£4 TRIANBRIA. MOXOGTNIA. 



the tube of the corolla short, as in most of the European 

 species, and nearly all have compressed, obtusely triangu- 

 lar seeds, and tuberous roots. Many of the African species, 

 V ith bulbous roots, havt the tube of the corolla remark- 

 ably long-, seeds more or less round, approaching to sphe- 

 rical, and linear grassy leaves. 



S5. DILATRIS. Persoon, Lachnaxthes. El- 

 liott. (Red-root.) 



Calix superior, petaJoid, externally hirsute, 

 deeply 6-parted, nearly equal, erect, and persis- 

 tent. Stamina erect, a little unequal. Style 

 declining; stigma minutely trifid. Capsule 

 round, 3-ceIled, few-seeded; (3-6 in each cell.) 



Leaves considerably like those of the Iris; sheathing-, on 

 tlie stem sessile; flowers paniculate, corymbose, exter- 

 nally pubescent, internally coloured and petaloid, nearly 

 equal, but the style somewhat declined and thus ap- 

 proaching to the genus IVachendorfia. The D. Heritiera 

 of the United States, although a very distinct species from 

 the other 4 described as natives of the Cape of (iood 

 Hope, can hardly be considered as constituting a distinct 

 genus: it is true, that the stamens are more nearly equal 

 than in the Cape species, but scarcely so, absolutely, with 

 the presence oi"a declining style. As to the structure of 

 the flowers, they are both merely furnished with a peta- 

 loid calyx, divided down to its base; the Cape species, at 

 least 07ie examined by Jussieu, had a hirsute capsule, 

 crowned by the persistent calyx, of 3-cells, 3-valves, 3- 

 seeds, the valves naked in the inside, or without a recep- 

 ticular placenta, with a central 3-sided receptacle, the 

 seeds flat, and peltate. In the Heritiera, there are asjraany 

 as 6 or 7 seeds in each cell, and of a somewhat dliFerent 

 form, being round and compressed. It appears, however, 

 probable from the globose form of the capsule in JDilatris, 

 that there must be a roundish seed, or seeds, as there is no 

 succulent receptacle. The /fewY/era has also a roundish, 

 obsolett'ly triquetrous, capsule. Are there not two spe- 

 cies confounded as the I). Heritiera in the United States? 



36. SISYRINCHIUM. L, (Blue-eyed grass.) 

 Calix petaliod, tube short, border divided 

 like 6-fiat petals. Stamina, for the most part, 

 united belgw. Capsule roundish, triquetrous. 



