Ornithogalum racemo elongato; filamentis subulatis; petalis lanceolatis, obtusis, apice calloso-inflexis; foliis depressis, linearibus, planis.
Star of Bethlehem with the bunch of flowers lengthened; threads awl-shaped; petals lance-shaped, blunt, thick, and turned inwards at the point; leaves bent downward, linear, and smooth.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Flower prop.
2. The Chives and Pointal, the petals being removed.
3. The Pointal.
4. The same, magnified.
This species of Star of Bethlehem, from the Cape of Good Hope, is a rival in fragrance to the great-flowered, or Arabian species, to which it is much affined in every part but the colour of the blossom; which, in this, is yellowish, and in that, it is white with a dark eye. It is rather a delicate bulb; and to make it flower, should be kept in the hot-house, where, it will blossom about May or June. Our drawing was made from a plant which had been received, from the Cape, by Mr. Hibbert, the preceding year, 1800; and we much fear, what has been said of the great-flowered species, may be considered as referential also to this; viz. that the bulbs never flower, but the first year after importation. We have not been able to trace the appearance of a flower, from any of the bulbs, this year, which has led us to this conjecture; indeed, many of the species of this genus have this character; more particularly, those from Africa.
It has flowered at Vienna, and has been figured by Professor Jacquin in his Ic. Plant. rar. vol. ii. tab. 432.[Pg 470]
