Volume 8 — PLATE DXXIV.

LACHNÆA BUXIFOLIA.

Box-leaved Lachnæa.

CLASS VIII. ORDER I.

OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Eight Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx nullus. Corolla quadrifida; limbo inæquali. Semen unum, sub-baccatum.

Cup none. Blossom four-cleft; border unequal. One seed, nearly berried.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Lachnæa foliis ovatis, glabris, glaucis: floribus in capitulis globosis: corollis albis, odoratis. Caulis teres, longissimus.

Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei.

Lachnæa with ovate, smooth, glaucous leaves. Flowers in globular heads. Blossoms white, and sweet-scented. Stem round, and very long.

Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This fragrant species of Lachnæa is the L. buxifolia of Lamarck, and the Gnidia filamentosa of Linnæus; but certainly not a Gnidia, as it wants the four small inner petals, the distinguishing feature and most essential distinction between those two genera.

Our figure delineates a plant in the conservatory of G. Hibbert, esq. that was upwards of five feet high; and interspersed amongst some fine bushy shrubs, its compact flowers and delicate glaucous foliage gave it a picturesque appearance.