Part 75

SEEDS solitary, lentil shape.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Eranthemum foliis lanceolato-ovatis, nervosis; floribus spicatis; bracteis lanceolatis, imbricatis.

Eranthemum with lance-shaped, oval, and strongly nerved leaves; the flowers grow in spikes; the floral leaves are lance-shaped, and tiled.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement, with its four small leaflets. 2. The Blossom cut open, to shew the part of insertion of the Chives. 3. One of the Chives, (magnified.) 4. The Pointal, (natural size.) 5. The same, (magnified.) 6. The Seed-bud. 7. A Seed.

Eranthemum, although standing in our ancientest tables, as a name to different plants; must have been, hitherto, considered as a dead letter in all our modern ones, as attached to the tribe of plants it now titles: but perhaps, to none of the former more aptly could it have been applied; (especially this species, as the Greek word Ήράνθεμον, a compound of Ής the spring, and ἀνθέω to blossom, fairly indicates;) since the E. pulchellum first begins to flower in January, and continues to blossom till May. Linnæus in treating this Genus, acknowledges to have seen but one imperfect specimen; and from this circumstance, left the description of the seed-vessel, and seed, to be determined by future Botanists; as yet, that has not been accomplished, even by the indefatigable and accurate Schreber; indeed, had the character of the pointal been likewise omitted, it would have been as well; since, in place of one, the two unequal summits, (which might escape observation in a dried specimen, from their disproportion in length, and upright situation;) point out a stronger Generical distinction from Justicia, to which it much affines, than either, the regular shape of the limb of the blossom, or the situation of the chives. Our species is a native of the coast of Coromandel, in the East Indies, and was first received in seeds from Dr. Roxburg, at the Royal gardens Kew, in the year 1796. It is a most desirable plant, for although it has hitherto been kept in the hot-house, we have no doubt from its flowering and thriving there, with so little care, in any situation; but that it will soon be considered as a proper inhabitant of the greenhouse. It is with the greatest ease, and certainty, increased by cuttings. Our drawing was made this month, from a plant in flower at the Hammersmith nursery.

PLATE LXXXIX.

GNIDIA LÆVIGATA.

Shining-leaved Gnidia.

CLASS VIII. ORDER I.

OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Eight Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX infundibuliformis, 4-fidus. Petala quatuor, calyci inserta. Semen unum, subbaccatum.

Cup funnel-shaped, 4-cleft. Four petals fixed into the cup. One seed, something like a berry.

See Gnidia pinifolia, Pl. LII. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Gnidia foliis oppositis, glabris, ovatis, quadrifariam imbricatis; floribus terminalibus, sessilibus, luteis.

Gnidia with opposite smooth egg-shaped leaves, forming four angles and tiled; flowers terminate the branches, sitting close to the stem, and yellow.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Blossom complete. 2. The same cut open, with the Chives attached; the Pointal taken out. 3. The Seed-bud and Pointal, (magnified.)

This Gnidia is from the Cape of Good Hope, from whence it was first sent to England about the year 1783, by Mr. F. Masson to the Royal gardens Kew. It is a tender, and delicate greenhouse plant, very subject to be destroyed by the autumnal rains, or over watering during the winter. It is with great difficulty raised from cuttings, and its seeds seldom or ever, we believe, are perfected with us; from which circumstance, it is to be found in very few collections. Our drawing was made from a plant, in the possession of G. Hibbert, Esq. Clapham, about the middle of July 1799.

PLATE XC.

SEPTAS CAPENSIS.

Cape Septas.

CLASS VII. ORDER IV.

HEPTANDRIA HEPTAGYNIA. Seven Chives. Seven Pointals.

GENERIC CHARACTER.