Volume 3 — PLATE CCXI. IXIA COLUMNARIS. Var. versicolor. Columnar-leaved Ixia. Changeable-coloured var.

CLASS III. ORDER I.

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Corolla 6-petala, patens, equalis. Stigmata tria, erectiusculo-patula.

Blossom 6-petals, spreading, equal. Summits three, upright-spreading.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Ixia filamentis basi cohærentibus; floribus sub-capitatis; corollis versicoloribus.

Ixia with threads united at the base; flowers grow nearly in heads; blossoms changeable-coloured.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement.

2. A Blossom spread open.

3. The Seed-bud, with the Chives, as they stand upon the mouth of the blossom; the petals being cut off, and the summits as they appear through the tips, the whole magnified.

4. The Threads cut open, magnified.

5. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summits, magnified.

This most beautiful variety, of the Columnar-chived Ixia, was introduced to us, from Holland, in the year 1799. It flowers about the beginning of June, and continues in blossom about three weeks. The beautiful manner in which the colours of the flowers, of this variety, are blended, and which appear to change, as regarded from different points of view, is beyond the painter’s skill; the best that can be done is but a faint imitation. The roots of this plant are rather more delicate than the other varieties of this species.