P L A T E CCXXXIII.
M E L A N T H I U M V I R I D E .
Green-flowered Melanthium.
C L A S S VI. ORDER I.
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointai.
G E N E R I C CHARACTER.
C A L Y X n u l l u s.
C O R O L L A . Pétala f e s , ovato-oblonga, p a t c n t í a,
u n g u i b u s l i n e a r i b u s l o n g i o r i b u s , p e r t i t t e u l i a.
S T A M I N A . Filamenta fex, filiformía, erecta,
l o n g i l u c l i n e corollas, cui infcrta fupra ung
u e s . Anthera; globoue.
P I S T I L L A , Germen conicum, ílríatum. Styli
t r e s , d i f t i n í t í , c u r d . Stigmata obtufa.
P E R I C A R I M L ' M . Capmla ovata, t r i g o n a , trifulca,
t r i l o c u l a r i s , ex capfulis tribus^ i n t t o r f um
u n i t i s .
S E M I N A p l u r i m a , comprefta, femiovata.
E M P A L F M U N T , none.
B L O S S O M . Six petals, o b l o n g egg- i l i n p c d , fpreadi
n g , with linear longer claws r e m a i n i n g.
C H I V E S . Threads fix, thread-(ha |ied. u p r i g h t,
t h e l e n g t h of t h e bloifom ii.to w h i c h they
a r e infcrted above t h e claws. T i p ! g l o b u l a r.
P O I S T A L S . Seed-bud conical, ( b e a k e d . Shafts
t h r e e , diliinct, curved. Summits b l u n t.
S E E D - V E S S E L . Capfule e g g - l h a p e d , tl.ree-fidcd,
t h r e e furrowed, three-celled, formed of
t h r e e capfules united w i t h i n.
S E E D S n u m e r o u s , flattened, half egg-fhaped.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
M e l a n t h i u m foliis o v a t o - l a n c e o l a t i s , fcapo vagin
a n t i b u s , e r e c t i s ; corollis v i r i d i - p u r p u r e i s,
r c i l e x i s .
M e l a n t h i um w i t h leaves between lance and eggfliaped,
flieathing the ftcm and u p r i g h t;
bloflbms g r e e n i t h - p u r p l e , reflexed.
R E F E R E N C E TO T H E P L A T E.
1. A Petal w i t h its C h i v e a t t a c h e d , magnified.
2. T h e Seed-bud, Shaft, and S u m m i t s , magnified.
3 . T h e Seed-bud cut tranfversely, magnified.
T H E Green-flowered M e l a n t h i u m was i n t r o d u c e d to the K e w collection, by Mr. F. Maflbn, in the
year 1788, as we a r e informed by t h e c a t a l o g u e of t h a t garden, from t h e Cape of Good H o p e . The
p l a n t from which o u r figure was t a k e n , had been fent to t h e C l a p h am collection amongft other bulbs
w h i c h w e r e received from Mr. N i v e n i n t h e year 1SOO; it flowered the fucceeding year, when our
d r a w i n g was made. We believe, at prefent, it is in no o t h e r collection than that of Mr. H i b b e r t;
n o r do we t h i n k , w i t h o u t a frefh fupply, it will be l o n g feen in this c o u n t r y , as it has been often
i n t r o d u c e d , and as often loft; nor does it increafe w i t h us by t h e root, and the feeds have n o t , as y e t,
m a t u r e d i n this c o u n t r y ; it a p p e a r s to g r ow l u x u r i a n t l y in fandy peat e a r t h , and flowers in J u l y.