Seeds many, small, and round.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Springalia, foliis alternis, amplexicaulibus, mucronatis; corollis sub-solitariis, incarnatis, rigidis, micantibus.
Springalia, with alternate leaves, embracing the stem, and sharp pointed; blossoms mostly single, flesh-coloured, harsh, and shining.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement, (natural size).
2. The Blossom divided from the Empalement.
3. The Chives, Pointal, and Seed-bud, (magnified).
4. The Seed-vessel, and Pointal, (magnified).
The Springalia, must certainly rank among the most beautiful of the various new genera which have been introduced from New Holland; the delicacy, brilliancy, and number, of its blossoms render it particularly attractive, whilst their extreme permanency adds greatly to its merits; the flower being of such singular durability, as to retain nearly the same appearance when the seeds are perfected, as at their first opening. The figure before us, was taken from a plant in the nursery garden of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, who raised it from seeds about three years since, and where it has flowered these two successive years. The Botany-bay plants, (as they are generally called) are best preserved in the greenhouse; but although this is sufficiently hardy for such treatment, yet its situation must be dry, being very susceptible of damps, flourishing best in sandy peat earth; continues flowering through the whole summer; and propagates easily by cuttings. The characters, and habit of this genus, like almost all the plants from New Holland, being perfectly new, there was a necessity to form a fresh generic name for it; which has been done by the deservedly eminent Dr. J. E. Smith, botanical professor, and president of the Linnæan Society.[Pg 14]
PLATE 2
