C U N 
fir etched cut a corfiderable length beyond the ala or wings , 
■and is rounded at the top : it hath three long fiender fta- 
mina , which are fituated in the upper lip , terminated by 
oblong fiat fummits , which are fafiened in their middle 
and lie profir ate. It hath a fiender fiyle , which isjhorter 
than the fiamina , crowned by three cylindrical fligmas 
which join the fummits , and are included in the upper lip. 
I he germen , which is fituated below the flower , becomes 
an oblong capfule with three cells , filled with comprejfied 
feeds. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the firft fedion of 
Linnaeus’s third clafs, intitled Triandria Monogynia, 
the flowers having three ftamina and one fiyle, but 
he has joined it to the Antholyza, making it only a 
fpecies of that genus ; whereas by the form and 
char afters of the flower, it fhouid be feparated from 
that, there being full as great difference between the 
flowers of this and thofe of the Antholyza, as is be- 
tween thofe and the Gladiolus ; for the flowers of 
Cunonia have no carina or under lip, but thofe of 
the Antholyza have, in which one of the ftamina is 
included; which is feparated from the other two, 
which are fituated in the upper lip ; but in this all 
three are of equal length, and fituated in the hollow 
of the upper lip. The two wings of this are fhort, 
whereas thofe of Antholyza are long, fo that I think 
they fnould be feparated. 
We have but one Species of this genus at prefent 
in the Englifh gardens, which is 
Cunonia ( Antholyza ) floribus feffilibus, fpathis maximis. 
Buttn. Cun. 211. tab. 1. Cunonia with flowers fitting 
clofe to the ftalk , and very large fpatha or fheaths. Dr. 
Linn^us titles it Antholyza ftaminibus omnibus ad- 
fcendentibus. Sp. Plant. 37. Antholyza with all the 
ftamina afcending. 
There is a plant of this kind figured in Cornutus’s 
book of Canada plants, under the title of Gladiolus 
iEthiopicus, flore Coccineo, p. 78. but by his figure 
and defcription, it appears to be a different fpecies 
from this, his flowers having much fmaller fpathte or 
fheaths, nor does the flalks of his rife near fo high 
as this ; there are alfo fome other differences between 
therm 
The feeds of this plant I received from the Cape of 
Good Hope, where it grows naturally, which fuc- 
ceeded fo well in the Chelfea garden, as to produce 
a great number of plants, which flowered well the 
third ieafon after they appeared, and have continued 
to produce flowers, and perfed their feeds every year 
fince. 
This hath a comprefled bulbous root, fomewhat like 
that of Com Flag, covered with a brown fkin ; from 
this arife feverai narrow fword-fhaped leaves, about 
nine inches long, and a quarter of an inch broad in 
the middle, terminating in acute points ; thefe have 
one longitudinal midrib which is prominent, and 
two longitudinal veins running parallel on each fide ; 
they are of a fea-green colour, and appear in autumn, 
growing in length all the winter ; in fpring the ftalk 
arifes from between the leaves, which is round, 
flrong, and jointed; at each joint is fituated a fingle 
leaf, which almoft embraces the ftalk for near three 
inches from the bafe, then by the curvature of the 
ftalk it is feparated, ftanding ered : the flalks rife 
near a foot and a half high, which is generally curved 
two oppofite ways ; the upper part of the ftalk is 
terminated by a loofe fpike of flowers, coming out of 
large fpaths or fheaths, compofed of two oblong con- 
cave leaves, terminating in acute points : thefe are 
at their firft appearance placed imbricatim over each 
other, but as the ftalk increafes in length, fo thefe 
are feparated ; from between thefe two leaves comes 
out the flower, each having a fiender Saffron-co- 
loured tube near half an inch long, which is then 
enlarged where the petal is divided, and the upper 
fegment is extended two inches in length, being 
arched over the fiamina and fiyle. This is narrow 
as far as to the extent of the wings, but above them 
is enlarged and fpread open half an inch in length, 
and is concave, covering the fummits and fiigmas 
JTA > - 
cu# 
which are extended to that length ; the two wings are 
alfo narrow at their bafe, but are enlarged upward isi 
the fame manner, ending in concave obtufe p'oints, 
which are comprefted together, and cover the fia- 
mina and fiyle. This flower is of a beautiful foft 
fcarlet colour, fo makes a fine appearance, about the 
latter end of April or beginning of May, which is 
the feafon of its flowering. After the flowers decay, 
the germen becomes an oval fmdoth capfule, opening 
in three cells, which are filled with flat bordered 
feeds. 
This plant is too tender to thrive in the open air in 
England, fo the roots muft be planted in pots filled 
with light earth, and may remain in the open air till 
October, when they muti be removed into flicker, 
either into an airy glafs-cafe, or placed under a 
hot- bed frame, where the leaves will keep growing 
all winter, and in the fpring the flalks arife and 
flower. During the winter feaion, the plants will re- 
quire a little water when the weather is mild, once a 
week, but it muft not be given in great quantities, 
efpecElly in cold weather ; in the fpring they fhouid 
be watered oftener ; and when the flowers are paft, 
the pots fhouid be removed into the open air to per- 
fect their feeds, which will ripen the latter end of 
June, foon after which the ftalks will decay t© the 
root, which will remain inactive till September. 
When the ftalks are decayed, the roots may be taken 
out of the ground, and kept in a dry room till the 
end of Augufl, when they fhouid be planted again. 
This plant is eafily propagated by offsets, which it 
fends out in great plenty, or by fowing of the feeds, 
which fhouid be fown in pots about the middle of 
Augufl, and placed in a fituation where they may 
enjoy the morning fun, and in dry weather fhouid be 
gently watered ; in September the pots may be re- 
moved to a warmer fituation, and in Qdober they 
muft be placed under a frame, where they may be 
proteded from froft and hard rains, but in mild 
weather enjoy the free air. The plants will appear 
in Odober, and continue growing all the winter, and 
in June their leaves will decay; then they may be 
taken up, and four or five roots may be planted 
in each pot, till they have grown another year, 
when they may be each put into a feparate pot. 
Thefe feedling plants muft be flieltered in the fame 
manner as the old roots in winter, and the third year 
they will flower. 
CUPRESSUS. Lin. Gen. Plant. 958. Tourn. Inftr. 
R. H. 587. tab. 358. Cyprefs [takes its name either 
of >iu«, to bring forth, and 7 rccpi<T(&>, becaufe it pro- 
duces equal branches on both fides ; or of Cypariffus, 
a certain infant whom the poets feign to have been 
transformed into a Cyprefs-tree.] The Cyprefs-tree. 
The Characters are. 
It hath male and female flowers growing at difiances on 
the fame plant ; the male flowers are formed into oval 
katkins , in which the flowers are placed thinly , among 
feverai roundifh fcales , each having a fingle flower. Thefe 
have no petals nor ftamina , but have four fummits which 
adhere to the bottom of the fcales. The female flowers 
are formed in a roundifh cone , each containing eight or 
ten flowers ; the fcales of the cones are oppofite , each 
having a fingle flower , thefe have no petals ; the germen 
is fcarce vifible , but under each fcale there are many punc- 
tures or fpots , and a concave truncated apex inftead of a 
fiyle ; this afterward becomes a globular cone , opening in 
angular target-fhaped fcales , under which are Jituated 
angular feeds. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the ninth fedion 
of Linnseus’s twenty-firft clafs, intitled Monoecia 
Monadelphia; the plants of this fedion have male and 
female flowers on the fame plant, and the male flow- 
ers are joined in one bdoy. 
The Species are, 
1. Cupressus (Sempervirens) folds imbricatis, famiserec- 
tioribus. Cyprefs with imbricated leaves , and upright 
branches. Cupreffus meta in faftigiurn convoluta qua 
femina. Plinii. Dod. Pempt. 8 56. Female or common 
upright Cvprefs. 
4 o. 
2. Cu- 
