Part 72

CUP five-toothed. The border of the blossom five-cleft, equal; the lobes heart-shaped. Capsule two-celled.

See BUCHNERA FŒTIDA. Pl. LXXX.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Buchnera, foliis dentato-sinuatis; floribus solitariis, pedunculis longissimis.

Buchnera, with leaves that are indentedly toothed; flowers solitary, with very long foot-stalks.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement. 2. A Flower cut open, magnified. 3. The Pointal. 4. A Capsule.

This is another beautiful little species of Cape Buchnera, and which, we can consider as little better than biennial; much similar, to some species of different genera from thence; such as, Hebenstreitia, Mahernia, &c. For although they produce woody stems, yet the plants seldom last beyond the second year. From their short duration, it is necessary to keep up a succession yearly; which is done, by making cuttings of them early in spring. Our drawing represents the branch of a plant, in the collection of R. James, Esq. Grosvenor-place, taken in the month of July 1799. It is a very shewy greenhouse plant, and should be plotted in rich mould; if kept free from damps, will continue to flower till the end of November.

PLATE LXXXV.

MAHERNIA ODORATA.

Sweet Mahernia.

CLASS V. ORDER V.

PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. Five Chives. Five Pointals.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium monopetalum, quinquefidum, campanulatum; dentibus subulatis, longioribus; persistens.

COROLLA. Petala quinque, cordata, oblonga, patentia, calyce duplo longiora.

Nectaria quinque, obcordata, pedicellata, germen cingentia, calyce breviora.

STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, capillaria, nectario infidentia, calyce breviora. Antheræ oblongæ, acuminatæ, erectæ.

PISTILLUM. Germen subpedicellatum, obovatum, quinquangulum. Styli quinque, setacei, erecti, longitudine petalorum. Stigmata simplicia.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula ovata, quinquelocularis, quinquevalvis.

SEMINA nonnulla, reniformia.

EMPALEMENT. Cup one leaf, five-cleft, bell-shaped; the teeth awl-shaped, and longer; remaining.

BLOSSOM. Five petals, heart-shaped, oblong, spreading, twice the length of the cup.

Honey-cups five, inversely heart-shaped, having little foot-stalks, embracing the seed-bud, shorter than the cup.

CHIVES. Five threads, hair like, sitting on the honey-cups, shorter than the cup. Tips oblong, tapered to a point, and upright.

POINTAL. Seed-bud supported on a very short foot-stalk, inversely egg-shaped, five-angled. Shafts five, like bristles, upright, the length of the petals. Summits simple.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule egg-shaped, five cells, five valves.

SEEDS a few, kidney-shaped.