The Botanical Magazine Volume Iv Part 12

[144]

FERRARIA UNDULATA. CURLED FERRARIA.

_Cla.s.s and Order._

GYNANDRIA TRIANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

Monogyna. _Spathtae_ uniflorae. _Petala_ 6, undulato-crispata. _Stigmata_ cucullata. _Caps._ 3-locularis, infera.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

FERRARIA _undulata_ caule multifloro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 820. ed.

14._ _Murr. Ait. Kew. p. 305. v. 3._

FLOS INDICUS e violaceo fuscus radice tuberosa. _I. B. Ferrar. Flora, ed. nov. p. 167. t. 171._

GLADIOLUS INDICUS e violaceo fuscus radice tuberosa n.o.bis. _Moris. hist.

f. 4. t. 4. f. 7._

NARCISSUS INDICUS flore saturate purpureo. _Rudb. Elys. 2. t. 49. f. 9._

IRIS stellata cyclamine radice pullo flore. _Barrel. Icon. 1216._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No 144]

The old Botanists appear to have been wonderfully at a loss to what family they should refer this very singular plant, as will appear on consulting the synonyms; BURMAN at length made a distinct genus of it, naming it _Ferraria_ in honour of JOH. BAPTISTA FERRARIUS, by whom it was described, and very well figured, in his _Flora feu de Florum Cultura_, published at Amsterdam, in 1646.

Mr. MILLER informs us, that he received roots of this plant from Dr. JOB BASTER, F. R. S. of Zirkzee, who obtained it from the Cape, of which it is a native.

In the vegetable line, it is certainly one of the most singular and beautiful of nature's productions; much it is to be regretted that its flowers are of very short duration, opening in the morning and finally closing in the afternoon of the same day; a strong plant will, however, throw out many blossoms in succession.

In its structure and oeconomy, it approaches very near to the _Sisyrinchium_.

It flowers very early in the spring, from February to May, and is usually propagated by offsets, which its bulbs produce in tolerable plenty. It requires a treatment similar to the Ixias and other Cape bulbs. Our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered this spring, in the possession of R. FORSTER, Esq. of Turnham-Green.

INDEX.

In which the Latin Names of the Plants contained in the _Fourth Volume_ are alphabetically arranged.

_Pl._

134 Adonis vernalis.

125 Alstroemeria Ligtu.

139 ------------ Pelegrina.

126 Alyssum deltoideum.

130 ------- utriculatum.

129 Amaryllis vittata.

123 Anemone hortensis.

117 Campanula carpatica.

131 Catesbaea spinosa.

112 Cistus ladaniferus.

113 Convolvulus purpureus.

144 Ferraria undulata.

135 Gladiolus cardinalis.

141 Heliotropium peruvianum.

122 Hyacinthus racemosus.

133 ---------- comosus.

137 Hyperic.u.m balearic.u.m.

124 Iberis gibraltarica.

127 Ixia flexuosa.

138 Kalmia hirsuta.

111 Lathyrus tuberosus.

115 -------- sativus.

109 Lavatera trimestris.

116 Limodorum tuberosum.

140 Lupinus luteus.

110 Mimosa verticillata.

121 Narcissus incomparabilis.

136 Pelargonium tetragonum.

143 ----------- glutinosum.

132 Rubus arcticus.

128 Scilla campanulata.

142 Scorzonera tingitana.

118 Sedum Anacampseros.

114 Silene pendula.

119 Strelitzia Reginae.

INDEX.

In which the English Names of the Plants contained in the _Fourth Volume_ are alphabetically arranged.

_Pl._

134 Adonis Spring.

125 Alstroemeria striped-flowered.

139 ------------ spotted-flowered.

129 Amaryllis superb.

130 Alyssum bladder-podded.

126 ------- purple.

123 Anemone star.