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.[Pg 373]
PLATE 92
