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TRITONIA AUREA. 



Golden-flowered Tritonia. 

 Lmnean Class— Tbjandria. Order — Monogynia. Natural Order —Irw\ceje. 



The natural order of Irids constitutes too important a section of our ornamental 

 plants to remain long unnoticed in The English Flower Gabden ; and for our 

 first illustration of this showy tribe, we think a more interesting subject could 

 hardly be chosen than this beautiful Caffrarian bulb. 



The Tritonia aurea was introduced so recently as 1846; it is, notwithstanding, 

 becoming generally cultivated, and will soon be an accessible plant to all persons of 

 moderate means. "We regret that it is rather less hardy than most of the Gladioli 

 and some other popular Iridaceous plants ; but its cultivation is, nevertheless, 

 comparatively easy. 



It is a fortunate circumstance that, in the treatment of this and many other 

 plants, an exact imitation of their natural climate is by no means necessaiy ; for, 

 were it otherwise, the greatest solar heat ever experienced in this country would be 

 but a poor substitute for the fierce rays of an African sun. 



In its native climate — now, alas ! devastated by that great scourge, and greater 

 crime of the human race, War — the roots of the Tritonia, and a vast number of 

 other plants of a similar structure, are exposed for three months of the year to 

 incessant rains ; under whose influence the dormant bulbs start into activity, shoot 

 up their lance-like foliage and flowering stem, and expand their blossoms at the end 

 of the rainy season, before the sun's rays have acquired their greatest intensity, 

 and whilst the atmosphere retains a portion of its humidity. To this comparatively 

 brief floral reign follows a long season of rest, the foliage disappearing at an early 

 period after the ripening of the seed, and the bulb undergoing a prolonged 

 maturation beneath the parched soil of the karroos. 



It might have been imagined that the plants peculiar to such regions would have 

 been but ill fitted for cultivation in those of an entirely opposite character. A 

 humid soil and atmosphere during the growth of the plants, are conditions which 

 may be fulfilled ; but the unintermitting solar heat, sustained for months together 

 subsequently to the production of the flowers, is an element not so easily supplied 

 in this fickle climate. 



Notwithstanding these adverse influences, we doubt if Caffraria can boast of finer 

 specimens of this plant than many of those to be seen at Messrs. Backhouses, of 



