Even amidst this splendid family, Amaryllis Fothergillia stands conspicuously preeminent; the flowers have the same vivid character of refulgence, when exposed to the sun’s rays, which is perceived in A. Sarniensis, or the Guernsey Lily, to which it is nigh affined. The late Dr. Fothergill (to whom the botanical world is so much indebted, for the zeal and extraordinary liberality he constantly manifested, in advancing the science) received this plant from China at the same time with A. aurea, A. radiata, &c. about the year 1777. It is rather a scarce and tender bulb, as it is subject to rot by overmuch wet. It has hitherto been kept, as are most plants on their first arrival from China, in the hot-house; but, from every appearance, we should be led to suppose, it would not perish if kept in the Green-house, as we question much, whether it is not equally hardy with the Guernsey Lily, and a native, originally, as well as the latter, of Japan.
It should be planted in sandy loam, with a small quantity of rough peat, above the tiles in the pot, to make it flower. The propagation is from offsets, which are produced but rarely from the old bulbs. Our figure was taken from a plant in the Hammersmith nursery this year, 1801, in the month of May.[Pg 77]
PLATE CLXIV.
GALAXIA GRANDIFLORA.
Large-flowered Galaxia.
CLASS XVI. ORDER I.
MONADELPHIA TRIANDRIA. Threads united. Three Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Spatha univalvis. Corolla monopetala, 6 fida, tubus filiformis. Stigma multipartita.
Sheath of one valve. Blossom one petal, 6-cleft, tube thread-shaped. Summit many divisions.