Part 48

1. A Flower. 2. The Chives, and Pointal. 3. The Pointal.

This species of Aletris was introduced to us, from the Cape of Good Hope, about the year 1789; it is a hardy plant, requiring the same management as Aletris Capensis, that is, to be kept in a dry part of the greenhouse; although the plant should be frequently watered when in bloom, as should mostly all plants, notwithstanding (as in the present instance is the case) their flowering in the winter months. This caution we have thought necessary, as it is a general rule with gardeners during that season, to put as little moisture as possible to their plants, whether in flower or not, to avoid damps. The little difficulty in propagating this handsome species of Aletris, will render it soon common; the roots grow nearly horizontally, and from their joints numberless young plants are produced; which character we were desirous of expressing in the figure, as from thence we have taken our trivial name; but from the size of the work, it was found impracticable. The drawing was made in December 1798, from a plant then in flower, at the Hammersmith nursery: we are nevertheless informed, that from being planted in a light, rich soil, it may be made to grow to the height of three feet; with a spike of flowers, one fourth the length of the flower-stem.

PLATE LV.

ZINNIA VIOLACEA.

Purple Zinnia.

CLASS XIX. ORDER II.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. Tips united. Superfluous Pointals.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Communis ovato-cylindricus, lævis, imbricatus; squamis plurimis, obtusis, erectis, persistentibus.

COROLLA. Composita radiata; corollulæ hermaphroditæ plures in disco elevato. Femineæ plurimæ in radio.

Propria hermaphroditi infundibuliformis, quinquefida intus villosa.

Feminea ligulata, subrotunda, retusa, persistens.

STAMINA. Hermaphroditis; filamenta quinque, brevissima. Anthera cylindracea, tubulosa.

PISTILLUM. Hermaphroditis; germen oblongum, triquetrum. Stylus filiformis, semibifidus. Stigmata duo, obtusa.

Femineis; germen oblongum, triquetrum. Stylus capillaris, semibifidus. Stigmata duo, recurvata.

PERICARPIUM. Calyx immutatus.

SEMINA. Hermaphroditis solitaria, oblonga, tetragono-ancipitia. Pappus muconibus duobus.

Femineis solitaria, mutica, coronata petalo persistente.

RECEPTACULUM paleaceum; paleis lingulatis, canaliculatis, longitudine calycis, deciduis.

EMPALEMENT. Common cylindrically egg-shaped, smooth, and tiled; scales many, blunt, upright, and remaining.

BLOSSOM. Compound radiate; florets with chives and pointals, are numerous in the center, which is elevated; florets with only pointals, many in the circumference.

Individuals with chives and pointals funnel-shaped, five-cleft, and hairy within.

Individuals with pointals only, ligulate, roundish, dented at the end, and remaining.

CHIVES. Hermaphrodites; five short threads. Tips forming a hollow cylinder.

POINTAL. Hermaphrodites; seed-bud oblong, three-sided. Shaft thread-shaped, split nearly half way down. Summits two, blunt.

Females; seed-bud oblong, three-sided. Shaft hair-like, split half way down. Summits two, bent backward.

SEED-VESSEL. Cup not changing.

SEEDS. Hermaphrodites; solitary, oblong, three-sided, but sharp at two edges. Feather of two sharp points.