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P L A T E CCCCIV.
M O R ^ A M I N I A T A .
Red-lead-coloured Morcea.
C L A S S III. ORDER I.
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
E S S E N T I A L GENERIC CHARACTER.
COROLLA hexapetala; pétala ü'ia interiora patentia
; angustiora. Stigma trifidum.
BLOSSOM six-petalledi the tliree interior ones
spreading Summit trifid.
MOK^A, monadelpliia, scapo tereti ramosoj
foliis lineari-ensiformibus, caulinis spatliaceis,
petalis expansis sub-8equalibus
ovalibus.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
MORJEA, monadelphous, with a round branched
scape, leaves linear-sword-shaped, stem
ones spathaceous, and petals expanded
nearly equal and oval.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
1. The outer sheath of the flower.
2. The inner one.
3. The seed-bud, chives and pointal, as they stand in the flower.
4. The same magnified.
5. The monadelphous chives spread open.
IN vain have we turned over all the multifarious works of Jacquin, and many other publications, in
search of information concerning this elegant plant: for our labour has not been rewarded with the
east success. As a species, therefore, we conceive it to be entirely new ; and in its generic cliaracters,
by no means destitute of botanical importance. With Moraea we have placed it, because it perhaps
best agrees with that genus; yet cannot satisfactorily associate it with Moraea tricuspis (Vieussieuxia
De la Roche) and its affinities. In its monadelphous stamina it approaches Sisyrinchium and
Ferrarla •, and its flat red flowers remind us of the anomalous Ixia Chinensis*.
Our drawing was made from the Clapham collection, about the san)e time that Iris Pavonia of
our 364th plate was drawn. It requires the same treatment as that splendid plant, and is a native of
the same country : but we fear it is not at present to be found alive in Britain.
• This plant, after having been arranged under the several genera, Ixia, Morxa, and Ferrarla, is now established as
genus, by the name of Pardanthus, in the second number of Annals of Botany, just published.
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