immediately into the mouth oF the tube, not upon a raifed 

 neck of the tube, as in Tome fpecies of Massonia) capillary, 

 not dilated at the bafe, the alternate ones longer (asinHYA- 

 cinthus corymbofiis) nearly equalling the limb. Anthers very 

 fmall roundiuVoval. Germ upper, oolong, fulcate. Style erect, 

 fubulate-filiform, nearly equalling the corolla. Stigma fimple 

 (covered with (talked glands, according to Jacquin, perhaps 

 as in Scilla nmi-fcripta?). Qjpfule (carious, ovate, acutifli, 

 three-cornered with compreffed-acu'te dehifcent angles, three- 

 celled, three-valved with ovate valves longer than the braftes. — 

 Jacquin fays it is fragrant, which we have never obferved. — 

 it was found at the Cape, by Thunberg, in a diitri6t between 

 Soendag and Vifch Rivers, flowering about December. 

 •*-'• ■ . „„„ 



Massonia is very nearly allied to Hyacinthus, particu- 

 larly to the Cape fpecies, and had we followed our own ideas 

 of natural affinity, we mould have rather placed this fpecies 

 under the latter genus: in doing as we have, we merely yield 

 to the effential characters as they at prefent ftand. Perhaps it 

 ■will be hereafter found unneceffary to feparate thefe genera 

 at all, or,- if they are diftinguifhed, a confiderable transfer of 

 the fpecies muft be made. Jussieu has hinted, that it would 

 be more natural to take the character of Hyacinthus from 

 the corolla than from the germ. For not continuing it as a 

 congener of Agapanthus umbellatus or of Polyanthes 

 tuberfa, we believe no apology is neceffary ; but to fuch as 

 think differently, or that it is a diftinct genus, we offer the 

 above defcription from Mr. Gawler, as its natural character. 

 En ft folia is a very bad name, but better than a new one.— 

 Thunberc's figure was certainly taken from a dried fpecimen, 

 and in the Bankfian Herbarium is one, fo precifely refembiing 

 it, as to induce a fufpicion that it is the very one from which 

 bis drawing was made. The fame collection contains a very 

 clofely allied fpecies, under the name of Massonia uniform 

 with a larger flower and a lingua narrow linear leaf. 



With us it flowers in October or November ; requires the 

 fame treatment as other Cape bulbs, but the roots mould not 

 be taken up, prefervation from wet in their inactive ftate being 

 fufficient. The Rev. Mr. Bale informs us, that with him u 

 produces abundance of offsets, while others complain of ^ 

 flow propagation in this way ; it produces feed however WifP 

 all. Was introduced by Mr. Williams, Nurferyman at 

 Turnham-Green, who raifed it from Cape feeds, together with 

 a very pretty purple variety, about the year 1791* ® uT 

 drawing was made at Edward Woodford's, Efq. kft ^°* 

 vember. 



