PLATE XLI. 



LACHENALIA PENDULA. 



Droophig-flowered Lachcnalia. 



CLASS VI. ORDER L 

 JIEXANDRIA MONOGYNIJ. Six Chives. One Pointal. 



GENERIC 



Calyx, Dullus. 



Corolla monopetnla, cylindracea, fexpartita; 



tubus gibbus; laciniis tribus exterioribus 



brevioribus. 

 Stamina. Filamenta fex, fubulata, longitudine 



corolla?, inferta ball laciniaium corolla;. 



Antheras oblonga?, incumbentes. 



Pistillum. Gormen trigonum, trifulcum. Sty- 

 lus (implex, corolla paulo longior. Stigma 

 obtufum. 



Pericartium. Capfula triquetra, trilocularis, 

 trivalvis. 



Semina plurima, globofa. 



STECIFIC 

 Lachenalia foliis longillimis, ovato-oblongis, im- 

 maculatis; corollis fpeciocillimis, maximis, 

 tricoloratis, pedunculatis, cernuis. 



CHARACTER. 



Emfalement. none. 



Blossom one leaf, cylindrical, divided into fix; 

 tube gouty; the three outer divifions the 

 fliorteft. 



Cnivr.s. Threads fix, awl-fhaped, the length of 

 the blolfom, fixed into the bafe of the divi- 

 fions of the blollbm. Tips oblong, layinf 

 on the threads. 



Pointal. Seed-bud three-fided, three-furrowed. 

 Shaft fimple, a little longer than the blof- 

 fom. Summit blunt. 



Seed-vessel. Capfule three-fided, three cells, 

 three valves. 



Seeds many, globular. 



CHARACTER. 



Lachenalia with very long egg-fhaped oblong 

 leaves, without fpots; blollbms very fhewy, 

 large, three-coloured, having foot-italks, 

 and nodding. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 

 1. A Flower fpread open, to fhew the infertion of the Chives. 



2. The fame, exhibiting the character of the outer Petals. 



3. The Pointal, natural fize. 



The genus Lachenalia is certainly an infringement on Hyacinthus; ihe fmall diftindtion on which this 

 new genus is founded can, at molt, be confidered but of fufficient confequence to form a fpecific cha- 

 racter, fo thought Linnaeus: the fon of Profellbr Jacquin has thought otherwife, having called it after 

 a botanift of the name of De la Chenal; and under which it is now generally known; therefore we 

 have not replaced it under its old title, though we have authority of fuch weight to corroborate our 

 opinion. The Lachenalias are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, yet are of fo hardy a nature as to 

 require no farther protection than fhelter from the fevere frofts. Our fpecies is the handfomeft yet 

 known, flowering about September; was, according to the Kew catalogue, introduced there by Mr. 

 F. Maffon in the year 17/4. It was from a plant in the exteniive collection of G. Hibbert, Efq. Clap- 

 ham Common (to whole kind communications the author acknowledges himfelf much indebted), that 

 this figure was taken, the latter end of September this year. No plant is more eafy or certain to in- 

 creale than this; the young offsets are produced in fuch abundance from the old bulb, which delights 

 in a light foil ; but its flowering is not fo certain. 



