Volume 7 — PLATE CCCCL.

ALBUCA FASTIGIATA.

Level-topped Albuca.

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx nullus.

Corolla hexapetala; tribus interioribus conniventibus, exterioribus patulis.

Stamina. Filamenta sex, apice inflexa, basi dilatata. Antheræ oblongæ, in medio affixæ. Stylus triqueter. Stigma triquetrum.

Pericarpium. Capsula oblonga, angulata, 3-locularis, 3-valvis.

Semina numerosa, plana.

Obs. In quibusdam speciebus tria stamina sterilia sunt.

Empalement none.

Blossom. Six petals; the three inner ones conniving together, the outer ones spreading.

Chives. Six threads turned inwards at the points, and widened at the base. Tips oblong, and fastened in the centre. Shaft three-sided. Summit three-cornered.

Seed-vessel. Capsule oblong, angular, 3-celled, 3-valved.

Seeds many, flat.

Obs. In some species three of the stamens are sterile.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Albuca foliis lanceolato-ensiformibus: floribus erectis, paniculatis, fastigiatis, pedunculis longissimis: corollis albis, in medio lineâ viridi: petalis interioribus apice fornicatis, stamina includentibus, quæ sunt omnia fertilia.

Albuca with leaves between lance-and sword-shaped: flowers upright, and grow paniculated and level: footstalks very long: blossoms white, with a stripe of green in the centre; the inner petals forming an arch at the end, and enclosing the stamens, which are all fertile.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This genus approaches so near to Ornithogalum, that they may easily be mistaken for each other; the only visible distinction resting in the unexpanding character of the three inner petals, or calyx; for opinions vary with respect to their denomination—Jussieu, an able botanist (through all the divisions of this family), regarding that as the empalement which we, following Linnæus, describe as petals. In the Species Plantarum of Willdenow we find our plant enumerated under the specific title of fastigiata, with a technical description annexed to it. From a plant in the garden of G. Hibbert, esq. about three years ago, we made a drawing of this Albuca, but are inclined to think it rather scarce, not having seen it since that period.