It will be seen, on consulting the synonyms, that this native of the
Cape, though introduced to the Kew Garden by Mr. Masson in 1774, was
long before known to a considerable number of Botanists, and it is
curious to see the different opinions which they entertained of it; we
abide by that of Mr. Aiton, who has called it _Aristea_, from the
bearded appearance, we apprehend, of the Spathæ.
It is a small fibrous-rooted plant, rarely exceeding when in bloom the
height of six or eight inches, and would be too insignificant for a
green-house collection, were not its flowers of a very brilliant blue
colour; indeed Miller, who appears evidently to have cultivated it,
says, the flowers make little appearance, and so the plant is only kept
for the sake of variety. _Dict. 4to. ed. 6. Ixia africana._
Mr. Aiton tells us, that it flowers from April to June, yet Mr. Andrews,
intent on giving to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy the credit of flowering it
first, disregards this information, and is pleased to conjecture that
the plant never flowered at Kew, because Mr. Aiton, as he alleges, has
not given to it any specific character; not aware that, as a new genus,
its parts of fructification are described at the end of the _Hort. Kew._
and that no specific character is ever given to a plant, where there is
only one of a genus, and that for the most obvious reason.
The _Aristea_ is a plant easily propagated by parting its roots, as well
as by seeds, will succeed in a small pot, and though a green-house
plant, will not be hurt by the moderate heat of the stove, but flower
the better for it.
The blossoms do not expand fully unless the sun shines hot on them.
[459]
[Illustration: Nº. 459]
Convolvulus Cneorum. Silvery-Leaved Bind-Weed.
_Class and Order._
Pentandria Monogynia.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ campanulata, plicata. _Stigmata 2._ _Caps._ 2-locularis
loculis dispermis.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
CONVOLVULUS _Cneorum_ foliis lanceolatis tomentosis, floribus
umbellatis, calycibus hirsutis, caule erecto. _Linn. Syst. Veg.
203._ _Ait. Kew. vol. 1. p. 213._