ALSTRffiMERIA ERREMBAULTII. ERREMBAULT’S ALSTRCEMERIA. 
Class VI. HEXANDRIA.— Order I. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order, AMARYLLIDACEdE. — THE NARCISSUS TRIBE. 
Character of the Genus Alstrcemeria. Perigonium corolla-like, superior, six-parted, and rather 
bell-shaped, regular, or somewhat two-lipped, interior leaflets the narrower, two somewhat tubulose at the 
base Stamens six, inserted at the bottom of the perigonium, filaments erect, or decimate. Anthers ovate, 
erect. Ovarium inferior, three-celled. Ovula numerous in the cells, horizontal, anatropous. Style fall- 
form, in the direction of the stamens, stigma trifid, lobes replicate. Capsule oblong, or globose, three to 
six ribbed, three-celled, three-valved, rarely an indehiscent berry. Seeds many, in the cells rather globose, 
horizontal, testa-membranaceous, rugose. , , , . , . 
Description of the Hybrid Alstrcemeria Errembaultii. Stem round, about eighteen 
inches high, smooth. Involucral leaves about four, smooth, linear, lanceolate, acute, about two inches long, 
and a quarter of an inch broad. Peduncles about the length of the involucral leaves, round and smooth. 
Bracts smooth, linear, varying from an inch long, and three lines broad, to half an inch long, and a line and 
a half broad. Flowers about twelve, arranged in form of an umbel, about three inches in length, and two 
inches and a half in diameter, each peduncle bearing two, or rarely three, flowers. Leaflets of the perigone 
six, ovate, or obovate, more or less apiculate, smooth, the interior white, more or less painted of a delicate 
rose pink colour, and beautifully spotted with purple, or short purple streaks, the apicula is more or less of 
a delicate green colour; The ekterior surface of the leaflet is of a deeper pink colour, and is not so much 
spotted or streaked as the interior surface, and has a large deep green blotch near the apex. Filaments 
six, decimate, shorter than the style, of a dark pink colour. Anthers yellow, oblong, innate, about one 
sixth the length of the stamens, two-celled, cells opposite, contiguous. Style about one sixth longer than 
filaments, smooth, and of the same colour as the stamens, and having the apex divided into three parts, 
each of which is reflexed; stigma minute. Germen ovate, or globular, smooth, with six deep furrows. 
Popular and Geographical Notice. The Genus Alstrcemeria is composed of herbaceous plants 
with tuberous roots. They are exclusively inhabitants of South America, and that part of North America 
situate within the tropics. The whole of the species of this genus are peculiarly handsome, and well worthy 
of cultivation by those who delight in a collection of beautiful and sliewy plants. Alstroemena Salsilla is a 
plant of great beauty, and native of Peru. Its roots are cultivated m the West Indies in like manner as the 
potatoe with us, and are eaten by the inhabitants. . _ , ... . 
Introduction Where grown; Culture. The plant now figured, Alstrcemeria Errembaultii, is 
a hybrid, probably from peregrina or psittacina, and was first raised in the Belgium Garden. 1 his is not a 
tribe of plants very difficult of culture. Many of the species require no protection, and may be planted out 
of doors, against a south wall, or in the front of a greenhouse, provided that the soil is both light and dry ; 
in such a situation the following species have stood the severest of our winters, in the Birmingham Bo- 
tanical Gardens, without having so much as a leaf injured. Alstrcemeria acutifolia, pulchella, versicolor 
Hookerii, tricolor, and psittacina. The only protection there employed was to keep the soil well loosened 
on the surface. All the species may be propagated by division, but the best plants are raised from seeds. 
Derivation of the Name. Alstroemeria, after Baron Alstrcemer, a Swedish botanist. Errem- 
baultii, probably after the name of the person who raised it. . 
We have “hopes and fears” for the year at all seasons, as we nave for ourselves in infancy and 
throughout life.” After the joyousness of summer comes the season of foreboding, for “ the year has 
reached its grand climacteric, and is fast falling 'into the sere, the yellow leaf.’ Every day a flower drops 
from out the wreath that binds its brow — not to be renewed. Every hour the sun looks more and more 
askance upon it, and the winds, those summer flatterers, come to it less fawningly. Every breath shakes 
down showers of its leafy attire, leaving it gradually barer and barer, for the blasts of winter to blow through 
it. Every morning and evening takes away from it a portion of that light which gives beauty to its life, 
and chills it more and more into that torpor which at length constitutes its temporary death. And yet 
October is beautiful still, no less ‘ for what it gives than what it takes away ■’ and even for what it gives 
during the very act of taking away. — The whole year cannot produce a sight fraught with more rich and 
harmonious beauty than that which the woods and groves present during this month, notwithstanding, or 
rather in consequence of, the daily decay of their summer attire ; and at no other season can any given spot 
of landscape be seen to much advantage as a mere picture.— An extensive plantation of forest trees presents 
