21 



, HIPPEASTRUM AULICUM. 



(Princely Horse-star.} 

 .LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER, 



HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. AMARYLLIDACEJE., 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Hippeastrum (Herb.) Perianthium pedunculatum, declinatum, tubo infra oblique abbre- 

 viate ; sepalo summo latiore, petalo imo angustiore ; membrana faucialis ubi manifesta, non 

 annularis (infra scil. imperfecta) ; filamenta resurgenter declinata tubo gradatim inserta, e 

 petalinis imo breviore profundius, e sepalinis summo longiore altius inserto ; antherce a tertia 

 parte superiore pendulae ; stylus resurgenter declinatus. Stigma trifidum, aut trigonum. — 

 (Herbert Amaryllidacece, p. 71.) 



Perianth pedunculate, declined, with the tube obliquely abbreviated underneath ; the upper 

 sepal wider, the lower petal narrower ; faucial membrane when manifested, defective on the 

 lower side (not annular) ; filaments declined, recurved, inserted in the tube with gradations ; 

 the lower petaline shorter and inserted lower, the upper sepaline longer and inserted higher ; 

 anthers pendulous from their upper third portion ; style declined, recurved. Stigma trifid, or 

 triangular. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



H. Aulicum ; bi vel triflorum ringens ; foliis nitidis ; corollis nutantibus, tubi corona firma, 

 colorata, obsolete denticulata ; laciniis ovato-lanceolatis, acutis ; exterioribus angustioribus, inia 

 infeme involuta. Staminibus inclusis. 



Two or three-flowered ; leaves shining ; flowers drooping ; crown of the tube firm, coloured, 

 and obscurely toothed ; divisions broadly lanceolate, acute ; the exterior ones narrower, the 

 lower one underneath curved inwards embracing the filaments. Stamens not projecting beyond 

 the petals. 



Hippeastrum Aulicum. — Herbert, Amaryllidacece, p. 153. 

 Amaryllis Aulica. — Ker., Bot. Reg. t. 444. 

 Journal of Science and the Arts, vol. ii. p. 353. 



This is one of the most splendid species of the whole natural order Amaryl- 

 lidacece, and richly merits its specific name Aulicum, which signifies courtly or 

 princely. Indeed its brilliance is dazzling ; and if compared with other plants of 

 a similar colour, will appear to greater advantage. 



The plate in the Botanical Register of Mr. Ker before quoted is very indif- 



