The variety we have here given, arifes from the multiplica- 

 tion of the four fcales at the bafe of the calyx, continued fome- 

 times the length of the finger, to the exclufion of the other parts of 

 the flower, and forming a four-fided fpike, not unaptly compared 

 to an ear of wheat. When the multiplication of the fcales is 

 lefs extenfive, a more or lefs perfeft flower is produced. In 

 all the plants that we have feen, the flowers were double ; but 

 in that defcribed by Linn ,e us in his Hortus Cliffortanus, it 

 was fingle. 



A monftrofity, occafioned by the multiplication of the parts 

 of the calyx, is fo extremely rare, that Linnaeus remarked 

 he had hardly feen another inftance of it ; and he thought it of 

 fufficient importance to induce him to affix to this variety the 

 trivial name of imbricatus. 



We do not find this fingular monftrofity mentioned by P ar k i n - 

 son, nor is any notice taken of it, except the mere quotation 

 of the Linnean name in Martin's Miller's Dictionary; and 

 it is altogether omitted in both editions of the Hortus Kewenfis. 



Our drawing was made from a plant communicated by 

 Mr. M'Kirk, in September lafl, and we received fpecimens 

 exa&ly fimilar fome years fince, from Mr. Davy, Nurferyman 

 and Florift, King's- Road 3 Chelfea. 



