The specimen selected for representation in this place is 

 a small one, with its colours remarkably rich and well deve- 

 loped ; it is figured in the Botanical Cabinet with four 

 flowers in a cluster, and I have seen it with six. In such a 

 state, and with several stems, each laden with flowers in a 

 similar manner, there is certainly no plant of which I have 

 any knowledge that can be said to stand forth with an equal 

 radiance of splendour and beauty. For it is not merely the 

 large size of the flowers, and the deep rich crimson of one 

 petal contrasted with the delicate lilac of the others that con- 

 stitute the loveliness of this plant, it owes its beauty in 

 almost an equal degree to the transparency of its texture, 

 and the exquisite clearness of its colours, and the graceful 

 manner in which its broad flag-like petals wave and inter- 

 mingle when they are stirred by the air, or hang half droop- 

 ing half erect when at rest and motionless. 



The drawing was made in the garden of the Horticultural 

 Society in October last. 



