Pointal. Seed-bud awl-shaped. Shaft short, turned up at the end. Summit blunt, and bordered.
Seed-vessel. Shell roundish, pointed, of one cell, and pointed with a spine.
Seeds kidney-shaped.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Borbonia foliis cordatis, multinerviis, integerrimis.
Borbonia with heart-shaped leaves, many-nerved, and very entire.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. The Standard, or upper petal of the Blossom.
3. A Wing, or side petal of the Blossom.
4. The Keel, or lower petals of the Blossom.
5. The Pointal and Chives, natural size.
6. The Seed-vessel, attached to the Empalement.
The Borbonia cordata, with its various synonyms, may be found in the second volume of Linnæus’s Species Plantarum, page 994, from whence our specific character is copied. This plant, as well as most of the genus, are subject to lose their leaves from the lower part of the stem, which gives it rather a naked appearance when not in flower; but that is amply compensated by the very handsome appearance of its magnificent bunch of yellow blossoms. It grows to the height of three or four feet, producing but few branches. This figure was taken from a plant sent to the author, about the beginning of July, in full bloom, by Mr. Colville, nurseryman, of the King’s Road, Chelsea; who informs him that he raised it about the year 1795, from seeds which he had received from the Cape of Good Hope. The Borbonias are mostly hardy greenhouse plants, and delight in light earth; either peat, or very light dungy earth: they are in general difficult to propagate by cuttings; the surest method is by the seed, which they for the most part perfect in this climate.[Pg 126]
PLATE 31