Part 56

SEEDS many, oval, shining, coloured, and fixed to the suture where it splits.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Pæonia foliis lobatis, nitentibus; corollis albidis; germinibus ternis, vel quaternis.

Pæony with leaves divided into lobes, and shining; blossoms white; seed-buds three, or four.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement, Chives, and Pointals. 2. A Thread and its Tip (magnified). 3. The Seed-vessels. 4. A Seed.

This new species of Pæony is a native of Mongol Tartary, and the parts adjacent; of course, is sufficiently hardy to endure our severest winters. It has been described by Gmelin, in his Flora Sibirica; and figured by Dr. Pallas, in his Flora Rossica, under the specific title it here bears. J. Bell, Esq. of Isleworth, procured some plants of it from St. Petersburg, about the year 1791; where it had been introduced by Dr. Pallas some time before, when on his travels through Tartary. It forms a handsome, upright growing, herbaceous plant; the flowers standing much above the foliage, are much handsomer before they are expanded, than when fully so; as the under part of the petals are tinged with red, which contrasted with the purity of the white of the other parts, renders them at that period extremely beautiful. The figure was taken at the nursery of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, this year, in the month of June, during which month it is in perfection. Like the rest of the Pæonies, it is easily propagated by the root; requiring little attention in its cultivation, as it will live in almost any soil or situation.

PLATE LXV.

OPHRYS LILIFOLIA.

Lily-leaved Ophrys.

CLASS XX. ORDER I.

GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Spathæ vagæ. Spadix simplex. Perianthium nullum.

COROLLA. Petala quinque, oblonga, sursum conniventia, æqualia; duo horum exteriora.

Nectarium petalis longius, dependens; postice tantum carinatum.

STAMINA. Filamenta duo, brevissima, pistillo insidentia. Antheræ erectæ, tectæ margine interiore nectarii.

PISTILLUM. Germen oblongum, contortum, inferum. Stylus margini interiori nectarii adnatus. Stigma obsoletum.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula subovata, trigona, obtusa, striata, trivalvis, unilocularis, angulis carinatis dehiscens.

SEMINA numerosa, scobiformia.

RECEPTACULUM lineare, adnatum singulæ valvulæ pericarpii.

EMPALEMENT. Sheaths scattered. Fruit-stalks simple. Cup none.

BLOSSOM. Five petals, oblong, approaching upwards, equal; two of them placed outwards.

Honey-cup longer than the petals, hanging down; only keeled on the back part.

CHIVES. Two threads, very short, fixed to the pointal. Tips upright, covered by the inner edge of the honey-cup.

POINTAL. Seed-bud beneath, oblong, twisted beneath. Shaft fixed to the inner edge of the honey-cup. Summit imperfect.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule nearly egg-shaped, three-sided, blunt, channelled, three-valved, and one cell, opening at the keel-shaped angles.

SEEDS numerous, like saw-dust.