Arctotis with the florets of the circumference sterile; chaffs coloured and longer than the florets of the center; leaves doubly winged; linear.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. An inner Scale of the cup.
2. An outer Scale of the cup.
3. A Petal of the circumference, with its tubular base, which is
sterile.
4. A chalky division of the florets of the center, magnified.
5. A Female floret of the center, magnified.
6. The Chives of an Hermaphrodite floret, spread open and magnified.
7. The Pointal of an Hermaphrodite floret, natural size.
8. The same, magnified.
9. The Seed-bud of a female floret, natural size, with its feather.
10. The same, magnified.
Of all the plants, numerous as they are, composing this natural Class, we know of no one, the Virgilia (a native of Peru, and introduced to us from the Paris gardens by Mons. Thoin, about twenty years ago, but since lost to Europe,) excepted, which can rival our present subject. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and is said, in the Kew Catalogue, to have been introduced to that collection, in 1774, by Mr. Masson. Whether this is the A. paradoxa of Linn. Sp. 1307. Vol. II, we are not certain, as the chaff, dividing the florets, is there described as of nearly the length of the ray, giving the flower an appearance of doubleness, and is there likewise marked as an annual. But, there is little doubt of its being the plant intended in the Kew Catalogue, under our title; it is there made biennial, which is its true character, as it does not flower the first year from seeds. It may be propagated by cuttings of the first year’s growth; delights in a light sandy loam, and flowers in July or August. Our drawing was made in 1802, from a plant in the Hibertian Collection; which had been raised from seeds, sent the preceding year, from the Cape, by Mr. Niven.[Pg 139]
PLATE CCCLVIII.
AMARYLLIS BRASILIENSIS.
Brasilian Lily-Daffodil.
CLASS VI. ORDER I.