o 125]

This plant receives its generic name from CLAUDIUS ALSTROEMER (son of
Sir JONAS ALSTROEMER, a most respectable Swedish Merchant) who first
found the other most beautiful species the _Pelegrina_ in Spain, whither
it had been transmitted from Peru; its trivial name _Ligtu_ is a
provincial one.

According to FEWILLEE, who has written on the plants of Peru, this
species is found on the banks of the rivers in Chili: we treat it,
and successfully, as a stove plant; its flowers, which usually make
their appearance in February and March, emit a fragrance scarcely
inferior to Mignonet; its leaves, contrary to most others, grow
inverted, which is effected by a twist of the footstalk, and afford an
excellent example of LINNAEUS's _Folium resupinatum_; the filaments,
after the pollen is discharged, turn upwards, and the antherae become
almost globular.

It is usually propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.

Our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered extremely well in the
stove of Messrs. GRIMWOOD and Co. Kensington.

[126]

ALYSSUM DELTOIDEUM. PURPLE ALYSSUM.

_Class and Order._

TETRADYNAMIA SILICULOSA.

_Generic Character._

_Filamenta_ quaedam introrsum denticulo notata. _Silicula_ emarginata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

ALYSSUM _deltoideum_ caulibus suffrutescentibus prostratis, foliis
lanceolato-deltoidibus, siliculis hirtis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p.
591._ _Sp. Pl. 908._

LEUCOJUM saxatile thymifolio hirsutum caeruleo-purpureum. _Bauh. Pin.
201._

[Illustration: No 126]

Plants which flower early, and continue a long while in bloom, are
deservedly preferred, more especially by those who content themselves
with a partial collection; of that number is the present species of
Alyssum, which begins to flower in March, and continues to blossom
through April, May, and June, and, if favourably situated, during most
of the summer.

It is properly a rock plant, being hardy, forming with very little care
a neat tuft of flowers, and not apt to encroach on its neighbours.

May be propagated by parting its roots in Autumn, or by cuttings.

Is a native of the Levant, according to Mr. AITON; and
cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1739, but omitted in the 6th 4to.
edition of his Dictionary: has usually been considered by the Nurserymen
about London as the _hyperboreum_.

[127]

IXIA FLEXUOSA. BENDING-STALK'D IXIA.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Gen