PLATE LXXXVII. 



IXIA ARISTATA. Var. atropurpurea. 



Ragged-Jheathed Ixia. Var. dark purple. 



CLASS III. ORDER I. 

 TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointah 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Corolla 6-partita, patens, oequalis. Stigmata 

 tria, erectiufculo-patula. 



Blossom fix divisions, fpreading, and equal. 

 Summits three, nearly upright and fpread- 

 ing. 



See PI. XIV. Vol. I. Ixia reflexa. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Ixia foliis falcatis, glabris, amplexicaulibus; 

 icapo fub-biflora; ipathis laceris. 



Ixia with fcimitar-fhaped leaves, fmooth and 

 embracing the ftem ; flower-ftem moftly 

 with two flowers; fheaths appearing torn. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. The fheath. 



2. A Flower cut open. 



3. The Pointal, complete. 



This truly fpecious Ixia, has at different periods long fince, been feen in our exotic collections; but 

 the delicacy of its root, and of confequence, the difficulty of preferving it, when out of flower, was, no 

 doubt, the occafion of its having been as often loft to us for a time. To the Dutch we are in- 

 debted for the laft introduction of it to this country, about four years fince, amongft .many others; 

 from their immenfe collections of Cape bulbs at Haarlem. Although the root is particularly fufcep- 

 tible of wet, yet, by timely taking up the bulb, even before the upper part of the plant is decayed ; 

 and keeping it entirely free from moifture, till it is again planted in October, there will be little 

 danger of its perifhing. Our figure was taken in the month of June \~QQ, at Clapham, from a plant 

 in the Collection of G. Hibbert. Efq. Light Candy peat, with a fmall portion of rotten old cow- 

 dung, will give it the moft vigorous growth. 



