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P L A T E XLVI.
A S S O N I A VIOLACEA.
Purple-flowered MaJJbnia.
C L A S S VL ORDER L
UEXJNDRIA MONOGYNIJ. Six Chives. One Pointal.
G E N E R I C
CALYX, nullus.
COROLL A iex-pctala. Petala neftario impofita,
lanceolata, patentia. Ncélarium inferura, cyliiidricum, membraiiaceum.
STAMINA. Filaraenta fex, iieétarii dentibus inlerta,
(iliformia declinata, petalis paulo longiora.
Antherae ovatae.
PisTiLLUM. Germen (refpeftu neftarii) fiiperum.
Stylus iubulatus, declinatus, longitudine,
ftaininum. Stigma limplex, acntum.
TEKICAKPIUM. Capfula triquetra, glabra, trilocularis,
trivalvis, angulis dehifcens.
SEMINA plurima, globofa, glabra, maguitudine
feminum iinapios.
S P E C I F I C
^Vlaflbnia, foliis fpathulatis, glabris; fcapus filiformls,
ereftus, bipollicaris; flores pedunculati,
violacei, fparfi, pedunciili uniflori.
C H A R A C T E R .
EMFALEMENT none.
BLOSSOM fix-petals. Petals placed on the honeycup,
are lance-iliaped and fpreading. Ihncy-cuf beneath, cylindrical and Ikinny.
Ciiii'ES. Six threads, fixed into the teeth of the
honey-cup, thread-fliaped, bent downward,
and a little longer than the petals. Tips
egg-ihaped.
P O I N T A L . Seed-bud (with regard to the honeycup)
above. Shaft awl-iliaped, and bent
downward the length of the chives. Summit
fimple, and pointed.
SEED-VESSEL. Capfule three-fided, and fmooth,
of three cells and three valves, fplitting at
the angles.
SEEDS many, globular, fmooth, the fize of a rauftard
feed.
C H A R A C T E R .
Mafifonia withfpatula-iliaped, and fmooth leaves;
flower-ftalk thread-fliaped, upright, two
inches high; the flowers have foot-ftalks,
are of a violet colour, and grow fcattered;
the foot-ftalks have each but one flower.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
]. A Flower complete.
2. The lame cut open, to fliew tlie infertion of tlie Chives.
3. The Pointal.
T H I S genus of plants perpetuates the name, as a botanifl:, (would it could likewife the mild, unaflfuming,
and univerfally allowed amiablenefs of charader) of Mr. Francis Malfon, botanical colleaor to
his Majefty; now exploring tlie untrod regions of North America, to add to the extenfive colleaions
of his royal and munificent Mafter, which fland fo much indebted to his indefatigable induftry for
their prefent fplendour. The MaflTonias are all rather tender, and require the fame fituation as
Hsemanthus &c; that is, a dry ftove; they are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, or, at leaft, grow
within that point of Africa generally fo called, but at fome diftance from the Cape town, near a
mountain (according to Thunberg) of the name of Bocklands Berg. The root of this fpecies is very
fubjea to rot when the leaves are decayed, if watered at that time; therefore, like the Ixias, fliould
be put afide, or taken out of the pot for two or three months, after flowering. It is veiy difiicult to
propagate, as the feeds are feldom perfefted, and rarely makes any oflsets; flowering in September,
about tlie beginning of which month this figure was taken, from a plant in the colleaion of G.
Hibbert, Elq. Clapham Common. It appears to thrive beft in a mixture of peat and Tandy loam.
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