Volume 7 — PLATE CCCCLV.

POLYGALA MIXTA.

Mixt Polygala.

CLASS XVII. ORDER III.

DIADELPHIA OCTANDRIA. Two Brotherhoods. Eight Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx 5-phyllus: foliolis duobus alæformibus, coloratis: legumen obcordatum, biloculare.

Cup 5-leaved, with two of the leaves like wings, coloured: pod inverse heart-shaped, two-celled.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Polygala floribus imberbibus, axillaribus, purpureis: foliis fasciculatis, 5-6 in singulo fasciculo, linearibus, acutis, valde confertis inter flores: caule suffruticoso: ramulis filiformibus, patentibus.

Polygala with beardless flowers, growing from the axillæ of the leaves, and of a purple colour: the leaves grow in fascicles, 5 and 6 in each fascicle, linear, sharp-pointed, and very much crowded amongst the flowers: stem shrubbyish: branches thread-shaped, and spreading.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

Amongst the numerous introductions of novelty to the gardens of G. Hibbert, esq. the Hesteria section of the genus Polygala (although not splendid) are all of them particularly desirable, from their lively, long, and (of this species) we may say continual bloom; it having been seen in flower throughout the whole year. There is a variety of it with white flowers of equal durability, and so perfect a fac-simile in every other particular, that a separate figure will by no means be requisite, especially as in the winter season the purple flowers are sometimes almost bleached by the cold, and the distinction in consequence less apparent. It is well known by the cultivators under the appellation of mixta; a specific given to it from the promiscuous manner in which the flowers and leaves are profusely mixt together.