This is another beautiful little species of Cape Buchnera, and which, we can consider as little better than biennial; much similar, to some species of different genera from thence; such as, Hebenstreitia, Mahernia, &c. For although they produce woody stems, yet the plants seldom last beyond the second year. From their short duration, it is necessary to keep up a succession yearly; which is done, by making cuttings of them early in spring. Our drawing represents the branch of a plant, in the collection of R. James, Esq. Grosvenor-place, taken in the month of July 1799. It is a very shewy greenhouse plant, and should be plotted in rich mould; if kept free from damps, will continue to flower till the end of November. [Illustration] PLATE LXXXV. MAHERNIA ODORATA. _Sweet Mahernia._ CLASS V. ORDER V. _PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA._ Five Chives. Five Pointals. GENERIC CHARACTER. CALYX. Perianthium monopetalum, quinquefidum, campanulatum; dentibus subulatis, longioribus; persistens. COROLLA. Petala quinque, cordata, oblonga, patentia, calyce duplo longiora. _Nectaria_ quinque, obcordata, pedicellata, germen cingentia, calyce breviora. STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, capillaria, nectario infidentia, calyce breviora. Antheræ oblongæ, acuminatæ, erectæ. PISTILLUM. Germen subpedicellatum, obovatum, quinquangulum. Styli quinque, setacei, erecti, longitudine petalorum. Stigmata simplicia. PERICARPIUM. Capsula ovata, quinquelocularis, quinquevalvis. SEMINA nonnulla, reniformia. EMPALEMENT. Cup one leaf, five-cleft, bell-shaped; the teeth awl-shaped, and longer; remaining. BLOSSOM. Five petals, heart-shaped, oblong, spreading, twice the length of the cup. _Honey-cups_ five, inversely heart-shaped, having little foot-stalks, embracing the seed-bud, shorter than the cup. CHIVES. Five threads, hair like, sitting on the honey-cups, shorter than the cup. Tips oblong, tapered to a point, and upright. POINTAL. Seed-bud supported on a very short foot-stalk, inversely egg-shaped, five-angled. Shafts five, like bristles, upright, the length of the petals. Summits simple. SEED-VESSEL. Capsule egg-shaped, five cells, five valves. SEEDS a few, kidney-shaped. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Mahernia foliis lanceolatis, glabris, apice dentatis; pedunculis bifloris; corollis luteis, odoratissimis. Mahernia with lance-shaped leaves, smooth and toothed at the end; foot-stalks bearing two flowers; the blossoms yellow and very sweet. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 1. The cup, (natural size). 2. The Chives, Honey-cups, and Pointals, as they stand in the flower. 3. The same, with the Chives thrown back, as far as the slight junction of the honey-cups will permit, without tearing. 4. A Chive with its honey-cup, (magnified). 5. The Seed-bud and Pointals, (magnified).