1283 
SISYRINCHIUM* odoratissimum. 
Fragrant Sisyrinchium. 
MONADELPHIA TRIANDRIA, or TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. IRIDEE. 
SISYRINCHIUM.— Suprà, vol. 13. fol. 1067. 
S. odoratissimum ; scapo tereti, foliis angustissimis glaucis caulis longi- 
tudine, floribus longè pedunculatis nutantibus infundibularibus : laciniis 
zequalibus. 
Caulis pedalis sesquipedalisve. Folia angustissima, glauca, apice subu- 
lata. Spatha bracteis membranaceo-marginatis: infimá ceteris magis 
acutá. Flores plures, odoratissimi, nutantes, longè pedunculati, infundi- 
buliformes, sordide albi, venis fusco-purpureis striati. Stamina 3, fila- 
mentis in tubo longo connatis, tubi floris longitudine. Stigmata 3, fili- 
formia, staminum longitudine. Ovarium 3-loculare, polyspermum. 
For this fragrant species of Sisyrinchium we are in- 
debted to Mr. Mackay, of Clapton, in whose Nursery our 
drawing was made, in June last. 
It is a native of some part of the southern coast of 
South America, whence it was sent to Mr. Mackay by the 
collector on board His Majesty's discovery ship, under 
command of Captain King. It is perfectly hardy, having 
stood last winter without any protection, when its leaves 
were not even killed down. 
This species approaches Galaxia in the form of its 
flower; but is so similar to Sisyrinchium in habit, and in 
every thing except the long tube of the flower, that it is 
scarcely expedient to separate it from that genus. If others 
should be of a different opinion, they must unite with it our 
S. flexuosum, with which it agrees in the form of the flower. 
We have here a new instance of what is called the 
certainty and precision of the Linnsan system of Botany. 
* Xwwoiyxu» of the Greeks was either the little bulbous plant now called Iris sisy- 
rinchium according to Sprengel, or Trichonema bulbocodium according to Sibthorp. It 
was so named because the roots were grubbed up by swine. 
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