2. A Blossom cut open.
3. The Chives and Pointal, with the tube of the blossom, the border cut off.
4. The Chives cut and spread open, with the tube of the blossom, magnified.
5. The Pointal and Seed-bud, with one of the Summits detached and magnified.
Here we have a plant which presents one of those obstacles, constantly met, in all attempts to a systematic arrangement of the productions of nature. Every feature of Ixia we find positively expressed, but in the unison of the Threads; a circumstance, which Linnæus in his system, always deemed of such singular moment, that a number of Genera have been formed, from this natural order of plants, hinging on this only character.
But, as this plant has been named, and accurately described by Mr. Salisbury, in the Prodromus to his garden 36. n. 18; and continued, from him, by Professor Martyn, in his Edit. of Miller’s Dict. article Ixia, 50; in the following therefore such superiour judgments to our own, we have thought it proper, not to make any alteration; and in consequence, have retained his Generic and Specific title. The extreme brilliance of the flowers of Ixia Columnaris, pervading all the varieties, (of which we have drawings of 6,) is not exceeded by any in the whole Genus; they generally, are not longer expanded than for about four hours, and that only under a hot sun; from about eight, till twelve o’clock; when they close for the day; but nevertheless they have a permanence not usual in Ixias, as the same blossoms will open diurnally for above a week. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and came first to England, by the way of Holland, about the year 1794. It flowers in June and July, amongst the latest of the tribe, and increases by the root in abundance. Our figure was taken at the Hammersmith Nursery.[Pg 240]
