Part 46

POINTAL. Seed-bud egg-shaped. Shaft thread-shaped, fixed into the side of the seed-bud, and of the length of the chives. Summit headed, and hairy.

SEED-VESSEL none. Fruit in the lower part of the cup.

SEED one, egg-shaped.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Gnidia, foliis sparsis, lineari-subulatis; ramis verticillatis; floribus aggregatis, terminalibus.

Gnidia with scattered, linearly awl-shaped leaves; branches grow in whorls; the flowers terminating the branches in clusters.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower with its seed, (natural size). 2. The same cut open, to shew the situation and insertion of the Chives into the tube of the Empalement. 3. The Pointal, (magnified).

The essential distinguishing character, in Passerina, Gnidia, Struthiola, and Lachnæa, must certainly be considered as amongst the slightest generic divisions made by Linnæus. It is no small difficulty to distinguish the blossom in Gnidia, and Lachnæa, from the empalement in Passerina, and Struthiola; the same exact natural structure being alike in them all; and to us, appear noticeable in their small variations, rather as forming specific, than generic distinctions. As our plan is not to alter, upon any terms, what has been determinately settled by that great master in the arcana of nature, let our opinions be what they will; we are determined to prevent confusion (which has been but little attended to of late), to give it only as such, without presuming upon alteration. But as in the present instance, when a plant long named, but otherwise unknown to cultivators, has unfortunately been foisted from its rank by another, no ways answering to the characters of the describer; we shall consider it as our particular province to rectify the mistake, however generally the error may have obtained.--The Gnidia pinifolia is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, the seeds having been received from thence in 1795, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, at whose nursery it has flowered, for the first time in England, in the month of February this year, and where the drawing was taken. It is a hardy greenhouse plant, but is propagated with difficulty by cuttings; growing to the height of eighteen inches, being most exquisitely scented by night, continuing in flower at least three months, and thriving best in a light peat soil.

A figure of the plant generally known by the name of G. pinifolia, will be given with the next number, to the end our assertions may be properly investigated.

PLATE LIII.

MIMOSA STRICTA.

Harsh-leaved upright Mimosa.

CLASS XXIII. ORDER I.

POLYGAMIA MONOECIA. Various dispositions. Upon one Plant.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

PERIANTHIUM monophyllum, quinquedentatum, minimum.

COROLLA. Petalum unicum, infundibuliforme, semiquinquesidum, parvum.

STAMINA. Filamenta capillaria, longissima. Antheræ incumbentes.

PISTILLUM. Germen oblongum. Stylus filiformis, flaminibus brevior. Stigma truncatum.

PERICARPIUM. Legumen longum, dissepimentis transversis, pluribus.

SEMINA plurima; figura varia.

EMPALEMENT. One leaf, five-toothed, and very small.

BLOSSOM. One petal, funnel-shaped, cut half way down into five divisions, and small.

CHIVES. Threads like fine hairs, and very long. Tips laying on the threads.

POINTAL. Seed-bud oblong. Shaft thread-shaped, shorter than the chives. Summit appearing cut off.

SEED-VESSEL. A long pod, the partitions run across the pod, and are numerous.

SEEDS many; of different shapes.