TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla 6-petala, patens, æqualis. Stigmata 3, erectiusculo-patula.
Blossom six petals, spreading equal. Summits three, nearly upright, and spreading.
See Ixia reflexa, Plate XIV.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Ixia foliis crispis; scapus ramosus, flexuosus, spithamæus; floribus sub-umbellatis, cæruleis.
Ixia with crisped leaves; flower-stem branched, waved, and a span high; flowers grow in partial umbels, and are blue.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The two Sheaths of the Empalement.
2. A Blossom cut open, to shew the insertion of the Chives.
3. A Chive (magnified).
4. The Pointal, one of the divisions of the Summit detached, and magnified.
This singular species of Ixia, is one amongst the many given by the Dowager Lady De Clifford to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy Hammersmith, in the year 1794; at which time, her ladyship had just received the bulbs in a present from the Cape. It is described by Thunberg, in his Dissertatio de Ixia, published in 1783. The root of this plant is of a most curious shape, having the appearance of being the half, rather than the whole; it is very delicate, is easily destroyed by moisture, therefore (except when in flower) should be kept very dry; it propagates by the root, the old one generally producing two; flowering about the month of June, or July, but requires the warmth of a moderate hothouse to expand its blossoms. Like other Cape bulbs, it should be planted in sandy peat.[Pg 142]
DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Ten Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla rotato-infundibuliformis. Stamina declinata. Capsula 5-locularis.
Empalement of five divisions. Blossom of a rounded funnel-shape. Chives bent downward. Capsule of five cells.
See Rhododendron Dauricum, Plate IV.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Rhododendron foliis glabris, subtus punctatis; viminibus laxis; corollis crispis, violaceo-purpureis.
Rhododendron with smooth leaves, dotted on the under part; slender loose branches; blossoms crisped, and of a blueish purple.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Blossom.
2. The Chives, and Pointal (natural size); one tip detached (magnified).
3. The Seed-vessel, and Pointal, (natural size).
It is to the industrious researches of J. Frasier, nurseryman, of the King’s Road, Chelsea, we are indebted for this charming species of Rhododendron, who introduced it in the year 1792 from the back settlements of Carolina, North America, where it is native. This species is by far the most delicate of any yet discovered on that continent; grows to the height of three, or four feet, and of sufficient hardiness to resist our winters in the open ground; a slight protection insures its flowering, as our late frosts are apt to injure the buds, which are very often without that assistance destroyed. The best method of propagating this shrub is by layers, which should be taken off in autumn, and protected the first winter. It flowers about the month of July, at which season this year a drawing was made from a plant, in the nursery of Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith. It (like most American plants) delights in sandy peat.[Pg 146]
MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Monogyna. Stigmata 5. Fructus rostratus, 5-coccus.
One Pointal. Summits five. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.
See Geranium Grandiflorum, Plate XII.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis carnosis, pinnatis; caulis fruticosus, ramosus, fragilis; petalis linearibus, pedunculis erectis.
Geranium with fleshy winged leaves; stem shrubby, branched and brittle; petals linear, fruit-stalks upright.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement cut open, to shew its tubular shape to its base.
2. The Chives, and Pointal, (natural size).
3. The Pointal, (magnified).
The Geranium fragile has in general seven fertile tips, and thus comes under Linnæus’s first arrangement; and Mons. L’Heritier’s Genus Pelargonium. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy in the year 1792. This plant seldom grows more than a foot high, but during the months of July, August, and September, it is covered with blossoms, which are of a pale yellow, striped at the bottom with red, standing nearly upright. It is rather a tender plant, requiring a dry stove, or hothouse, to preserve it in winter, being very subject to damp in the leaves; is easily propagated by cuttings, and thrives best in rich mould.[Pg 150]
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla 6-partita, ringens.
Stamina adscendentia.
Blossom six divisions, gaping.
Chives ascending.
See Plate XI. Gladiolus roseus.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gladiolus foliis ensiformibus, apicibus tortis, lineari-cruciatis; corollis sub-campanulatis, rubris; petalis acuminatis.
Gladiolus with sword-shaped leaves, twisted at the ends, linear, and cross-shaped; blossoms nearly bell-shaped, and red; petals sharp-pointed.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The two Sheaths of the Empalement.
2. A Blossom cut open, to expose the situation of the Chives.
3. The Pointal, one of the Summits magnified.
4. A Seed.
Of all the species of this numerous Genus, this is the first to expand its blossoms, seldom flowering later than April; is extremely hardy, scarce requiring the warmth of a greenhouse for its protection, although a native of the Cape. About the year 1791, the bulbs of this plant were purchased of Messrs. Voorhelm, and Co. of Haarlem, in Holland, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, at whose nursery it has repeatedly flowered, and where this figure was taken. It is propagated by the root, as other Gladiolus, and requires the same earth, a light sandy peat.[Pg 154]
PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Five Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla irregularis, fauce nuda.
Blossom irregular, mouth naked.
See Echium grandiflorum, Plate XX.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Echium caule fruticoso; ramis, foliisque aculeatis; floribus spicatis, violaceis; corollis sub-æqualibus.
Viper’s Bugloss, with a shrubby stem; branches and leaves covered with sharp prickles; flowers growing in spikes, and violet coloured; blossoms nearly equal.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. A Blossom cut open, to shew the insertion of the Chives in the tube.
3. The Shaft and its Summit, magnified.
Although there are few species of this genus, but are rough, or hairy; yet this by far exceeds any of them, or almost any other plant not actually spiny, for its extreme coarseness to the touch; nevertheless it is a very handsome shewy greenhouse plant, growing to the height of two feet, and blowing freely. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy in 1794; at whose nursery it flowered for the first time, this year, in the month of July. The only method of propagating the Cape Echiums is by cuttings, and that is done with great difficulty; of course, this, as well as the other species, are very scarce: they delight most in rich light mould.[Pg 158]
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. Two Chives longer. Seeds covered.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx 5-partitus. Rudimentum filamenti quinti inter suprema stamina. Capsula bilocularis.
Empalement of five divisions. The rudiment of a fifth thread is found placed between the upper chives. Capsule of two cells.
See Plate XXXIV. Chelone Ruellioides.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Chelone foliis oppositis, sessilibus, acuminatis, profunde serratis; corollis campanulatis, purpureis.
Chelone with opposite leaves fitting close to the stem, tapering to the point, and deeply sawed; blossoms bell-shaped, and purple.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Blossom cut open, to shew the situation of the four Chives, and station of the fifth imperfect thread.
2. The Pointal, (natural size).
3. The Seed-vessel, with the Empalement and Shaft still remaining attached.
This species of Chelone is of the same date in our gardens as the Chelone Ruellioides, and was introduced through the same medium: it is a native of Mexico in South America; will make a pretty addition to our greenhouse exotics; and is described and engraved by A. J. Cavanilles, in his first volume of Spanish plants. It seems to thrive best in rich, dungy earth, and is easily propagated by cuttings, or seeds; of which latter it produces abundance; but does not appear to be long lived. The plant from which this figure was taken, flowered (as we suppose for the first time in England) in the collection of B. Robertson, Esq. of Stockwell in Surry, and kindly communicated by him to the author.[Pg 162]
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx, nullus.
Corolla monopetala, cylindracea, sexpartita; tubus gibbus; laciniis tribus exterioribus brevioribus.
Stamina. Filamenta sex, subulata, longitudine corollæ, inserta basi laciniarum corollæ. Antheræ oblongæ, incumbentes.
Pistillum. Germen trigonum, trisulcum. Stylus simplex, corolla paulo longior. Stigma obtusum.
Pericarpium. Capsula triquetra, trilocularis, trivalvis.
Semina plurima, globosa.
Empalement, none.
Blossom one leaf, cylindrical, divided into six; tube gouty; the three outer divisions the shortest.
Chives. Threads six, awl-shaped, the length of the blossom, fixed into the base of the divisions of the blossom. Tips oblong, laying on the threads.
Pointal. Seed-bud three-sided, three-furrowed. Shaft simple, a little longer than the blossom. Summit blunt.
Seed-vessel. Capsule three-sided, three cells, three valves.
Seeds many, globular.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Lachenalia foliis longissimis, ovato-oblongis, immaculatis; corollis speciocissimis, maximis, tricoloratis, pedunculatis, cernuis.
Lachenalia with very long egg-shaped oblong leaves, without spots; blossoms very shewy, large, three-coloured, having foot-stalks, and nodding.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower spread open, to shew the insertion of the Chives.
2. The same, exhibiting the character of the outer Petals.
3. The Pointal, natural size.
The genus Lachenalia is certainly an infringement on Hyacinthus; the small distinction on which this new genus is founded can, at most, be considered but of sufficient consequence to form a specific character, so thought Linnæus: the son of Professor Jacquin has thought otherwise, having called it after a botanist of the name of De la Chenal; and under which it is now generally known; therefore we have not replaced it under its old title, though we have authority of such weight to corroborate our opinion. The Lachenalias are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, yet are of so hardy a nature as to require no farther protection than shelter from the severe frosts. Our species is the handsomest yet known, flowering about September; was, according to the Kew catalogue, introduced there by Mr. F. Masson in the year 1774. It was from a plant in the extensive collection of G. Hibbert, Esq. Clapham Common (to whose kind communications the author acknowledges himself much indebted), that this figure was taken, the latter end of September this year. No plant is more easy or certain to increase than this; the young offsets are produced in such abundance from the old bulb, which delights in a light soil; but its flowering is not so certain.[Pg 166]
GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. Chives on the Pointal. Two Chives.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx. Spathæ vagæ. Spadix simplex. Perianthium nullum.
Corolla. Petala quinque; tria exteriora; duo interiora sursum conniventia in galeam.
Nectarium monophyllum, a latere inferiore inter divisuram petalorum receptaculo affixum. Labio superiore erecto, brevissimo. Labio inferiore magno, patente, lato. Tubo postice corniformi, nutante.
Stamina. Filamenta duo, tenuissima, brevissima, pistillo insidentia. Antheræ obovatæ, erectæ, tectæ duplicatura biloculari labii superioris nectarii.
Pistillum. Germen oblongum, contortum, inferum. Stylus adnatus labio superiori nectarii, brevissimus. Stigma compressum, obtusum.
Pericarpium. Capsula oblonga, unilocularis, tricarinata, trivalvis; sub carinis trifariam dehiscens, apice et basi cohærens.
Semina numerosa, minima.
Empalement. Sheaths scattered. Fruit-stalk simple. Cup none.
Blossom. Petals five; three outer ones; two inner ones approaching upwards in form of a helmet.
Honey-cup one leaf, fixed by the lower side to the receptacle betwixt the division of the petals. Upper lip upright, and very short. Lower lip large, spreading, broad. Tube standing behind, shaped like a horn, and hanging down.
Chives. Two threads, very slender, and very short, fixed on the pointal. Tips inversely egg-shaped, upright, covered by a folding of the upper lip of the honey-cup, forming two cells.
Pointal. Seed-bud oblong, twisted, and beneath. Shaft fixed to the upper lip of the honey-cup, very short. Summit flattened, and blunt-ended.
Seed-vessel. Capsule oblong, of one cell, three keels, three valves; splitting in three places under the keels; fastened at the point, and the base.
Seeds numerous, very small.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Orchis radicibus subpalmatis, expansis; nectarii labio lanceolato, ciliato, cornu torto, longissimo; floribus luteis.
Orchis with roots nearly hand-shaped, spreading; lip of the honey-cup lance-shaped, and fringed, horn twisted, very long; flowers yellow.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Honey-cup with its Horn.
2. The upper Petal.
3. A side Petal.
4. One of the inner Petals.
5. The Chives, and Pointal attached to the horn of the Honey-cup.
6. The Chives, and Pointal, magnified; with the Chives drawn from their cells.
This handsome Orchis is a native of North America, and is found in all the states from Virginia as far north as Canada: it has been treated of by Ray, Morison, Gronovius, Royen, Linnæus, and others; but although so long known by name, it was not introduced to our gardens before the year 1796; having been sent that year from Philadelphia by Mr. J. Lyons, from the gardens of J. Hamilton, Esq. to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith; at whose nursery it flowered this year, in the month of July, when the drawing was made. It is a hardy herbaceous plant, thriving best in a shady border, and should be planted in a mixture of loam and peat earth. The propagation of this plant, like most of the genus, is difficult, the seeds being too small to be collected, and the root seldom producing more than one bud.[Pg 170]
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. Two Chives longer. Seeds covered.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx. Perianthium monophyllum, erectum, cyathi-forme, quinquefidum.
Corolla monopetala, campanulata; tubus minimus, longitudine calycis; faux longissima, subtus ventricosa; limbus quinque partitus; laciniis duabus superioribus reflexis; inferioribus patulis.
Stamina. Filamenta quatuor, subulata, corolla breviora, quorum duo reliquis longiora. Antheræ reflexæ, oblongæ, velut duplicatæ.
Pistillum. Germen oblongum. Stylus filiformis, situ et figura staminum. Stigma capitatum.
Pericarpium. Siliqua bilocularis, bivalvis.
Semina plurima, imbricata, compressa, utrinque membranaceo alata.
Empalement. Cup one leaf, upright, cup-shaped, and cut into five divisions.
Blossom of one bell-shaped petal; tube small, the length of the cup; mouth very long, swelled at the bottom; border of five divisions; the two upper segments reflexed, the lower ones spreading.
Chives. Threads four, awl-shaped, shorter than the blossom, two of which are longer than the others. Tips bent back, oblong, and appear doubled.
Pointal. Seed-bud oblong. Shaft thread-shaped, of the same situation and shape as the chives. Summit headed.
Seed-vessel. Pod of two cells, and two valves.
Seeds many, laying one over the other, flat, and winged at each side.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Bignonia foliis digitatis; foliolis integerrimis, ovatis, acuminatis; caule erecto, arboreo; floribus nerii; alato semine.
Trumpet Flower with fingered leaves; the small leaves entire, egg-shaped, tapered; stem upright, growing to a tree; with flowers like the oleander; seed winged.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. A Blossom cut open, shewing the proportionate length of the Chives to the Blossom, and their insertion; one of the Tips detached, and magnified.
3. The Pointal, (natural size); the Summit detached, and magnified.
This species of Bignonia is well known in most collections of hothouse plants, and was first introduced to the Chelsea gardens by Mr. P. Miller, the then gardener, in 1759, and may be found described in his Dictionary; but, notwithstanding its frequency, few have seen its blossoms. Owing to the naked appearance of the stem, and its growing to so considerable a height before it flowers, and that but rarely, has rendered it a plant but of little consideration; though perhaps, from the great beauty of its blossoms, it deserves more attention. Being a native of the West Indies, it does not flourish without the assistance of tan heat; but will live in any situation of the hothouse; thriving best in a mixture of loam and peat, and is readily propagated by cuttings. It was from a plant in the select and valuable collection at Paddington, belonging to the Hon. Dowager Lady De Clifford (to whom the author, as well as all the cultivators and professors of the science, stand much indebted for the zeal and patronage which her ladyship has shewn, in her endeavours to promote it), that this figure was taken in July this present year 1798.[Pg 174]
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Corolla 6-petala, patens, æqualis. Stigmata tria, erectiusculo patula.
Blossom six petals, spreading, and equal. Summits three, nearly upright, spreading.
See Ixia reflexa, Plate XIV.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Ixia foliis falcatis, crispis; floribus alternis, noctiflorens, cinnamomi odore.
Ixia with scimitar-shaped leaves, waved at the edge; flowers alternate, blowing at night, and smelling of cinnamon.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. A Flower cut open, with the Chives attached.
3. The Chives, attached to the tubular part of the Blossom, the border cut off, (magnified).
4. The Shaft, Summit, and Seed-bud, (magnified).
Amongst this most extensive genus no species stands more distinct than this. The extreme sweetness and delicacy of its blossoms, which expand only by night, and close in the morning, give it a decided superiority over many of its congeners. Thunberg, who saw it at the Cape, has described it under the name it here bears; but till the year 1792 we had no knowledge of it, when it was first introduced by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, from the Cape of Good Hope; at whose nursery it flowered the following year; where it continues to blow annually, and whence this figure was taken. It is rather a tender bulb, small, and easily rotted; should therefore be placed in the warmest part of the greenhouse, and kept dry when out of flower; is rather difficult to increase, as each bulb seldom produces more than one offset, nor that always, and rarely seeds.[Pg 178]
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx. Spathæ bivalves, flores distinguentes, persistentes.
Corolla sexpartita; petala oblonga, obtusa, tria exteriora reflexa, tria interiora erecta, acutiora; omnia unguibus conata.
Stamina. Filamenta tria, subulata, petalis reflexis incumbentia. Antheræ oblongæ, rectæ, depressæ.
Pistillum. Germen inferum, oblongum. Stylus simplex, brevissimus. Stigma maximum, tripartitum, laciniis petala mentientibus, latis, reflexis, stamina et petala alterna deprimentibus, apicibus bifidis.
Pericarpium. Capsula oblonga, angulata, trilocularis, trivalvis.
Semina plurima, ovata, glabra.
Empalement. Sheaths of two valves, separating the flowers, permanent.
Blossom with six divisions; petals oblong, blunt, the three outer ones reflexed, the three inner ones upright, and sharper; all connected by the claws.
Chives. Threads three, awl-shaped, laying on the reflexed petals. Tips oblong, straight, depressed.
Pointal. Seed-bud beneath, oblong. Shaft simple, very short. Summit very large, divided into three segments, resembling petals, broad, bent back, and alternately pressing down the chives and petals, cleft at the ends.
Seed-vessel. Capsule oblong, angular, of three cells, and three valves.
Seeds many, egg-shaped, and smooth.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Iris foliis linearibus, canaliculatis, longissimis, glaucis; scapus teres, multiflorus; radix bulbosus.
Iris with linear, channelled leaves, very long, and bluish; flower-stem cylindrical, with many flowers; the root bulbous.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The two Sheaths of the Empalement.
2. The Chives as attached to the Seed-bud.
3. The Pointal complete.
This Iris is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced to us from the collection of Messrs. Voorhelm and Schnevoght, of Haarlem in Holland, about the year 1792. The leaves of this delicate Iris grow sometimes to the length of three feet, giving it a very singular appearance: it should be treated like the Cape Ixias, and protected from the weather, whilst in bloom, as the flower is injured by the lightest wind, and the duration of each blossom is but a few hours; there is, however, a good succession, which rise diurnally from the same sheath, seldom more than one at a time. This figure was taken in the month of June 1797 at the Hammersmith nursery. It has a singular mode of propagating itself; the old root dying, two young ones are formed above it, from whence the flower-stem arises: seldom ripe seeds are produced.[Pg 182]
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx, nullus.
Corolla sex-petala. Petala nectario imposita, lanceolata, patentia.
Nectarium inferum, cylindricum, membranaceum.
Stamina. Filamenta sex, nectarii dentibus inserta, filiformia declinata, petalis paulo longiora. Antheræ ovatæ.
Pistillum. Germen (respectu nectarii) superum. Stylus subulatus, declinatus, longitudine, staminum. Stigma simplex, acutum.
Pericarpium. Capsula triquetra, glabra, trilocularis, trivalvis, angulis dehiscens.
Semina plurima, globosa, glabra, magnitudine seminum sinapios.
Empalement none.
Blossom six-petals. Petals placed on the honey-cup, are lance-shaped and spreading.
Honey-cup beneath, cylindrical and skinny.
Chives. Six threads, fixed into the teeth of the honey-cup, thread-shaped, bent downward, and a little longer than the petals. Tips egg-shaped.
Pointal. Seed-bud (with regard to the honey-cup) above. Shaft awl-shaped, and bent downward the length of the chives. Summit simple, and pointed.
Seed-vessel. Capsule three-sided, and smooth, of three cells and three valves, splitting at the angles.
Seeds many, globular, smooth, the size of a mustard seed.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Massonia, foliis spathulatis, glabris; scapus filiformis, erectus, bipollicaris; flores pedunculati, violacei, sparsi, pedunculi uniflori.
Massonia with spatula-shaped, and smooth leaves; flower-stalk thread-shaped, upright, two inches high; the flowers have foot-stalks, are of a violet colour, and grow scattered; the foot-stalks have each but one flower.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower complete.
2. The same cut open, to shew the insertion of the Chives.
3. The Pointal.
This genus of plants perpetuates the name, as a botanist, (would it could likewise the mild, unassuming, and universally allowed amiableness of character) of Mr. Francis Masson, botanical collector to his Majesty; now exploring the untrod regions of North America, to add to the extensive collections of his royal and munificent Master, which stand so much indebted to his indefatigable industry for their present splendour. The Massonias are all rather tender, and require the same situation as Hæmanthus &c; that is, a dry stove; they are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, or, at least, grow within that point of Africa generally so called, but at some distance from the Cape town, near a mountain (according to Thunberg) of the name of Bocklands Berg. The root of this species is very subject to rot when the leaves are decayed, if watered at that time; therefore, like the Ixias, should be put aside, or taken out of the pot for two or three months, after flowering. It is very difficult to propagate, as the seeds are seldom perfected, and rarely makes any offsets; flowering in September, about the beginning of which month this figure was taken, from a plant in the collection of G. Hibbert, Esq. Clapham Common. It appears to thrive best in a mixture of peat and sandy loam.[Pg 186]
POLYGAMIA MONOECIA. Various dispositions. Upon one Plant.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Hermaphroditi feminei flores.
Calyx. Spatha partialis ovato-oblonga, plano-concava, magna.
Corolla inæqualis, ringens; petalo constituente labium superins, nectario vero labium inferius.
Petalum erectum, ligulatum, quinquedentatum, basi antice connivens.
Nectarium monophyllum, naviculare, petalo, brevius, intra sinum petali insertum.
Stamina. Filamenta sex, subulata erecta, petalo dimidio breviora. Antheræ abortivæ.
Pistillum. Germen infra receptaculum floris, maximum, longissimum. Stylus erectus, longitudine petali. Stigma capitatum, subrotundum.
Pericarpium. Bacca carnosa, corio tecta, longissima, pulpa trifariam, absque dissepimentis.
Semina plurima, globosa.
Hermaphroditi masculi flores.
Calyx ut in feminæo.
Corolla ut in feminæo.
Stamina. Filamenta ut in feminæo, at longiora, tenuiora. Antheræ lineares, sulcatæ, erectæ, magnæ.
Pistillum. Germen ut in feminæo, ut minus. Stylus, et stigma ut in fæmineo, at minora.
Pericarpium abortit.
Hermaphrodite flowers, where the female parts are perfect.
Empalement. Partial sheath oblong, egg-shaped, smoothly-concave, and large.
Blossom unequal and gaping; the petal forming the upper lip, the honey-cup the under.
Petal upright, ligulate, five-toothed, and meeting at the base in front.
Honey-cup one leaf, ship-shaped, shorter than the petal, and inclosed within it.
Chives. Threads six, awl-shaped, upright, shorter by half than the petal. Tips abortive.
Pointal. Seed-bud below the receptacle of the flower, large and very long. Shaft upright the length of the petal. Summit headed, nearly round.
Seed-vessel. A fleshy berry, covered with a tough skin, very long, the pulp laying three ways, without partitions.
Seeds many, round.
Hermaphrodite flowers, where the male parts are perfect.
Empalement as in the female flower.
Blossom as in the female flower.
Chives. Threads as in the female flower, but longer, and thinner. Tips linear, channelled, upright, and large.
Pointal. Seed-bud the same as in the female, but smaller. Shaft and summit like the female, but smaller.
Seed-vessel is abortive.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Musa spadice erecto; floribus capitatis; spathis confertis, coccineis, maximis, apicibus luteis.
Plantain-tree with an upright fruit-stalk; flowers growing in heads; sheaths crowded together, scarlet, very large, points yellow.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The upper lip of the blossom, shewn in front, as cut off close to the seed-bud.
2. The same, shewing the hinder parts, with the three small claws on the border.
3. The honey-cup, which forms the lower lip of the blossom.
4. The seed-bud, chives, style, and summit, of a female hermaphrodite flower.
5. A seed-bud cut obliquely, to expose the situation character of the seeds.
6. The chives, seed-bud, shaft, and summit, of a male hermaphrodite flower.
The honour of having introduced this supremely beautiful plant, pertains to, Thomas Evans Esq. of Stepney; a gentleman to whose zeal for the introduction of new plants our stoves are of late much beholden; he having received it, amongst many others, about the year 1792 from China, where, as well as in Cochin-China, Sumatra, Java, &c. it is very commonly found. Our figure was taken, in part, from a plant which flowered at James Vere’s, Esq. Kensington Gore, last December, and partly, from one in blossom about the same time, at the Hon. Lady Archer’s, Ham Common. The Musa Coccinea grows to the height of about three, or four feet before it blows, and without question, has no rival but Strelitzea Regina in the hothouse, where its brilliancy, tends in some degree, to dispel the gloom of winter, for at least three months. It increases itself by suckers, which are thrown up in abundance from a vigorous plant; may be taken off at any time, and will arrive at a flowering size in twelve months; if planted in rich earth, and kept growing in pine heat, or on a strong hotbed.[Pg 190]
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.