fi
' p s
Mil
II
I ,
1 { If I* r . ^
t i
P L A T E CCCLXVIIT.
MELANTHIUM MASSONI^FOLIUM.
M a s s o n i a - l e a v e d M e l a n t h i um.
C L A S S VI. ORDER I.
HEXANDRIA'TRIGYNIA. Six Chives. Three Pointals.
CALTX O. Corolla infera, 6-petala, petalis
staminiferis.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
No CALYX. Corolla beneath, 6-petalled,
with the petals staminiferous.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
MELANTHIUM, foliis subrotundis prostratis
sulcato-striatis, floribus spicatis.
MELANTHIUM, witli roundish prostrate
sulcato-striated leaves, and spiked
flowers.
DESCKIPTIO. Folia duo humi appressa, subrotunda, viridia, acumine obsoleto recurvato, striisque sulcatis
parallelis circiter 12; subtus glabra pallidiora. Flores in spica perbracteata ut in Eucomide.
Scapus clavatus teres. Bracteai ovato-acuminatae, magnae; superiores paulo minores. Flores
sessiles, bracteis multoties breviores, virides. Corolla hexapetaloidea, vix aperta, petalis sublanceolatis,
obtusis, erectis, apicem versus incturvis. Filamenta brevissima, compressa, collo corollae
iraposita, basi confluentia. Antherm erectae obsoletae. Germen alato-triangulare, desinens in
stylos 3 obsoletissimos, subulatos, et fere adnatos.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A floral leaf.
2. The corolla cut open.
3. A back view of the same.
4. The seed-bud and obsolete styles.
J
i
I
.S'v
THIS singular plant appears to us to be a new, but somewhat anomalous species of the Genus Melanthium
; which, as it at present stands, unquestionably contains several Genera. It is a native of the Cape,
and a Green-house plant; and prior to flowering possesses altogether the appearance of a Massonia, and
thrives very weU with the treatment of one. Our drawing of it was taken from fine plants in the
Hibbertian collection in the month of March.