T A B . XLIV.
A N T I R R H I N U M QUADRIFOLIUM.
CHARACTER GENERICUS—ESSENTIALIS.
Calyx pentaphyllus: CorolLe bafis deorfum prominens, ne£tarifera.
Capfula bilocularis.
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Antirrhinum folils radicalibus finuatls, caiilinis quaternis lanceolatis Integerrinis.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx five-leaved : bafe of the Corolla projefting downwards, and forming a ne6i:arium.
Capfule bilocular.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Antirrhinum (Toadflax) with the radical leaves fmiiated, thofe on the ftem quaternate, lanceolate,
and entire.
TiiE genus Antiri-hinum contains a great number of fpecies, differing very confiderably in their
general habit and mode of growth; ibme being procumbent, weak, and trailing plants; others
of a ftrong nature, and growing perfeftly ere6l. The itrufture of the flower in this genus is
remarkable; the fore-part, when held open, not unaptly rcfcmbling the gaping mouth of a
quadruped. The neftarium or fpur is in fome fpecies long and fliarp, and in others very obtufe
and fliort; indeed fo great is the difference in this refpeil between the different plants compofing
this genus, that the celebrated Tournefort choie to divide it into two feparate genera,
from the ftrufture of this part; thofe which were furnifhed with a long and fliarp fpur forming
a genus called Linaria, while thofe with an obtufe fpur formed the genus Antirrhinum. The
beautiful fpecies here figured is a native of the Eaft Indies, and is remarkable for the elegance
of its flowers, and the regular difpofition of the leaves, which are placed at intervals on the
ftalk, in the manner of the ftellate plants: they are of a fine deep green, perfe6lly entire at the
edges, and fliarp-pointed; the radical leaves are oblong, obtufe, and fmuated at the edges:
the flowers are difpofed in a kind of loofe fpikes, and arc of a beautiful purple, the middle of
the lip and the end of the fpur being of a pale yellow.