NAT. ORDE R 



Liliacecp, 



ALSTRCEMERIA PELEGRINA. SPOTTED ALSTRCEMERIA. 



■ Class VI. Hexandria. Order I. Monogynia. 

 Gen. Char. Corolla, six petalled, superior, irregular. Stamens, 



declinate. 

 Spe. Cliar. Stem, erect. Corolla, campanulate. Leaves, linear- 

 lanceolate. 



This most beautiful exotic plant was presented to us by a 

 physician of this city, for the purpose of ascertaining its medical 

 properties ; and in compliance with his wishes, and a desire to in- 

 vestigate, promulgate, and extend the science of botany, we have 

 thought best to give it a place in the " American Flora," that its 

 beauty and elegance may be more generally known. This drawing 

 was made from a fine specimen now in our collection ; and the 

 only one of the kind which is publicly known to have been 

 brought to this country. 



One of the most celebrated ancient botanists figures and de- 

 scribes three species of Alstraemeria, viz., Pelegrina, Lio-tu and 

 Salsilla, common names by which they are severally distincruished 

 in Peru, its native country. The present species, which is highly 

 valued by the natives on account of its beauty, he informs us is 

 found growing wild on a mountain about one mile north of the city 

 of Lima. From Peru, and as might be expected, this plant found 

 its way into Spain, from whence, by the means of his most inti- 

 mate friend Alstroemer, Linnaeus first received its seeds ; the 

 value he set upon this acquisition was great, as will evidently ap- 



Vol. ii.— 63 



