Root fibrous,—stem branching,—leaves sessile, alternate, linear acute, smooth, glaucous,—flowers terminal on moderate peduncles,—calyx five segments, linear acute,—corolla bright blue, beautifully vein'd, with a darker shade,—petals five, obovate, margins slightly undulate,—stamens five, anthers oblong, filaments united at the base, surrounding the germen, which is crowned by five thread-like styles.
This is perhaps the finest and most beautiful species of Linum, and bears the largest flowers of any of the hardy kinds. It is a very desirable garden plant, continuing long in bloom, and forming a pleasing variety from its glaucous foilage. It is a native of Spain, Italy, and the south of France, and was introduced into this country about the year 1759; though we are not aware that any figure of it has before been given. This species may be raised from seed, which is produced in abundance; if sown in light rich soil, and protected through the winter, the young plants will flower the following summer, and attain the height of eighteen inches or two feet when in perfection. It is very hardy—this genus does not afford many ornamental species for a flower garden, the most desirable are,
| L. perenne. | |
| — alpina. | |
| — flavum. |
Pl. 32.
Plate 41. Tigridia conchiflora.
Drawn from Nature by M.R. Engraved by R. Havell Junr.
TIGRIDIA Conchiflora.
Yellow-flowered Tigridia.