PLATE DCXLIX. 



ALSTROMERIA EDULIS. 



Eatable Alstrojneria, 



C L A S S VI. O R D E R I. 

 HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Corolla 6-petala, sub-bilabiata : petalis 2 in- 

 ferioribus basi-tubulosis. Stamina decli- 

 nata. 



Blossom 6-petalledj nearly bilabiate : two of the 

 lower petals are tubular at the base. Stamens 

 standing sideways. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



ALSTROMERiAfoliis altemiSj ellipticis, lanceola- 

 tis, acuminatis, glabris : floribus terniinali- 

 bus, cernuis, pedunculis longis. Caulis vo- 

 lubilis. Radices tuberosse, globosse. 



Alstromeria. with alternate elliptic leaves, 

 lance-shaped, pointed, and smooth : flowers 

 terminate the branches upon long footstalks, 

 nodding. Stem twining. Roots tuberous 

 and round. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. A flower spread open. 



2. The same shown from the outer side. 



3. A half ripe seed-vessel. 



This elegant plant was introduced to this country by T. Evans, Esq., who received it in 1801 from 

 the late Dr. Anderson, of the Botanic Garden in the Island of St, V^incent, and which flowered for the 

 first time in the hot-house of the Countess de Vaiides at Bayswater last autumn (1811). 



The only figure of it extant is a good coloured one recently published in the Flore des Antilles, by 

 F. R. Tussac, a colonist of Saint Domingo; who describes it as being eagerly sought after by the Ne- 

 groes, not for the beauty of its flowers, but for the sake of the roots, which not only serve them for food, 

 but for an article of commerce, which they take v\ith them when they travel to the Cape of Good Hope, 

 and sell under the title of white Jerusalem artichokes. 



This species very much resembles the A. Salsilla. The principal and almost only distinction is, that 

 the roots of the Salsilla are long and ligneous, while those of the edulis are round and succulent, about 

 the size of young potatoes, and when boiled are said to be a light and delicate food, A farinaceous or 

 mealy substance is also made of them, from which cream is made, wholesome and very agreeable to 

 the taste. — All the species which compose this fine genus are to be found in the superb gardens of the 

 Incas of Peru, where it is indigenous. 



