17:^3 



* SYRINGA Josikft'a. 



Lady Josikas Lilac. 



DIANDRIA MO^OGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Oleace^. (Introduction to the Natural System of Bo- 

 tan}/, p. 224.) 



SYRINGA. L. Calyx breve 5-clentatus. Corolla subhypocrateriformis 

 limbi partitionibus 4, concavis. Stigma bilidum. Capsula ovato-compressa, 

 acuminata, bilocularis, loculicido-bivalvis, dlssepimento medio longitudinaliter 

 secedente, utrinque in valvula persistente (folliculorum coadunatorum fabrica repe- 

 tita) ; semina oblonga, deplana, circumalata. Reichenb. Fl. excurs. p. 432. 



S. Josikcea ; foliis ovalibus acuminatis subtus pallidis, floribus subinodoris. 



S. Josikaea; Jacq. in Botan. Zeitung. 1831. t. 67. 399. Reichenb. pi. crit. 



viii. 32. No. 1049. t. 780. Fl. Germ, excurs. p. 432. Bot. Mag. 



t. 3278. 



The addition to our gardens of a new species of Lilac, is 

 an event of no little importance to all lovers of fine flowers 

 and sweet odours. Vv^e are therefore happy to lay before 

 our readers a figure of a plant which will probably be the 

 most beautiful of the genus, on account of the deep colour 

 of its blossoms. It is not indeed so fragrant as the Persian 

 species, but this will be considered an advantage by those 

 who find the delicious fragance of the common Lilac too 

 oppressive to be borne except in the open air. 



S. Josikcea flowers in the month of May, and resembles 

 the old species very. much in its general appearance ; but its 

 leaves are a remarkably dark green, nearly white beneath, 

 and its flowers a peculiar deep stone-blue ; so that it has 

 been compared to a dark-flowered lilac placed on the stem 

 of a Tacamahac poplar. 



* A poetical name. Syrinx was an Arcadian nymph, who was changed into 

 a reed, from wliich the first flute was made. This genus is easily applied to the 

 same purposes ; and the Turks fabricate from its vigorous shoots tlicir finest pipe 

 sticks. 



