CHIVES. Ten thread-shaped threads the length of the tube. Tips oblong, and tapered. POINTAL. Seed-bud globular and hairy. Shaft thread-shaped, the length of the chives. Summit blunt, and slightly five-cleft. SEED-VESSEL. Capsule nearly globular, flattened, five-sided, five cells, and five valves. SEEDS many, roundish. _Receptacle_ large, of five divisions. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Epigæa caulibus procumbentibus; foliis cordato-ovatis, integerrimis, reticulatis; corollis hypocrateriformibus. Epigæa with stems that lay on the earth; leaves between heart and egg-shape, quite entire, and netted; blossoms salver-shaped. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 1. The two Cups of the Empalement. 2. The inner Cup, disengaged from the outer. 3. A Blossom cut open, to shew its hairy interior. 4. The Chives and Pointal, as they stand in the Blossom. 5. The Pointal, (magnified). The Creeping Epigæa is the only species of the genus yet in Britain; it was first introduced by P. Collinson, Esq. in 1736, from N. America; where it is found in most parts, from Virginia, as far north as Canada. The flowers of this plant are extremely fragrant, and are produced from March till May. Hitherto, very few situations have been found congenial to its cultivation, or growth; indeed, so subject is it to perish from the moisture, or changeableness of atmosphere in our winter months, to which it is not subject in its native clime, being during that season covered with a deep snow; that unless an occasional supply had not been procured from America, the plant must, long ere this, have been lost to us. The soil which appears best adapted for its preservation, is a light sandy loam: if planted in the open air, it should have a sheltered situation, on a dry border; but the most likely mode to preserve it, is by keeping it as a greenhouse plant. It is with difficulty increased by cuttings, but may be divided at the root, with success, in March. Our figure was made at the nursery of Mess. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, this year, in the month of April. [Illustration] PLATE CIII. PROTEA SPECIOSA, _nigra_. _Black-flowered Protea._ CLASS IV. ORDER I. _TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal. ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. COROLLA 4-fida, seu 4-petala. Antheræ lineares, insertæ petalis infra apicem. Calyx proprius, nullus. Sem. folitaria. BLOSSOM 4-cleft, or of 4 petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the points. Cup proper, none. Seeds solitary. See PROTEA FORMOSA, Vol. I. Plate XVII. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Protea foliis longis, lineari-lanceolatis; squamæ calycinæ interiores apice incurvatæ, barbatæ, nigræ. Protea with long leaves, between linear and lance-shaped; the inner scales of the empalement are turned inward at the end, bearded, and black. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.