Volume 7 — PLATE CCCCLXXVIII.

CRINUM LATIFOLIUM.

Broad-leaved Crinum.

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Corolla supra, infundibuliformis, sex-partita, æqualis: filamenta fauci tubi inserta: semina ad basin corollarum, vivipara.

Blossom above, funnel-shaped, six-parted, equal: threads inserted into the mouth of the tube: seeds at the base of the blossoms, viviparous.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Crinum latifolium, undulatum, glabrum, lucidum: spatha multiflora: tubo corollæ laciniis longiore, quæ mucronatæ sunt: post florescentiam capsula crescit in bulbum magnum, et plantam format futuram.

Habitat in Indiæ orientalis arenosis.

Crinum with broad, waved, smooth, shining leaves: sheath many-flowered: the tube of the blossom longer than the segments, which are pointed: and after flowering, the capsule swells into a large bulb, and forms the future plant.

Native of the sandy parts of the East Indies.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

The Crinum latifolium is certainly one of the most attractive of the genus, as, in addition to the fine red colour of its flowers, it possesses an aromatic odour of agreeable fragrance. It is a bulb-bearer, as are all of this genus, although several of them have been placed erroneously amongst the genus Amaryllis, which does not bear bulbs. The genus Crinum, at present a short one, will therefore, with a good grace, admit a few additions; whilst that of Amaryllis, already very extended, will receive no injury by a slight curtailment. It is a native of the dry sandy parts of the East Indies, and was introduced by Mr. Lambert in the year 1803, but has not flowered till this summer—a period of four years. But there is little doubt of its now blooming annually, as it is not uncommon for bulbs imported from a great distance to enjoy a state of quiescence after their arrival. Our figure was made from a fine plant in luxuriant bloom in the hot-stove of J. Vere, esq.