G E N E R I C
CALYX. Involucrum hexapbyllum, multiflorum;
foliolis ereilis, fcariofis, perlifteiitibus.
COROLLA. Pétala fex, infera, perfiftentia ; laciniis
ovatis, concavis.
STAMINA. Filamenta fex, lub-globoÍLi, carnoüi,
germen cingens; ex quibus ti-ia biantherifera,
iierilibus tribus interftiniStis.
Autheras geminDe, lineares, ereiSlae.
PisTiLLUM. Germen fuperum. Stylus filiformis,
longitudine ftaminura. Stigma fimplex.
PEKICARPIUM. Capfula obtufetrigona, oblonga,
trilocularis, trivalvis.
SEMINA plura, angulata.
P L A T E LXXXI.
S O W E R B I A JUNCEA.
Rujh-like Sowerbia.
CLASS VL ORDER L
HEXJNDRIA MONOGYNIJ. Six Chives. One Pointal.
S P E C I F I C
Sowerbia, foliis teretibus, rnucronatis ; fcapo
nudo, flexuofo; umbella giobofa; floribus
petiolis longiflimis.
C H A R A C T E R .
EMPALEMENT. Fence fix-leaved, containing
many flowers; the fmall leaves are upright,
Ikinny, and permanent.
BLOSSOM. Six petals, beneath and remaining;
fegments egg-ihape, and concave.
CHIVES. Six threads almoft round, flefliy, furrounding
the feed-bud; of which three
bear two chives, each parted by three fterile
ones. Tips double, linear, and upright.
P O I N T A L . Seed-bud above. Shaft threadfliaped,
the length of the chives. Summit
iimple.
SEED-VESSEL. Capfule bluntly three-fided, oblong,
three-celled, three-valved.
SEEDS many, angular.
C H A R A C T E R .
Sowerbia, with cylindrical leaves pointed at the
ends; flower-ftem naked and crooked;
the umbel globular; flowers with very long
foot-ftalks.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
1. The Fence.
2. A Bloifom complete.
3. The Chives expanded.
4. The Pointal.
THE very great refemblance this plant bears in habit, to fome fpecies of the garlick and rufli, led us,
at firft fight, to conflder it of one of thofe Genera: but as Dr. Smith has in the fourth Volume of the
Linn. Tranf. p. 220, conftituted it a new genus, from the conftriiaion of the chives, we make
no fcruple to follow fnch good audiority. It is named after Mr. James Sowerby, fo well known for
his numerous botanical engravings, as attached to different works; but efpecially, for his excellent
coloured plates of Engliih plants. MeflTrs. Lee and Kennedy of Hammerfmith, were the firft, who
raifed this plant from feeds, received in 1792 from Botany Bay. Our drawing was taken in May
the firft time it flowered there; it is the full fize of the plant, the flower-ftem cut oft", it being
twice the length of the leaves. There is no fmell to any part of the plant; but neverthelefs, it is
very deCrable in the greenhoufe, from the charafter of the flowers, which retain their colour with
little change, till the feeds are perfefted. To increafe it, the roots may be parted early in fpring,
and fliould be planted in peat earth.