Part 84

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Embothrium foliis sub-ternatis, integerrimis, acutis, margine revolutis, subtus sericeis; spica recurva; fructu tuberculato, glabro.

Embothrium with leaves growing mostly three together, entire, pointed, rolled back at the edge, and silky beneath; spike bent downward; fruit tuberculated, not downy.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Blossom complete. 2. A Petal of the Blossom, magnified. 3. The Seed-bud and Summit, magnified. 4. A ripe Seed-vessel. 5. A Seed.

Whem the figure of this plant, or a variety of it, was published by Dr. Smith, in the third No. of his New Holland Botany, it had not then flowered in England; and from the leaves only, of the dried specimens, it was scarce possible to trace, amongst such a variety of new faces, this species of Embothrium. It nevertheless was in many collections, and in some, all the varieties, although it had not then flowered in any. About the end of the year 1791 the seeds of this plant, with many others, were received by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, of Hammersmith, transmitted to them from New South Wales, by Col. Paterson. As a hardy greenhouse plant, it will always be coveted, as it is seldom without flowers through the whole year. Our plant appears to differ sufficiently, from the three varieties given by the Doctor, to form a fourth; as the leaves on this are by no means constantly three together, but are often scattered. We have notwithstanding nearly copied his specific character. It should be planted in light sandy peat, and may be increased by cuttings, or by seeds, which occasionally ripen, whilst the plant is still in flower.

PLATE CI.

HYPOXIS STELLATA.

Star-flowered Hypoxis.

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Gluma bivalvis.

COROLLA monopetala, supera; limbus sexpartitus, laciniis ovato oblongis, patentibus; persistens.

STAMINA. Filamenta sex, brevissima, capillaria. Antheræ oblongæ, petalis breviores.

PISTILLUM. Germen inferum, turbinatum. Stylus filiformis, longitudine staminum. Stigma obtusiusculum.

PERICARPIUM. Capsula oblongiuscula, basi angustior, coronata corolla persistente, trilocularis, trivalvis.

SEMINA plurima, subrotunda.

EMPALEMENT. Husk of two valves.

BLOSSOM one petal, superior; border of six divisions, segments oblong-egg-shaped, and spreading; permanent.

CHIVES. Six very short hair-like threads. Tips oblong, shorter than the petals.

POINTAL. Seed-bud beneath, turban-shape. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the chives. Summit bluntish.

SEED-VESSEL. Capsule rather oblong, smaller at the base, crowned by the permanent blossom, three cells, three valves.

SEEDS many, roundish.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Hypoxis scapo unifloro; foliis sub-linearibus, laxis, striatis; petalis basi maculatis.

Hypoxis with but one blossom on the flower-stem; leaves nearly linear, flexible, and scored; the petals spotted at the base.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.