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CHORETTS GLATJCA. 



Mr. Herbert * : — " Before I had seen the flower of this plant, I entertained no 

 doubt that it would prove to be an Ismene, and when the flower appeared, I had 

 much difficulty in satisfying myself whether it should be considered generically 

 distinct from Hymenocallis or not. I have not been able to learn that such a 

 diversity of anther exists in any well-constituted genus ; and particularly the sepa- 

 ration of Habenaria from Orchis seems to be very analogous. I have since been 

 fully satisfied of the diversity of this plant by the vegetation of the seeds, which, 

 though sown in May (the plant having been forced to satisfy my impatience), 

 have produced strong dormant bulbs underground at the bottom of the pot, in 

 the manner of Ismene, which will not vegetate till next year. Hymenocallis, like 

 most other bulbs, forms leaf and bulb at the same time. - " 



Our plant differs in some respects from Mr. Herbert's description of C. glauca, 

 which may possibly have arisen from its having been forced in the stove. The 

 cells appeared to be two-seeded when young, but only one was perfected in each. 

 The seeds, when mature, were three-angled, obtusely pointed at each extremity, 

 the outer face convex, the two inner plane, compressed by the other seeds. 



The Amaryllidacem are arranged by Mr. Herbert in three divisions, viz. 

 1, Branching : 2, Caulescent : 3, Scapaceous. The latter division is thus charac- 

 terised : — Scape succulent, spathaceous, not articulate below the spathe. In this 

 division is placed the sub-order Amaryllidece, containing plants which more or 

 less resemble Amaryllis, and which is subdivided into five sections, viz. 1, Cyr- 

 tanthiformes ; 2, Hippeasiriformes ; 3, Oporanthiform.es: 4, Pancratiformes : 5, 

 Amaryllidiformes ; each of which is characterised by certain peculiarities of 

 structure. The fourth section {Pancratiformes) is distinguished by the cup or 

 crown bearing the stamens, as in the well-known genus Pancratium. Some of 

 the plants of this section are further distinguished by having their seeds black 

 and shelly, while the others have them green and fleshy. The young botanist 

 will therefore have no difficulty in referring C. glauca to the latter part of this 

 section. 



As regards the geographical distribution of the Amaryllidacece, it may be 

 observed that they are comparatively rare in the northern parts of the Tem- 

 perate Zone, where are found the genera Narcissus and Galanthus ; but as we 

 approach the south they increase in number as well as in beauty. On the shores of 

 the Mediterranean we meet with Pancratium ; in the East and West Indies are 

 found Crinums and Pancratiums ; but at the Cape of Good Hope, and especially 

 in Tropical America, they show themselves in the utmost profusion, and in the 

 highest degree of splendour j here Flora adorns the earth with some of her 

 richest hues ; here are found in all their beauty the various species of Crinum, 

 Pancratium, Cyrtanthus, Brunsvigia, Nerine, Amaryllis, Hsemanthus, and Alstro- 

 meria. 



* Amaryllidacea? ; preceded by an attempt to arrange the Monocotyledonous orders, and followed by a Treatise 

 on Cross-bred Vegetables, and Supplement. By the Hon. and Rev. William Herbert. 



