Volume 4 — PLATE CCXXXII. IXIA CAPITATA. Var. Stellata. Bunch-flowering Ixia. Var. Star-flowered.

CLASS III. ORDER I.

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

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

Blossom 6 divisions, spreading, equal. Summits three, between upright and spreading.

See Ixia reflexa, Plate XIV. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Ixia foliolis ensiformibus, erectis, scapo brevioribus; floribus capitatis, confertis, pallide carneis; petalis basi stellatis.

Ixia with sword-shaped leaves, upright shorter than the stem; flowers grow in heads, crowded, of a pale flesh-colour; petals starred at the base.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The two valves of the sheath.

2. A flower cut open, the Chives remaining.

3. The Pointal.

As we cannot think this plant possesses sufficient distinctive character, to entitle it to a particular specific title, we have placed it as above; although we must confess that the root, in this plant, is very dissimilar from most of the bunch-flowering species. It is a very hardy bulb, and in no ways liable to rot, increasing very abundantly, and flowering, without any assistance from heat, about the end of May. Our figure was taken at the Hammersmith nursery in 1799; to which it had been introduced, about four years previous.