of Portugal,
and as its flowers were uncommonly beautiful, he was induced to name it
_formosus_.

It approaches so near to the _Cistus halimifolius_ in point of habit, in
the form and colour of its leaves and flowers, that we are inclined
rather to regard it as a variety of that plant, than as a distinct
species; at the same time it must be allowed to be a very striking
variety, the flowers being at least thrice as large as those of the
_halimifolius_ usually are, and the whole plant more hairy: as an
ornamental shrub, it is highly deserving a place in all curious
collections.

It will grow very well in the open border in warm sheltered situations,
it may be kept also in a pot, by which means it may more readily be
sheltered during the winter, either in the greenhouse or under a frame.

It flowers early in May, and may be increased by cuttings.

[Illustration: No 264]

[Illustration: No 265]

[265]

IXIA BULBOCODIUM. CROCUS-LEAV'D IXIA.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 1-petala, tubulosa; tubo recto, filiformi; limbo 6-partito,
campanulato, aequali. _Stigmata_ tria, simplicia. _Thunb. Diss.
de Ixia._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

IXIA _Bulbocodium_ scapo unifloro brevissimo, foliis angulatis
caulinis, stigmatibus sextuplicibus. _Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. p.
76._

IXIA _Bulbocodium_ scapo ramoso, floribus solitariis, foliis
sulcatis reflexis. _Thunb. Diss. n. 3._

CROCUS vernus angustifolius. 1. 11. _Clus. Hist. i. p. 207._
violaceo flore, 208. _ejusd._

There are three plants cultivated in the gardens of the curious to which
_Bulbocodium_ is applied, either as a generic or a trivial name, viz.
_Narcissus Bulbocodium_, _Bulbocodium vernum_, already figured, and the
present plant: the _Ixia Bulbocodium_ and _Bulbocodium vernum_ are given
in this work, not so much for their beauty as their rarity, not so much
to gratify the eye, as to communicate a knowledge of two plants but
little known, and liable to be confounded from a similarity of their
names.

This is one of the few hardy species of the genus, and grows wild in
many parts of Spain and Italy; it is said to have been found in
Guernsey: it affects hilly and dry situations, will grow readily in
almost any soil, especially if fresh, and not infested with vermin: it
flowers about the middle of April, the blossoms do not expand fully
unless expos