The specimen selected for representation in this place is 
a small one, with its colours remarkably rich and well deve- 
loped; it is figured in the Botanical Cabinet with. four 
flowers in a cluster, and I have seen it with six. In such a 
state, and with several stems, each laden with flowers in a 
similar manner, there is certainly no plant of which I have 
any knowledge that can be said to stand forth with an equal 
radiance of splendour and beauty. For it is not merely the 
large size of the flowers, and the deep rich crimson of one 
petal contrasted with the delicate lilac of the others that con- 
stitute the loveliness of this plant, it owes its beauty in 
almost an equal degree to the transparency of its texture, 
and the exquisite clearness of its colours, and the graceful 
manner in which its broad flag-like petals wave and inter- 
mingle when they are stirred by the air, or hang half droop- 
ing half erect when at rest and motionless. 
The drawing was made in the garden of the Horticultural 
Society in October last. 
ps m 
