Cattleiana. | Tab. 24. 
PUSCHKINIA SCILLOIDES. 
Saal 
/ 
Nar. Orv. Asphodelee, Juss., Br. Linn. Syst. Hexandria Monogynia. 
PUSCHKINIA, Marschall von Bieberstein. Perianthium campanulatum, sexfidum. Stamina sex, in cono faucem 
coronante connata, Filamenta bidentata, in sinubus dentium antheras gerentia. Herba (Siburie) omnino Scille 
cujusdam minoris facie. 
——$—$—$ re 
Puscuxinta Scilloides. Adam in Nov. Act. Petr. fide Marsch. von Bieb. Taur. Cauc. 1. 277 et 3. 266. Cent. 2 170K, 
fide ejusdem. Sims Bot. Mag. 2244. | 
Adamsia Scilloides. Willd. Enum. Suppl. 16. 
Descr. Herbula facie et bulbo Scilla ameene. Folia radicalia, elaberrima, striata, scapo breviora : 2 primordialia lata, ob- 
longa, concava ; seriora angusta, teretia, fistulosa. Scapus 3-4-uncialis, foliis duplo longior, teres, glaber. Racemus \axus, mul- 
tiflorus. Flores longé pedicellati, subcernul, pedicellis subequilongis, ad basin practeolatis. Perianthium persistens, sexfidum, 
super basin ceruleam constrictum, exinde campanulatum laciniis equalibus, elaberrimis, oblongis, obtusis, albis, linea per axin 
- ewrulea. Stamina 6, in cono faucem perianthii coronante, connata, laciniis duplé breviora, iisque opposita. Filamenta apice bi- 
dentata, in sinubus dentium antheras gerentia, alba, subdiaphana. Anthere sessiles, oblong, lutee. Diéscxs nullus. Ovarium 
oblongum, totam cavitatem coni replens, 3-loculare : loculis distiché octospermis. Stylus brevis, uncinatus, ultra stamina pro- 
trusus, Stigma simplicissimum. 
REEL LE 
Bulbs of this curious little plant were received last spring by Mr. Cattley from Dr. Fischer of Gorenki: from one 
of which, that soon afterwards produced its flowers, our figure was taken. We are informed by Bieberstein, that it 
grows spontaneously in Iberia, especially in the eastern districts, where it blossoms in spring with the Squills. 
A figure and very accurate account have very lately been published by our friend Dr. Sims in the Botanical Maga- 
gine; but the specimen from which his figure was taken, appears to have been an unusually weak one; and on 
farther consideration, we find our drawing differs from it in so many respects, that we offer no apology for publish- 
ing it again. | 
Asa genus, it differs from Ornithogalum and Scilla in ‘having a perianthium only partly divided, instead of one 
separated into six divisions ; and sn the union of the filaments into a hollow cone, which arises from the summit of 
the short cup of the perianthium. But in the coherence of the stamens it is not so distinct from Ornithogalum as it 
at first sight appears to be ; for certain species of that genus have filaments protruding on each side beyond the an- 
thers, and conniving into a similar cone. In these, however, there is no actual union of their edges, so that the cha- 
racters of Puschkinia would still be good, even if the perianthium were absolutely the same as in Ornithogalum. 
There is a.curious and very unusual circumstance attending the vegetation of this plant, which we ought not to 
omit to mention. The two first leaves which appear are broad, flat, and concave, as in Scella sibiriea ; but those 
which come up afterwards are cylindrical, of the thickness of a crow-quill, and solid like the leaves of arush. They 
proceed from the side of the broad leaves, and possibly may belong to newly formed bulbs; but this we had no op- 
portunity of ascertaining. 7 3 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 
1. An entire flower. 2. A flower without its segments, showing the cone formed by the union of the stamens, 3. The flower 
cut open. 4. Ovarium. 5 and 6, Sections of the ovarium. 
