their former ftation. Anthers purple, with greenifh pollen. 

 Germen obtufely three-cornered, three-celled, ftyles three. 

 CapfuU the fame : feeds many, roundifh. 



The Melanthium junceum. at firit fight, has much the 

 habit and appearance of an Ixia, but the molt fuperficiat 

 examination immediately fhews it to belong, not only to a 

 different clafs in the fexual fyflem, but alfo to a different na- 

 tural order. Still, however, there is a real affinity, and it 

 may be confidered in fome meafure as a connecting link be- 

 tween the Irides and Junci of Jussieu ; for it is only to 

 unite the claws of the petals into a tube and to join the ftyles 

 at the bafe and take away half the ftamens and we have a 

 complete flower of an Ixia, naked indeed, the Melanthium 

 having only one fpathe or involucre to the fpike and none to 

 the feparate flowers. 



From a careful examination of the fpecimens in the Bank- 

 fian Herbarium, we are convinced that the Melanthium 

 triquetrum of Thunberg and junceum of Jacquin are one 

 and the fame; the former, having made his defcription from 

 dried plants only, might be eafily led into this error ; but as, 

 in a growing ftate, there is nothing triquetrous in the form of 

 the leaves, we have given the preference to Jacquin's name, 

 although Thunberg's has the right of priority. 



Our drawing was taken from a plant fent us by Mr. Sa- 

 lisbury of the Botanic Garden, Brompton, in January laft, 

 fome weeks earlier perhaps than it would have flowered had it 

 not been forced by the heat of the ftove. Mr. Salisbury 

 received it with feveral other curious bulbs from the Cape 4 

 the latter end of laft Summer. 



The treatment fhould be the fame as for other Cape bulbs* 



