PLATE CCXXXITT. 



MELANTHIUM VIRIDE. 



Green-flowered Melanthiiim. 



CLASS VI. ORDER L ^ 

 HEXANBRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal. 



GENERIC CHAKACTEU. 



Calyx nullus. 



Corolla. Petala fex, ovato-oblonga, patentia, 



unguibus linearibus longioribus, perfiftentia. 

 Stamina. Filamenta fex, filiformia, eredla, 



longitudine coroU.-E, cui inleita lupra un- 



gues. Antlierae globofae. 

 PisTiLLA. Gernien conicum, ftriatum. Styli 



tres, diftinfli, curvi. Stigmata obtufa. 

 pERiCARPiUM. Capfula ovata, trigona, trilulca, 



trilocularis, ex capfulis tribus iiUiorfum 



unitis. 

 Semina pluriina, compreffa, femiovata. 



Empalement, none. 



Blossom. Six petals, oblong egtr-fliaped, fpread- 



ing, with linear longer claws remaining. 

 Chives. Threads fix, thread-ftiaped, upright, 



the length of the blolfom into which they 



are infcrted above the claws. Tips globular. 

 PoiNTALS. Seed-bud conical, ftreaked. Shafts 



thiee, dirtiii6t, curved. Summits blunt. 

 Seed-vessi:l. Capfule egg-fliaped, three-fided, 



three furrowed, three-celled, formed of 



three capfules united within. 

 Seeds numerous, flattened, half egg- fliaped. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Melanthium foliis ovatolanceolatis, fcapo vagi- 

 nantibus, eredlisj coroUis viridi-purpureis, 

 reflexis. 



Melanthium with leaves between lance and egg- 

 iliaped, Iheathing the liem and upright; 

 blollbms greenilh-purple, reflexed. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. A Petal with its Chive attached, magnified. 



2. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summits, magnified. 



3. The Seed-bud cut tranfversely, magnified. 



The Green flowered Melanthium was introduced to the Kew colleclion, by Mr. F. MafTon, in the 

 year 1/88, as we are informed by the catalogue of that garden, from the Cape of Good Hope. The 

 plant from which our figure was taken, had been fent to the Clapham colleflion amongft other bulbs 

 which were received from Mr. Niven in the year ISOO; it flowered the Aicceeding year, when our 

 drawing was made. We believe, at prefent, it is in no other colledion than that of Mr. Hibbett; 

 nor do we think, without a fredi fupply, it will be long feen in this country, as it has been often 

 introduced, an>l as often loft; nor does it increafe with us by the root, and the feed:» have not, as yet, 

 matured iu this country; it appears to grow luxuriantly in fandy peat earth, and flowers iu July. 



