ease te  COCXCIX.’ 
COMMELINA TUBEROSA. 
Tuberous-rooted Commelina. 
a 
CLASS III. OB DFR I. 
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal. 
ESSENTIAL. GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Cororta sex-petala. Nectaria quinque, cru- | _ Brossom, six-petalled. Nectaries five, cross- 
_ Ciata, filamentis propriis inserta. shaped, inserted on their proper filaments. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Commeina, corollis zequalibus, foliis sessili- 
bus ovato-lanceolatis, subtus villosis et 
inde ciliatis, radice tuberosa. 
Commelina tuberosa. Willd. Sp. Pl. 1. 251.— | 
Dill, Elth. t. 79. 
Commezina, with equal flowers, sessile ovate- 
spear-shaped leaves, villose beneath and 
thence ciliated, and a tuberous root. 
re 
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 
1. The empalement, chives, and pointal. 
2. Apetal. — 
3. One of the nectaries. 
4. A chive magnified. 
5. The seed-bud and pointal, ummit magnified. 
‘Tue herbaceous genus Commelina is a very singular one ; and many of its species are remarkable, not 
so much for the size, as for the structure and brilliancy of their flowers ; which, according to the words of 
the generic character, ought to have six petals : but the present species appears to have but three petals, 
the three outer being entirely of the nature of a calyx; and effectually answering the purposes of one. 
The tuberous-rooted Commelina is a native of Mexico, and in this country requires the treatment 
of a hot-house herbaceous plant. It is an old, but not common inhabitant of the British gardens ; 
thrives well in rich earth, and is propagated by dividing the tubers of its root, when in a quiescent 
state ; at which period much water is particularly inimical to it. 
The genus Commelina can only be distinguished from Tradescantia when the flowers are open ; but 
nevertheless differs very sufficiently, not only in having double the number of stamina, but more 
especially in the extraordinary cruciform nectaries. 
Our drawing was made from very complete speci icated to us by the Hon. W. H. Irby, 
a a a at sai 
