_Keel_ two-cleft, like the wing.
CHIVES. Ten threads, united into a sheath, gaping longitudinally at top,
ascending. Tips oblong.
POINTAL. Seed-bud egg-shaped. Shaft simple, ascending. Summit pointed.
SEED VESSEL. Pod egg-shaped, beardless.
SEEDS frequently two, kidney-shaped.
OBS. _This genus is singular in having several leaves from the same bud,
on a shrubby plant._
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Aspalathus foliis fasciculatis, carnosis, teretibus, glabris, apicibus
setaceis; floribus capitatis, terminalibus; calycibus bracteatis.
Aspalathus with leaves bundled, fleshy, cylindrical, smooth and bristled
at the point; flowers grow in heads at the end of the branches; cups
with floral leaves.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup.
2. The Standard.
3. One of the Wings.
4. The Keel.
5. The Chives and Pointal.
6. The Chives, spread open and magnified.
7. The Pointal.
From the number of specimens in the herbarium of G. Hibbert, Esq. which
we should refer to this genus; it stands fair to rival, in number of
species, every other, natives of the Cape of Good Hope; with the
exception of Erica, Geranium, and Protea. This species has many
varieties, and we are in doubt whether this is not one from the A.
carnosa, or A. pinguis of Thunberg; for although, the cup, in the one,
may differ, in having the segments described as pointed; and in the
other, the leaves may be rather three-sided; yet, may our plant be no
more than a slight variation from either of them: but this we cannot
decide without living plants of each, for dried specimens would not
determine the fact.
This plant was introduced to the Hibbertian Collection, in 1800, by Mr.
Niven, from the Cape. It is a tender green-house plant, grows to the
height of eighteen inches, very bushy, and covers itself with flowers
about July; in which month, 1803, our drawing was taken. It has hitherto
put the ability of Mr. Allen, which is not often the case, to a stand
for a method to propagate it; but we have hopes, as most of the species
do, that it will ripen its seeds in this country.
[Illustration]
PLATE CCCLIV.
GERANIUM REVOLUTUM.
_Reflex floral-leaved Geranium._
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
_MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
MONOGYNA. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus; pentacoccus.
ONE POINTAL. Five Summits. Fruit furnished with long awns; five dry
berries.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Geranium foliis cordatis, obtusis, nervosis, sæpe auriculatis;
pedunculis multifloris; involucris polyphyllis, foliolis revolutis;
floribus pentandris; radice tuberosa.
Geranium with heart-shaped leaves, obtuse, nerved and often eared;
flower-stems many-flowered; fence many-leaved, leaflets rolled back;
flowers with five fertile chives; root tuberous.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement cut open to shew its tubular structure.
2. The Chives and Pointal.
3. The Chives, spread open, magnified.
4. The Pointal, magnified.
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