XIA planifolia, caule multifloro spatha brevissima. _Mill. Ic.
160. t. 239. f. 2._

To the Cape of Good Hope, that never-failing source of rare and
beautiful plants, we are indebted for most of our Ixias, and among
others for the present species, which though not of that value, nor
possessing the delicacy or fragrance of the blossoms of some others, is
a very desirable plant, not only as an object of curiosity, from the
transparency of the base of the corolla, but as it adds much to the
brilliancy of a collection, is easily obtained, and as easily
propagated.

It flowers in May and June, but its flowering may be prolonged by
putting its bulbs into pots at different periods, or accelerated by
artificial heat.

It produces offsets more plentifully than many of the genus.

Mr. AITON informs us that it was cultivated by Mr. MILLER in 1758, who
figures it in his _Icones_.

[Illustration]

[185]

CORONILLA VALENTINA. RUE-LEAVED CORONILLA.

_Class and Order._

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 2-labiatus: 2/3: dentibus superioribus connatis. _Vexillum_
vix alis longius. _Legumen_ isthmis interceptum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CORONILLA _valentina_ fruticosa, foliolis subnovenis, stipulis
suborbiculatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 669._ _Ait.
Hort. Kew. V. 3. p. 58._

POLYGALA valentina. _Clus. hist. pl. rar. p. 98. fig. inf._

The _Coronilla valentina_ comes very near to the _glauca_ already
figured in this work, but may be distinguished by a little attention;
the _valentina_ has smaller leaves, which are more numerous, and more
truly glaucous; the stipulae, which in the _glauca_ are small, narrow,
and pointed, in the _valentina_ are large, and almost round, and in the
young plant are strikingly conspicuous; as the plant comes into flower,
they drop off; the _valentina_ is not so much disposed to flower the
year through as the _glauca_, but produces its blossoms chiefly in May,
June, and July; the flowers of the _glauca_ are observed to smell more
strongly in the day-time, those of the _valentina_ at all times diffuse
a very powerful odour, so as even to scent a small greenhouse; we have
often been amused with hearing the different opinions entertained of
this smell, some speaking of it in terms of rapture, others ready to
faint when they approach it: the flowers of the _valentina_ are more
disposed to produce seed-vessel