nger so, the leaves acquiring very
evident footstalks.

It is a native of the more southern parts of Europe, and though in point
of size and elegance it cannot vie with its kindred Laburnum, it is a
deciduous shrub of considerable beauty, rarely exceeding the height of
five or six feet, and producing a great profusion of bright yellow
flowers, which continue in blossom a long while; they make their
appearance in May and June, and are usually succeeded by seed-vessels
which produce ripe seeds, by these the plant is readily propagated.

It is one of the most common shrubs we have, as well as one of the
oldest inhabitants of our shrubberies, being mentioned by PARKINSON in
his _Parad. Terrestris_.

[256]

IXIA LONGIFLORA. LONG-FLOWER'D IXIA.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-partita, campanulata, regularis. _Stigmata_ 3.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IXIA _longiflora_ foliis ensiformibus linearibus strictis, tubo
filiformi longissimo. _Ait. Kew. v. 4. p. 58._

GLADIOLUS _longiflorus_ caule tereti, tubo longissimo, spathis
foliisque linearibus glabris. _Linn. Suppl. p. 96._ _Gmel. Syst.
Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 86._

We are not acquainted with a tribe of plants which stand more in need of
elucidation than those of this genus; of the vast numbers imported from
the Cape within these few years, where they are chiefly natives, and
that for the most part by way of Holland, few comparatively are well
ascertained; some of them appear subject to great variation, both in the
size and colour of their blossoms (whether in their wild state they are
thus inconstant, or whether there are seminal varieties raised by the
persevering industry of the Dutch Florists, we have not yet had it in
our power satisfactorily to ascertain); others like the present one have
their characters strongly marked, and less variable; in general they are
plants of easy culture, requiring chiefly to be protected from the
effects of frost, the least degree of which is presently fatal to most
of them.

The treatment recommended for the _Ixia flexuosa_ is applicable to this
and the other Cape species.

According to the _Hort. Kew._ this species was introduced by Mr. MASSON
in the year 1774.

It flowers from April to June.

[Illustration: No 256]

[Illustration: No 257]

[257]

LYCHNIS CHALCEDONICA. SCARLET LYCHNIS.

_Class and Order._

DECANDRI