It approaches so near to the _Cistus halimifolius_ in point of habit, in the form and colour of its leaves and flowers, that we are inclined rather to regard it as a variety of that plant, than as a distinct species; at the same time it must be allowed to be a very striking variety, the flowers being at least thrice as large as those of the _halimifolius_ usually are, and the whole plant more hairy: as an ornamental shrub, it is highly deserving a place in all curious collections. It will grow very well in the open border in warm sheltered situations, it may be kept also in a pot, by which means it may more readily be sheltered during the winter, either in the greenhouse or under a frame. It flowers early in May, and may be increased by cuttings. [Illustration: No 264] [Illustration: No 265] [265] IXIA BULBOCODIUM. CROCUS-LEAV'D IXIA. _Class and Order._ TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. _Generic Character._ _Cor._ 1-petala, tubulosa; tubo recto, filiformi; limbo 6-partito, campanulato, aequali. _Stigmata_ tria, simplicia. _Thunb. Diss. de Ixia._ _Specific Character and Synonyms._ IXIA _Bulbocodium_ scapo unifloro brevissimo, foliis angulatis caulinis, stigmatibus sextuplicibus. _Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. p. 76._ IXIA _Bulbocodium_ scapo ramoso, floribus solitariis, foliis sulcatis reflexis. _Thunb. Diss. n. 3._ CROCUS vernus angustifolius. 1. 11. _Clus. Hist. i. p. 207._ violaceo flore, 208. _ejusd._ There are three plants cultivated in the gardens of the curious to which _Bulbocodium_ is applied, either as a generic or a trivial name, viz. _Narcissus Bulbocodium_, _Bulbocodium vernum_, already figured, and the present plant: the _Ixia Bulbocodium_ and _Bulbocodium vernum_ are given in this work, not so much for their beauty as their rarity, not so much to gratify the eye, as to communicate a knowledge of two plants but little known, and liable to be confounded from a similarity of their names. This is one of the few hardy species of the genus, and grows wild in many parts of Spain and Italy; it is said to have been found in Guernsey: it affects hilly and dry situations, will grow readily in almost any soil, especially if fresh, and not infested with vermin: it flowers about the middle of April, the blossoms do not expand fully unless exposed to the sun, and are not of long duration: authors describe the wild plants as varying greatly in colour, _vid. Clus._ they are most commonly pale blue. Like the Crocus, it increases readily by offsets. Was cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1739, _Ait. Kew._ Bulbocodium, 1. in the 6th edition of his Dictionary in 4to, is not this plant, but the _Anthericum scrotinum_, _Jacq. Fl. Austr. v. 5. app. t. 38._ [266] RANUNCULUS AMPLEXICAULIS. PLANTAIN-LEAVED CROWFOOT. _Class and Order._ POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. _Generic Character._