Volume V Part 8 (1/2)
SOPHORA _tetraptera_. _Job. Miller ic. tab. 1._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 167]
The magnificent and highly curious species of Sophora here represented, is one of the many plants discovered by Sir JOSEPH BANKS at New-Zealand, where it forms a tree of a considerable size.
A finer sight can scarcely be imagined than a tree of this sort, extending to a great breadth on a wall with a western aspect, in the Apothecaries Garden at Chelsea, where it was planted by Mr.
FORSYTH about the year 1774, and which at this moment (April 28, 1791) is thickly covered with large pendulous branches of yellow, I had almost said golden flowers; for they have a peculiar richness, which it is impossible to represent in colouring; in the winter care is taken to cover it carefully with mats, least it should suffer from any extraordinarily severe weather.
It usually produces a few seed vessels of an uncommon form, having four wings, whence its name of _tetraptera_; from some of the seeds which have ripened in this country plants have been raised, and by these the plant is found to be propagated with the most success; it may also be increased by cuttings and layers.
[168]
IRIS PAVONIA. PEAc.o.c.k IRIS.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ 6-petala inaequalis, _Petalis_ alternis geniculato-patentibus, _Stigmata_ petaliformia; cucullato-bil.a.b.i.ata.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
IRIS _pavonia_ imberbis folio lineari glabro, scapo subunifloro. _Linn.
Syst. Vegetab. p. 92._
[Ill.u.s.tration: No 168]
We have our doubts whether the plant here figured be the _pavonia_ of the _Systema Vegetabilium_, as it does not accord so well with the description there given, as we could wish; as such however it has been regarded by some here, and it must be allowed to answer extremely well to the name.
It is a small delicate Iris, about a foot and a half high, with very narrow leaves, bearing on the top of the stalk one or at most two flowers, three of the petals are large and white, with a brilliant blue spot at the base of each, edged on the outer side with deep purple; the delicacy of the flower, and the eye-like spot at the base of three of the petals, render at one of the most striking plants of the genus.
The figure here given was drawn from a plant which flowered with Messrs.
GRIMWOOD and Co. last June, who received it from Holland, and treat it in the same way as their Cape bulbs, of which country it is said to be a native.
It is not mentioned either in Mr. MILLER'S _Gardener's Dictionary_, or the _Hortus Kewensis_.
[169]
IXORA COCCINEA. SCARLET IXORA.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA.