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Ornithogalum Aureum. Golden 



Ornithogalum. 



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Oafs and Order. 

 Hexanbria Monogynia. 



Generic Charatler. 

 Cor. 6-petala, ere&a, perfiftens, fupra medium patens. Fila- 

 menta akerna bafi dilatata. 



Specific Charatler and Synonyms, 

 ORNITHOGALUM aureum foliis ovato-lanceolatis, albo- 



marginatis, floribus racemofis con- 

 fertis, filamentis ne&ario emarginato 

 infidentibus. 



We have beftowed on this plant the name of aureum, from 

 the colour of its bloffoms, which are ufually of a bright orange 

 or gold colour ; in fome fpecimens we have obferved them ot 

 a paler hue, and confequently lefs beautiful. 



This highly ornamental fpecies is of modern introduction, 

 having been received by Meif. Lee and Kennedy, a few 

 years fince from the Cape, of which it is a native. 



The root is a whitifh bulb, refembling in fize and fhape that 

 of the Lachenalia tricolor \ figured on plate 82 of this work, 

 from whence fpring three or four fmooth, ibmewhat flefhy, 

 upright, dark-green leaves, about half an inch wide, and 

 three or four inches long, edged with white, and, if magnified, 

 appearing fringed with very fine hairs or villi ; the ftalk is 

 naked, from eight to twelve inches high, fupporting many 

 flowers, which fpring from the alae of large, hollow, pointed 

 braftese, and which opening one after another, keep the plant 

 a confiderable time in flower ; according to Linn.eus's ge- 

 neric character, every other filament fhould be dilated at the 

 bafe, in the prefent fpecies each filament is fo, or rather fits 

 as it were on a white glandular nettary, emarginated on the 

 infide, and highly deferving of notice. 



In the greenhoufe, where this plant has hitherto been kept, 

 its bloffoms come forth as early as January and February, and 

 continue for feveral months; they will long difplay their 

 beauty, if the item be cut off and put in a phial of water. 



It is propagated by offsets from its bulbs, and has the appear- 

 ance of being a plant of kindly growth and eafy management. 



