Part 26

4. The five Pointals as they stand in the blossom, with their honey-cups attached to the bottom of the Seed-buds.

5. One Pointal (magnified).

The Crassula Odoratissima is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, was introduced to our gardens about the year 1794, but did not flower till 1796. The scent of this plant at night is so very powerful, that by many it may be deemed almost offensive, though by others it is considered as most agreeable; the flavour is nearly affined to the tuberose. This is not a very shewy plant, growing about a foot high, and flowers from March, till May or June. It is most easily propagated by cuttings, lives in the common greenhouse with very little care, and in almost any sort of earth. This figure was taken at Messrs. Lee and Kennedy’s, nurserymen, Hammersmith, where the plant was first raised.

PLATE XXVII.

GLADIOLUS RINGENS. Var. cinereo odorato.

Gaping Ash-coloured sweet Gladiolus.

CLASS III. ORDER I.

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA 6-partita, ringens.

STAMINA adscendentia.

BLOSSOM six divisions, gaping.

CHIVES ascending.

See Plate XI.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Gladiolus foliis linearibus, costatis; floribus ringentibus, cineriis, odoratissimis.

Gladiolus with linear, ribbed leaves; the blossoms gaping, ash-coloured, and very sweet-scented.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The two sheaths of the Empalement. 2. A Blossom cut open to expose the insertion of the Chives. 3. The Pointal (one Summit magnified). 4. A Seed in its coat.

This most desirable Gladiolus, is not a perfect novelty in the greenhouse; although extremely scarce, it has been introduced to us constantly from the Cape of Good Hope, but from its great delicacy has been repeatedly lost. The plants now in England, have been imported from Holland, from the collection of Messrs. Voorhelm and Co. who about the year 1793, purchased the largest collection ever formed at the Cape, from a Frenchman who had been many years resident there. The Gladiolus ringens about mid-day has the flavour of violets so powerfully, that a single plant is sufficient to scent a whole greenhouse. It is with difficulty preserved from rotting at the root; therefore should be grown in very sandy peat, and should be exposed to dry as soon as the flower is gone. Is propagated by the root, or by seed, which may be procured by great care not to over-water the bulb after flowering; but herein there is great danger.

PLATE XXVIII.

GERANIUM ELEGANS.

Round-leaved Geranium.

CLASS XVI. ORDER II.

MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

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

One POINTAL. Five Summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, 5 dry berries.