Lachnæa capitulis solitariis; corollis glabris, purpureis; foliis trigonis, obtusis, quadrifariam imbricatis.
Lachnæa with solitary heads of flowers; blossoms smooth, purple; leaves three-sided, obtuse, tiled in four-rows.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. One of the floral Leaves, which surround the head of flowers at the
base.
2. A Flower complete.
3. A Blossom cut open, the lower part cut off, to shew the insertion of
the Chives at the mouth.
4. The Pointal, natural size.
5. The same magnified.
This most singular genus of plants, in external appearance so resembling passerina, yet so perfectly distinct in the parts of fructification, is certainly amongst the handsomest of the natural order in which it ranks. The long slender chives which extend nearly to the length of the border of the blossom, independent of the singular retrofraction of one of its segments, give it a character, we think, decidedly sufficient on which to have formed the Genus. This is the third species known; it was introduced to the Hibbertian collection, in 1800, by Mr. Niven, from the Cape of Good Hope. It is a very delicate plant, subject to be destroyed by damps, flowers in July, and may be increased by cuttings. It thrives best in a mixture of light sand and loam.
Thunberg, in his Prod. Plant. Cap. has referred the whole genus to Passerina.[Pg 11]
PLATE CCXCIV.
PROTEA CANDICANS.