But still we think their diversity is of that sort that cannot 

 be presumed an effect of either age or seminal incon- 

 stancy. And we have no reason to think it has been proved 

 by experiment, or even deduced from any analogous varia- 

 tion in other species of the tribe. Our plant is undoubtedly 

 that of Bergius, whose description is complete ; of Com- 



melin, of Thunberg, and of Miller as a specimen from the 

 Chelsea garden proves. We have no reason to suspect its 



not being likewise that of Linnaeus, who quotes Commelin's 

 iigure; but we have not seen his specimen, and what he 

 has said of it will not serve to decide so near a distinction. 

 It comes very close to glabrum, but that is destitute of 

 pubescence, and is glaucous. The colour of the corolla 

 varies from nearly all blue to nearly all pearl-colour, and 

 the plant has a very different appearance when the several 

 spikelets are completely evolved, from that which it has 

 when these are only partially so. While the leaves are 

 young and fresh, the appressed pubescence can scarcely be 

 said to be hard, but when these are full grown or dry, this 

 is as rigid nearly as if of metal ; each hair stands upon a 

 small tubercle or elevated callous point, which is sometimes 

 white, like chalk. The bloom smells like honey. Bergius 

 notices the pubescence in the orifice of the tube, but as an 

 appendage to the bases of the stamens. Cultivated in 1759 

 by Miller. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. A green- 

 house plant; thriving in peat-earth with a mixture of hazel- 

 loam ; and if placed in a pan of water just before the bloom 

 expands, this will be larger and more purple than other- 

 wise. Blooms in May and June. Multiplied by cuttings. 



The drawing was made from a plant in Mr. Creswell's 

 conservatory at Earl's Court, Brompton. We saw one at 

 Mr. Col vi He's nursery, in the King's Road, with larger 

 flowers, some of which were of a peach-colour, and nearly 

 transparent; the young branches were also very red. And 

 another at Mr. Knight's exotic nursery, in which the 

 flowers were smaller and bluer even than in the present, 

 and the young branches entirely green, without any mix- 

 ture of red whatever. 



i 



a The calyx, b The tube of the flower deprived of its limb, and cut open 

 to show the insertion of the stamens and the villous orifice, c The pistil. 



' 



