Monogyna. Spathtæ unifloræ. Petala 6, undulato-crispata. Stigmata cucullata. Caps. 3-locularis, infera.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
FERRARIA undulata caule multifloro. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 820. ed. 14. Murr. Ait. Kew. p. 305. v. 3.
FLOS INDICUS e violaceo fuscus radice tuberosa. I. B. Ferrar. Flora, ed. nov. p. 167. t. 171.
GLADIOLUS INDICUS e violaceo fuscus radice tuberosa nobis. Moris. hist. f. 4. t. 4. f. 7.
NARCISSUS INDICUS flore saturate purpureo. Rudb. Elys. 2. t. 49. f. 9.
IRIS stellata cyclamine radice pullo flore. Barrel. Icon. 1216.
The old Botanists appear to have been wonderfully at a loss to what family they should refer this very singular plant, as will appear on consulting the synonyms; Burman at length made a distinct genus of it, naming it Ferraria in honour of Joh. Baptista Ferrarius, by whom it was described, and very well figured, in his Flora feu de Florum Cultura, published at Amsterdam, in 1646.
Mr. Miller informs us, that he received roots of this plant from Dr. Job Baster, F. R. S. of Zirkzee, who obtained it from the Cape, of which it is a native.