PLATE CCCCXL.
S O P H O R A SERICEA,
Silhij-leaved Sophora.
CLASS X. ORDER I.
DECANDRIA MONOGYNTA. Ten Chives. One Pointal,
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX -quinquedentatus, superne gibbus. Corolla
papillonacea, alls longitudine vexilli.
Pericai'pium, legumen.
EMPALEMENT five-toothed, the upper ones gibbose,
or gouty. Blossom butterfly-shaped,
with the wings the length oi" the standard.
Seed-vessel, apod.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
SOJHORA, foliis sericeis, oblongis, altematis,
pilo mollissimo lucido omnino tectis, apice
acutis, revolutis, ad basin stipulis par\'is;
floribus simplicibus, axillaribus, pallide purpuréis
3 caiüis argenteus.
SOPHORA with silky leaves, oblong, alternate,
and entirely covered by a very soft shining
hair, sharp-pointed, and rolled back, with
small stipulae at their base ; flowers grow
singly from the axillae of the leaves, and of
a pale purple; stem silvery.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE-
1. The empalement.
2. The standard.
3. One of the wings.
4 . The keel.
5. The chives and pointal.
6. The same magnified.
/ , Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.
THIS delicate Sophora may literally be said to be an old plant with a new face, as we have been long
familiar with the foliage, but entirely unacquainted with its flowers, till very lately we found it m
luxuriant bloom (and we believe for the first time in this country) in the conservatory of G. Hibbert, esq.
this month (December), probably not the regular period of its inflorescence, but the effect of casualty
assisted by the uncommon mildness of the season. It would be a vain endeavour to attempt to do
j u s t i c e t o the beautiful shining silky appearance of the leaves; and when aided by its delicate purple
flowers, its attraction is equal, if not superior, to any of the genus. The want of freedom in its flowenng
is a defect not entirely confined to tliis species only, but is in some degree attached to most Sophoras. It
is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and requires as much air as can with safety be administered to
it in this country.
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