[ i7i ] 



Ixia Chinensis. Chinese Ixia^ 

 # ij[ $ ft % ft » f $ it* » j fr fr ft ^HMjHfr 



C/d/j <wzi Order. 

 Triandria Monogynia. 



Generic Characler. 

 Cor. 6-partita, campanulata, regularis. Stigmata 3. 



Specific Characler and Synonyms. 

 IXIA chinenfis foliis enfiformibus ; floribus remotis, panicula 

 dichotoma, floribus pedunculatis. Linn. Sp. PL v. 1. 

 />. 52. -4//. //or/. AVw. i>. 1. p. 62. 

 MOR^EA chinenfis caule compreffo, foliis enfiformibus, pa- 

 nicula dichotoma, floribus pedunculatis. Muru 

 Syft. Vegetab. p. 93. 



In that elaborate and ineftimable work, the Horlus Mala- 

 bancus, we have a good figure of the plant here exhibited, 

 accompanied by a minute defcription ; the author informs 

 us that it grows fpontaneoufly in India, attaining the height 

 even of five or fix feet, and affecting a fandy foil; the natives 

 confider it as an antidote to poifons in general, and regard 

 the bruifed root as peculiarly efficacious in curing the bite 

 of the ferpent, called Cobra de Copella. 



We raifed plants of it laft year from feeds imparted to 

 us by J. Ibbettson, Efq. of the Admiralty ; this year, during 

 the months of Auguft and September, many of them have 

 flowered, and capfules are forming which have every appear- 

 ance of producing perfect feeds ; the root of this plant is yellow, 

 and tuberous like that of the Iris, the leaves alfo greatly re- 

 ferable thofe of that tribe, it grows to the height of about three 

 feet, and produces a confiderable number of flowers in fuccef- 

 fion, each of which is of fhort duration. 



The root and radical leaves as reprefented on the plate are 

 much fmaller than in plants which have been long eltablifhed. 



Our plants flood in pots in the open ground through the 

 winter of 1790-1 witi. out injury, but it muft be remembered, 

 that the weathei during that period was uncommonly mild; ' £ 

 will be fafelt therefore to confider it as a tender herbaceous 

 plant. 



It differs fo much in its fructification from many others of the 

 genus, that Prof. Murray has confidered it as a MorJra, WW, 

 which, in our humble opinion, it has icarcdy any affinity. 



