green, slightly tinged with purple. Flower large, terminal,
about 3 inches across. Calyx of 5, large, obovate leaves,
pure white, afterwards changing to a pale rose or purple,
greenish yellow at the base, and traversed by numerous
nerves. Petals funnel-shaped, pedicellate, pale green, with
an obliquely truncate mouth, the edge revolute, yellow,
slightly obed and crenated, somewhat exceeding half the
length of the stamens, and about twice the length of the
slender white foot-stalk. Stamens apparently arranged, on the
thick torus, in spiral lines: filaments cylindrical, white: anthers
yellow, adnate, oblong, obtuse, opening longitudinally.
Pistils about 6 or 7 : ovarla compressed, keeled, united together
at tiie base into a short thick column : styles slightly
recurved, white, afterwards changing to a pale purple:
stigma a small, abrupt, papillose dot.
Of the three varieties of the Christmas Rose, which we
have observed in the gardens, the one now figured is,we think,
entitled to the preference, as being less encumbered by foliage,
and having the blossoms at least a third larger, and of
a clearer colour. It flowers six weeks or two months later
than the common kind. These varieties differ in their size,
time of flowering, and in the form of the segments of their
leaves, but they agree in the more essential parts of their
structure. A botanist should be wary of making species out
of long-cultivated plants; for they, like domestic animals,
are much more prone to vary, than those in a wild state.
The leaf of the present variety is, probably, what Jacquin
has represented separately, in the plate of the Flora Austríaca,
above referred to.
Our drawing was taken at the Botanic Garden, Chelsea,
in February.
The name is already explained at fol. 109, of the first
series. D. Don Mss.
1. P e ta l.