This is, without doubt, the Mexican plant given in the 2nd. Vol. t. 31. f. 2. of Swertius’s Florilegium, published in 1612; by F. Hernandez, in his Nov. Plant. &c. Mex. Hist. p. 276, in 1618; and of Mutis, under the title it here bears, in his Flo. Amer. 1. t. 15; from whom it has been copied into the Suppl. Plant. of the younger Linnæus, p. 407. and continued by Professor Martyn in his Mill. Dic. Art. Ferraria 2. This Genus, which was originally formed on the Ferraria undulata of the Cape, and placed to the class Gynandria by Linnæus, has been so continued by Martyn, &c. but upon what grounds, we are unable to determine; unless the mistake arose from the impracticability of dividing the tube of the chives, from the shaft, in a dried specimen; which, in such transitory flowers as those of Ferraria, Sisyrinchium, Galaxia, &c. all of this class, seem, in that state, to form a perfect unison. Schreber has referred these Genera, in his Ed. of Linn. Gen. Plant. to where they certainly must stand, to Monadelphia. But, although we have continued the plant under the title by which it is generally known, from an adherence to our original principle; yet do we think, it equally necessary to state our opinion, why we consider its generical reference to have been as ill taken up, as the Genus had been ill classified. This plant, as may be seen from our dissections, is much nigher affined to Sisyrinchium, as it wants every essential character of Ferraria, such as a sheath of one leaf, undulated crisped petals, hooded and fringed summits, &c. for we do not consider the length of the tube of the blossom of any moment, as it is not constant. Now, every distinguishing feature of Sisyrinchium are here extant, viz. a sheath of two leaves, flat or plain petals, summits neither hooded or fringed; but our figure will better explain, than words, these strong marked differences. If indeed we were to give an opinion, it certainly would not be in coincidence with Thunberg, by placing the whole Genus to Moræa; but to create a new one from this plant; whose whole structure, but especially from the Nectaria or honey-cups upon the margin of the inner petals, stands eminently distinguished from all others.