Part 77

Camellia with shorter and broader leaves; flowers double and striped.

In hopes that the subject will plead our excuse, in thus again, obtruding a kind of nonentity, in reference to the sexual system, on our scientific friends; and that a figure, of so rare, and beautiful a plant, would be agreeable to all; we have, once more, put by the etiquette of science, for the charms of beauty; yet for this deviation, we think an apology necessary, as it is undoubtedly not conformable to the plan of our undertaking.

This variety of the Camellia Japonica, is of the same date in our gardens, as the double white, and was introduced through the same medium. As yet this plant is found in but very few collections, and is sold at a very high price; not being of free growth, few cuttings, or grafts can be obtained. It has hitherto, been treated as a hothouse plant; but there is no doubt it is equally hardy with the common sort, upon which, all the plants we have as yet seen, and indeed those that were first imported from China, were grafted; an instance in proof, that horticulture must have, there, attained to a considerable degree of perfection, in the operative part: as well as, that possessing double flowering varieties, of their most beautiful plants, which are only produced by a series of cultivation, for ages; incontestably proves the antiquity of the art, (if any fresh proofs were necessary,) in that country. Our figure was made from a drawing taken partly, from a plant which flowered in August last year, in the collection of J. Hibbert, Esq. Clapham; and partly from one now (April) in full bloom, in the conservatory of R. H. James, Esq. Grosvenor-Place; the only ones we have as yet seen in flower; wherefore the time of flowering cannot as yet be fixed.

PLATE XCII.

CRINUM SPIRALE.

Spiral-stalked Asphodel Lily.

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Involucrum spathæforme, bifolium, oblongum, umbelluliferum, post dehiscentiam reflexum.

COROLLA monopetala, infundibuliformis. Tubus oblongus, cylindraceus. Limbus sexpartitus; laciniis lanceolato-linearibus, concavis, reflexis, quarum tres alternæ appendiculo uncinato distinctæ.

STAMINA. Filamenta sex, subulata, e basi limbi, longitudine limbi, conniventia. Antheræ oblongæ, lineares, assurgentes, incumbentes.

PISTILLUM. Germen inferum. Stylus filiformis, longitudine floris. Stigma trifidum, minimum.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula sub-ovata, trilocularis.

SEMINA plura.

EMPALEMENT. Fence sheath-shaped, two-leaved, oblong, bearing a small umbel, after splitting being reflexed.

BLOSSOM one leaf, funnel-shaped. Tube oblong, and cylindrical. Border divided into six segments, that are linearly lance-shaped, concave, and reflexed, of which three alternate ones are marked by a small claw hanging at the lower part.

CHIVES. Threads six, awl-shaped, growing from the lower part of the border, and of its length, and inclining together. Tips oblong, linear, turned up at the ends, and lying on the threads.

POINTAL. Seed-bud beneath. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the flower. Summit three-cleft, and very small.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule nearly egg-shaped, three celled.

SEEDS many.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Crinum foliis filiformibus; scapo filiformi, spirali.

Asphodel Lily, with thread-shaped leaves; flower-stem thread-shaped, and spiral.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement. 2. A Flower, cut open and magnified; to shew the point of insertion of the Chives, at the base of the border. 3. The Pointal and Seed-bud (magnified). 4. The Seed-bud cut transversely, and magnified; to shew the situation of the seeds in the cells, before the splitting of the outer coat, when matured. 5. The Seeds, as they appear after the bursting of the containing coat, and of their natural size.

This curious little plant, has been figured by professor Jacquin in his Ic. rar. 2. tab. 363, under the name of Crinum Tenellum; Thunberg, (who no doubt saw the living plant) in his Prodromus, p. 58, gave it first, the specific title of Spiralis, which to us seems the best possible, we have retained it; although, we differ from him as to the Genus, and which there is no doubt every botanist will, on the examination of the figure, with its appendages. That this plant should ever have been placed under Hæmanthus, by any botanist, is certainly matter of wonder, yet the point is too clear to be contended; scarce one of the essential constituent characters, of the genus, are to be found in our plant, and yet so perfectly in every part answering to Crinum. In Hæmanthus, the fence is composed of many leaves; the segments of the border, standing upright; the Chives longer than the blossom, and fixed into the tube; the Summit simple! &c. &c. We submit this, nevertheless, with deference to superior judgments, as a late publication of much repute, has this plant, under the Generic title we have rejected. The drawing was made in the beginning of March, this year, at Messrs. Lee and Kennedy’s, Hammersmith; by whom, it was received from the Cape of Good Hope in 1792. It is a very hardy bulb, requiring no more protection than a pit, to secure it from the frost. It increases but slowly by the root, but occasionally produces ripe seeds; and should be kept constantly in its pot, in a mixture of peat and loam.

PLATE XCIII.