Part 33

Ixia foliis crispis; scapus ramosus, flexuosus, spithamæus; floribus sub-umbellatis, cæruleis.

Ixia with crisped leaves; flower-stem branched, waved, and a span high; flowers grow in partial umbels, and are blue.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The two Sheaths of the Empalement. 2. A Blossom cut open, to shew the insertion of the Chives. 3. A Chive (magnified). 4. The Pointal, one of the divisions of the Summit detached, and magnified.

This singular species of Ixia, is one amongst the many given by the Dowager Lady De Clifford to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy Hammersmith, in the year 1794; at which time, her ladyship had just received the bulbs in a present from the Cape. It is described by Thunberg, in his Dissertatio de Ixia, published in 1783. The root of this plant is of a most curious shape, having the appearance of being the half, rather than the whole; it is very delicate, is easily destroyed by moisture, therefore (except when in flower) should be kept very dry; it propagates by the root, the old one generally producing two; flowering about the month of June, or July, but requires the warmth of a moderate hothouse to expand its blossoms. Like other Cape bulbs, it should be planted in sandy peat.

PLATE XXXVI.

RHODODENDRON PUNCTATUM.

Dotted-leaved Rhododendron.

CLASS X. ORDER I.

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Ten Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX 5-partitus. Corolla rotato-infundibuliformis. Stamina declinata. Capsula 5-locularis.

EMPALEMENT of five divisions. Blossom of a rounded funnel-shape. Chives bent downward. Capsule of five cells.

See RHODODENDRON DAURICUM, Plate IV.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rhododendron foliis glabris, subtus punctatis; viminibus laxis; corollis crispis, violaceo-purpureis.

Rhododendron with smooth leaves, dotted on the under part; slender loose branches; blossoms crisped, and of a blueish purple.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Blossom. 2. The Chives, and Pointal (natural size); one tip detached (magnified). 3. The Seed-vessel, and Pointal, (natural size).

It is to the industrious researches of J. Frasier, nurseryman, of the King’s Road, Chelsea, we are indebted for this charming species of Rhododendron, who introduced it in the year 1792 from the back settlements of Carolina, North America, where it is native. This species is by far the most delicate of any yet discovered on that continent; grows to the height of three, or four feet, and of sufficient hardiness to resist our winters in the open ground; a slight protection insures its flowering, as our late frosts are apt to injure the buds, which are very often without that assistance destroyed. The best method of propagating this shrub is by layers, which should be taken off in autumn, and protected the first winter. It flowers about the month of July, at which season this year a drawing was made from a plant, in the nursery of Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith. It (like most American plants) delights in sandy peat.

PLATE XXXVII.

GERANIUM FRAGILE.

Brittle-stalked Geranium.

CLASS XVI. ORDER II.

MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

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

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