Volume 2 — PLATE LXXXVII. IXIA ARISTATA. Var. atropurpurea. Ragged-sheathed Ixia. Var. dark purple.

CLASS III. ORDER I.

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Corolla 6-partita, patens, æqualis. Stigmata tria, erectiusculo-patula.

Blossom six divisions, spreading, and equal. Summits three, nearly upright and spreading.

See Pl. XIV. Vol. I. Ixia reflexa.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Ixia foliis falcatis, glabris, amplexicaulibus; scapo sub-biflora; spathis laceris.

Ixia with scimitar-shaped leaves, smooth and embracing the stem; flower-stem mostly with two flowers; sheaths appearing torn.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The sheath. 2. A Flower cut open. 3. The Pointal, complete.

This truly specious Ixia, has at different periods long since, been seen in our exotic collections; but the delicacy of its root, and of consequence, the difficulty of preserving it, when out of flower, was, no doubt, the occasion of its having been as often lost to us for a time. To the Dutch we are indebted for the last introduction of it to this country, about four years since, amongst many others; from their immense collections of Cape bulbs at Haarlem. Although the root is particularly susceptible of wet, yet, by timely taking up the bulb, even before the upper part of the plant is decayed; and keeping it entirely free from moisture, till it is again planted in October, there will be little danger of its perishing. Our figure was taken in the month of June 1799, at Clapham, from a plant in the Collection of G. Hibbert, Esq. Light sandy peat, with a small portion of rotten old cow-dung, will give it the most vigorous growth.

PLATE 87