Part 36

Drooping-flowered Lachenalia.

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX, nullus.

COROLLA monopetala, cylindracea, sexpartita; tubus gibbus; laciniis tribus exterioribus brevioribus.

STAMINA. Filamenta sex, subulata, longitudine corollæ, inserta basi laciniarum corollæ. Antheræ oblongæ, incumbentes.

PISTILLUM. Germen trigonum, trisulcum. Stylus simplex, corolla paulo longior. Stigma obtusum.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula triquetra, trilocularis, trivalvis.

SEMINA plurima, globosa.

EMPALEMENT, none.

BLOSSOM one leaf, cylindrical, divided into six; tube gouty; the three outer divisions the shortest.

CHIVES. Threads six, awl-shaped, the length of the blossom, fixed into the base of the divisions of the blossom. Tips oblong, laying on the threads.

POINTAL. Seed-bud three-sided, three-furrowed. Shaft simple, a little longer than the blossom. Summit blunt.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule three-sided, three cells, three valves.

SEEDS many, globular.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Lachenalia foliis longissimis, ovato-oblongis, immaculatis; corollis speciocissimis, maximis, tricoloratis, pedunculatis, cernuis.

Lachenalia with very long egg-shaped oblong leaves, without spots; blossoms very shewy, large, three-coloured, having foot-stalks, and nodding.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower spread open, to shew the insertion of the Chives. 2. The same, exhibiting the character of the outer Petals. 3. The Pointal, natural size.

The genus Lachenalia is certainly an infringement on Hyacinthus; the small distinction on which this new genus is founded can, at most, be considered but of sufficient consequence to form a specific character, so thought Linnæus: the son of Professor Jacquin has thought otherwise, having called it after a botanist of the name of De la Chenal; and under which it is now generally known; therefore we have not replaced it under its old title, though we have authority of such weight to corroborate our opinion. The Lachenalias are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, yet are of so hardy a nature as to require no farther protection than shelter from the severe frosts. Our species is the handsomest yet known, flowering about September; was, according to the Kew catalogue, introduced there by Mr. F. Masson in the year 1774. It was from a plant in the extensive collection of G. Hibbert, Esq. Clapham Common (to whose kind communications the author acknowledges himself much indebted), that this figure was taken, the latter end of September this year. No plant is more easy or certain to increase than this; the young offsets are produced in such abundance from the old bulb, which delights in a light soil; but its flowering is not so certain.

PLATE XLII.

ORCHIS CILIARIS.

Fringed Orchis.

CLASS XX. ORDER I.

GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.

GENERIC CHARACTER.