2-lipped, 5-cleft; laciniae lanceolate, acute, the upper lip not
above half as deeply divided as the lower one. Vexillum broadly obcordate, emarginate, dark orange-coloured, with a
yellow spot at the base, which runs down the unguis. Alee or wings crimson, about the length of the vexillum, spathulate,
reflexed, eared near the base, with a very slender unguis. Keel
broad and flat, acute, eared on each side a little above the base,
about the length of the wings and vexillum. Stamens 10, distinct,
attached to the base of the calyx; filaments smooth, attached
to the back of the anthers, which are 2-lobed, and yellow.
Ovarium silky, clothed with a dense silky pubescence. Style smooth, ascending, about the length of the stamens.
Stigma slightly capitate.
Our drawing of this handsome new species was taken from
a plant at the Nursery of Mr. J. Mackay, at Clapton, in April
last, where it was raised in 1825 from seeds sent by Mr.
Henchman’s Collector, Mr. William Baxter, who collected
them in King George’s Sound, and they have now flowered,
we believe, for the first time, in this country. It is certainly a
very handsome plant, and will be a great acquisition for the
Greenhouse or Conservatory, as it grows freely, and produces
a great abundance of flowers, which last a considerable time in
bloom; and when the plants become large, they will make a
grand appearance; they are now scarcely more than eighteen
inches in height, so that they begin blooming when very young.
An equal mixture of light turfy loam, peat, and sand, is the best
soil to plant it in, and the protection of a common Greenhouse
or Conservatory in Winter, so as to be protected from frost, is
all that it will require. The best mode of increasing it will be
from seed, which will ripen plentifully, if a little pains be taken
with it to attach the pollen to the stigma when in bloom ; young
cuttings, planted in sand under bell-glasses, and placed on a
shady shelf in the Greenhouse, will root readily.
The generic name is derived from <,|u5 sharp, and a pod,
the pods having an acute termination.
1. Bracte. 2. Calyx. 3. Vexillum. 4. The two wings. show the two ears at the hase. 6. The 10 Stamens, inserted 5in. Ktheee bl assper oeaf dth eo pCeanl,y xto. 7. Ovarium, terminated by the Style and Stigma: magnified.