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THE tADIES" FLOWER-GARDEN OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 
• T. SUBASPERA, Ker. ; Bot. Mag., t. 1597. 
A very handsome species, from its smooth dark green leaves and rich purple flowers. The stamens are very- 
conspicuous, from their golden-yellow anthers. The stigma is white, and the pedicles to the flowers are of a 
bright pink. It is a native of North America, whence it was introduced in 1812. 
GENUS II. 
COMMELINA, Lin. THE COMMELINA. 
Lin. Sysl. TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
deciduouB. Filaments five or six, but only tliree fertile. Involucre 
monophyllous, folded, or hooded, persistent, including the capsule. 
Genehic Characthr. — Perianth six-parted, unequal ; the three 
outer leaflets having the appearance of the calyx, and persistent ; the 
three inner ones having the appearance of petals, unguiculate, and 
Desckiption, &c. — The genus Commelina was named by Linnaeus in honour of Gaspar and John 
Commeline, two Dutch botanists. There are about thirty species, but only one is common in British gardens. 
THE SKY-BLUE COMMELINA. 
nate, conduplicate ; racemes many-flowered ; peduncles putrescent ; 
pedicles glabrous ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, sessile, glabrous, undu- 
lated at the margin ; sheaths fringed ; stem erect. 
1.— COMMELINA CCELESTIS, Willd. 
Synonvmb. — C. luberosa, Sims. 
Engravings But. Mag., t. 1695 ; Sweet's Brit. Flow. Gard., t. 
3; and our Jii/. 2, in PI. SO. 
Specific Character. — Corolla regular ; involucre cordate, acumi- 
Description, &c. — The root consists of a fascicle of long subcylindrical tubers. There are numerous stems, 
and the flowers are of the most beautiful sky-blue that can be imagined ; but their beauty is of very short 
duration, as they fall off soon after they expand. Tlie flowers are produced in autumn, and as soon as thoy 
have faded, and the leaves have begun to wither, the tubers must be taken up, and kept in a little dry sand, out 
of the reach of the frost, till the following spring. In April, or the beginning of May, they must be 
replanted in the open border, in a light sandy soil. The Species is a native of Mexico, and was introduced 
in 1813. 
