. Cup five-leaved; leaflets nearly egg-shaped, concave, spreading, equal, permanent, coloured within, with a thin edge.
BLOSSOM none; hence the edge of the cup is thin and the inside of it is coloured.
CHIVES. Five-threads, awl-shaped, the length of the cup. Tips cleft at the base.
POINTALS. Seed-bud egg-shaped, three-sided. Shafts three, thread-shaped, the length of the chives. Summits blunt.
SEED-VESSEL. Capsule egg-shaped, bluntly three-cornered, covered, three-celled, three valves.
SEEDS numerous, shining, orbicular, flattened, surrounded by a sharp rim.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Pharnaceum foliis linearibus, verticillatis; umbellis inequalibus; calycibus aurantiis; caule decumbente.
Pharnaceum with linear leaves, growing in whorls; umbels unequal; cups orange coloured; stem bending downwards.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup, shewn from the front, with the chives.
2. The same, shewn from the hind part attached to the fruit-stalk.
3. The Seed-bud and Pointals, natural size.
4. The same, magnified.