urpureo. _Rudb. Elys. 2. t. 49. f. 9._

IRIS stellata cyclamine radice pullo flore. _Barrel. Icon. 1216._

[Illustration: No 144]

The old Botanists appear to have been wonderfully at a loss to what
family they should refer this very singular plant, as will appear on
consulting the synonyms; BURMAN at length made a distinct genus of it,
naming it _Ferraria_ in honour of JOH. BAPTISTA FERRARIUS, by whom it
was described, and very well figured, in his _Flora feu de Florum
Cultura_, published at Amsterdam, in 1646.

Mr. MILLER informs us, that he received roots of this plant
from Dr. JOB BASTER, F. R. S. of Zirkzee, who obtained it from
the Cape, of which it is a native.

In the vegetable line, it is certainly one of the most singular and
beautiful of nature's productions; much it is to be regretted that its
flowers are of very short duration, opening in the morning and finally
closing in the afternoon of the same day; a strong plant will, however,
throw out many blossoms in succession.

In its structure and oeconomy, it approaches very near to the
_Sisyrinchium_.

It flowers very early in the spring, from February to May, and is
usually propagated by offsets, which its bulbs produce in tolerable
plenty. It requires a treatment similar to the Ixias and other Cape
bulbs. Our figure was drawn from a plant which flowered this spring, in
the possession of R. FORSTER, Esq. of Turnham-Green.

INDEX.

In which the Latin Names of
the Plants contained in the
_Fourth Volume_ are alphabetically
arranged.

_Pl._

134 Adonis vernalis.
125 Alstroemeria Ligtu.
139 ------------ Pelegrina.
126 Alyssum deltoideum.
130 ------- utriculatum.
129 Amaryllis vittata.
123 Anemone hortensis.
117 Campanula carpatica.
131 Catesbaea spinosa.
112 Cistus ladaniferus.
113 Convolvulus purpureus.
144 Ferraria undulata.
135 Gladiolus cardinalis.
141 Heliotropium peruvianum.
122 Hyacinthus racemosus.
133 ---------- comosus.
137 Hypericum balearicum.
124 Iberis gibraltarica.
127 Ixia flexuosa.
138 Kalmia hirsuta.
111 Lathyrus tuberosus.
115 -------- sativus.
109 Lavatera trimestris.
116 Limodorum tuberosum.
140 Lupinus luteus.
110 Mimosa verticillata.
121 Narcissus incomparabilis.
136 Pelargonium tetragonum.
143 ----------- glutinosum.
132 Rubus arcticus.
128 Scilla campanulata.
142 Scorzonera tingitana.
118 Sedum Anacampseros.
114 Silene p