NAT. ORDER. 



Ensatce. 



IXIA TRICOLOR. THREE-COLORED IXIA 



Class III. Triandria. Orda- I. Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Calyx and corolla superior. Sepals short. Stamens 

 three, arising from the base of the sepals. 



Spe. Char. Filaments distinct. Anthers bursting. Style one. Stig- 

 mas five. Capsule three-celled. Seeds attached. ' 



This rare and beautiful plant is a native of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, where it grows spontaneously, in the plains and by the borders 

 of woods ; it is also found growing wild in some parts of Asia and 

 Africa, and is extensively cultivated in Spain as an ornamental llowcr. 

 The 7'oot is large and bulbous, very much resembling the crocus or 

 meadow saffron ; calyx and corolla superior, confounded, tlicir divis- 

 ions either partially cohering or entirely separate, sometimes irregular ; 

 stamens three, rising from the base of the sepals ; filaments distinct 

 or connate ; anthers bursting externally lengthwise, fixed at tlieir base, 

 two-celled; the ovarium is three-celled, cells many-seeded; style one; 

 stigmas five, often petaloid, and sometimes two-lipped ; cajjsnlc three- 

 celled and tliree-valved ; the seeds, wliich are ver}' small and nume- 

 rous, are attaclied to the inner angle of the cell, and sometimes to a 

 central column, which afterwards becomes loose. 



Genus Crocus. This is an ancient name, being derived from the 

 youth Crocus, who as the heathen poets feigned, was turned info this 

 flower. This genus has a large number of species, growing from six 

 inches to several feet in height, many of which rank among the most 



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