PLATE LIV. 



ALETRIS SARMENTOSA. 



Creeping-rooted Bafiard Aloe. 



CLASS VI. ORDER I. 



HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal. 



GENERIC 

 Calyx, nullus. 



Corolla, monopetala, oblonga; limbi laciniis 

 lanceolatis, acuminatis, erecUs; perfiftens. 



Stamina. Filamenta fex, fubulata, longitudine 

 corollae, inferta bafi laciniarum corollas. 

 Anthera; oblonga?, eredtae. 



Pistillum. Germen ovatum. Stylus fubula- 

 tus, longitudine ftaminium. Stigma tri- 

 fidum. 



Pericarpium. Capfula ovata, triquetra, acu- 

 minata, trilocularis. 



Semina plurima. 



SPECIFIC 

 Aletris, acaulis; foliis enfiformibus, laxis; flori- 

 bus fpicatis, fuave rubentibus; radicibus 

 farmen tolis. 



CHARACTER. 



Empalement, none. 



Blossom, one leaf, oblong; the fegments of the 

 border are lance-fhaped, tapering, and up. 

 right ; remaining. 



Chives. Threads fix, awl-fhaped, the length 

 of the blolfom, and inferted into the divi- 

 fions of it, at the bafe. Tips oblong, up- 

 right. 



Pointal. Seed-bud egg-lhaped. Shaft awl- 

 fhaped, the length of the chives. Summit 

 three-cleft. 



Seed-vessel. Capfule egg-ihaped, three-fided, 

 tapered, and of three cells. 



Seeds many. 



CHARACTER. 



Ballard Aloe, without a item; having fword- 

 fliaped, weak leaves; flowers grow in fpikes 

 of a foft red colour; roots producing fuckers 

 from the joints. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1 . A Flower. 



2. The Chives, and Pointal. 



3. The Pointal. 



This fpecies of Aletris was introduced to us, from the Cape of Good Hope, about the year 17^9; it 

 is a hardy plant, requiring the fame management as Aletris Capenfis, that is, to be kept in a dry part 

 of the greenhoufe; although the plant fhould be frequently watered when in bloom, as fliould moftly 

 all plants, notwithstanding (as in the prefent infiance is the cafe) their flowering in the winter 

 months. This caution we have thought necelTary, as it is a general rule with gardeners during that 

 feafon, to put as little moifture as poflible to their plants, whether in flower or noc, to avoid damps. 

 The little difficulty in propagating this handfome fpecies of Aletris, will render it foon common; the 

 roots grow nearly horizontally, and from their joints numberlefs young plants are produced; which 

 character we were defirous of exprelling in the figure, as from thence we have taken our trivial name; 

 but from the fize of the work, it was found impracticable. The drawing was made in December 

 1798, from a plant then in flower, at the Hammerfmith nurfery: we are neverthelcfs informed, that 

 from being planted in a light, rich foil, it may be made to grow to the height of three feet; with a 

 fpike of flowers, one fourth the length of the flower-Item. 



