r a m u l o s i s , a i l s u t u i a m i l e m ù n i s o l u t a m c o n l l u e n t i b u s . Dissepimenta m e m b
r a n a c e a , q u a s i s i m p l i c i a , n e c l a m i n i s i l i s t i n c t a . Semina h i n c c o n v e x a , i n d e
p l a n a , h i l o l i n e a r i a x i a d n a t a ; testa s i m p l i c i , m e m b r a n a c e a , c e l l u l o s a , a t r o -
t u s c â ; albumeti c a r t i l a g i n e o - c a r n o s u m , a q u e o - p a l l i d i i m . Embryo i n r e g i o n e
u m b i l i c a l i , o b l i q u e e r e c t u s , t e r e s , a l b u s , s u p e r n è a t t e n u a t u s , f e r e s u b u l a t u s ,
a l b u m i n e d u p l ò b r e v i o r , r a d i c u l â c r a s s i s s i m à , o b t u s a , s u b b u l b o s â . D .Dan Mss.
“ l ’or a knowledge o f this elegant species of C u m m i n g i a , we are indebted
to Miss Oriana Georgiana Reinagle, who has already won our gratitude
by the introduction of the beautiful Tropceolum tricolorum figured at
tab. 250 of the first series ot this work. The bulbs were collected in the
vicinity o f Valparaiso, in Chile, by Miss ’White, (now Mrs. Miller,) daughter
of the British Vice Consul at that place, and by her forwarded, together
with several other curious plants, and among them apparently a third species
of Cummingia, to Miss Reinagle, who presented them to Mr. Anderson,
ot the Chelsea Botanic Garden, where our plant fiowered in December last.
Miss Reinagle informs us, that the native name is Paxero, or Paterita. In
acollectionof dried plants lately received by Mr. Lambert, from Mr. Thomas
Bridges, now resident at 'Valparaiso, there are fine specimens of the present
species, and also of another, which, it is very probable, will prove to be
the same with the one from Miss R einagle, that has not yet blossomed, and
for which we propose the following name and character ; C. t e n e l l a , limbo
perianthii tubo breviore immaculato. The flowers are not above half the
size ; the fringe of the alternating segments is longer and finer ; the anthers
are pale blue, with the teeth of the appendage much shorter, and the lateral
nerves of the segments of the perianth are almost simple, while in C. trimaculata,
they are branched. Although the cells of the anther are solvent
along the whole length o f the suture, the pollen is almost wholly emitted by
the aperture at the top, being forced upwards and thrown on the stigma by
the passing of the anthers against the sides of the pistil ; the membranous
appendage formed by the elongation of the dorsal valves of the anther is admirably
calculated to prevent the escape o f the pollen, and the spreading
teeth tend to the mutual support o f these delicate appendages.”
“ I have already given, under C. campanulata, in the first series of this
work, tab. 257, my reasons for separating this genus from Conanthera, which
is distinguished precisely as Scilla ,is from Hyacinthus by its deeply divided
perianthium. I t would seem there are many species o f both genera in Chile;
and Dr. Bertero hints at the probable necessity in keeping them distinct.
In Botany, no universal principle can be laid down in the establishing o f
groups or families, or even in characterising species, for what would be sufli-
cient to constitute a genus in one family, might only be of specific importance
in another ; so among the Monocotyledonece, where greater simplicity
of structure is found, and where evidently more general similarity, and consequently
closer affinity prevails, we find but few characters to enable us to
limit genera and orders.”
F o r t h e w h o l e o f t h e a b o v e a c c o u n t , w e a r e i n d e b t e d t o M r . D a v i d D o n .
T h e p r e s e n t s p e c i e s w i l l r e q u i r e p r e c i s e l y t h e s a m e s o r t o f t r e a t m e n t a s t h e
o t h e r C h i l e a n d M e x i c a n b u l b s ; t o b e p l a n t e d i n a l i g h t s a n d y s o i l , a n d t o
b e c o v e r e d u p i n s e v e r e f r o s t .
T h e g e n u s w a s n a m e d i n o u r l a s t s e r i e s , b y M r . D . D o n , i n c o m p l i m e n t
t o L a d y G o r d o n C u m r a i n g .
1. Pa rt of the Corolla spread open, to show the veins. 2. The 5 Stamens. 3. These-
miinferior Ovarium, terminated by the Style and small Stigma.