only
three stamina, whence the name he has given it; ours, so far as we have
observed, has constantly six, three of which reach no further than the
mouth of the tube, a circumstance so unusual, that LINNAEUS
might overlook it without any great impeachment of his discernment; he
says, indeed, that it has sometimes six: perhaps, the three lowermost
ones may, in some instances, be elongated so as to equal the others; if
he had observed the great inequality of their length, he would certainly
have mentioned it.

This species is found wild on the Pyrenean mountains; was an inhabitant
of our gardens in the time of PARKINSON (who has very accurately
described it, noticing even its three stamina) to which, however, it has
been a stranger for many years: it has lately been re-introduced, but is
as yet very scarce. Our figure was taken from a specimen which flowered
in Mr. LEE's Nursery at Hammersmith.

It grows with as much readiness as any of the others of the genus, and
flowers in March and April.

[49]

~Soldanella alpina. Alpine Soldanella.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ campanulata, lacero-multifida. _Caps._ 1-locularis, apice
multidentata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SOLDANELLA _alpina._ _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 194._

SOLDANELLA alpina rotundifolia. _Bauh. Pin. 295._

[Illustration: 49]

Of this genus there is at present only one known species, the _alpina_
here figured, which is a native of Germany, and, as its name imports, an
alpine plant.

Its blossoms are bell-shaped, of a delicate blue colour, sometimes
white, and strikingly fringed on the edge.

It flowers usually in March, in the open ground; requires, as most
alpine plants do, shade and moisture in the summer, and the shelter of a
frame, in lieu of its more natural covering snow, in the winter; hence
it is found to succeed best in a northern aspect: will thrive in an open
border, but is more commonly kept in pots.

May be increased by parting its roots early in autumn.

[50]

~Iris sibirica. Siberian Iris.~

_Class and Order._

~Triandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-petala, inaequalis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus.
_Stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. _Thunb. Diss. de Iride._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IRIS _sibirica_ imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti,
germinibus trigonis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab.