lus, of whose magnificence our figure can
exhibit but an imperfect idea, was introduced into this country from
Holland, a few years since, by Mr. GRAFFER, at present Gardener to the
King of Naples; and first flowered with Messrs. LEWIS and MACKIE,
Nurserymen, at Kingsland; a very strong plant of it flowered also this
summer at Messrs. GRIMWOODS and Co. which divided at top into three
branches, from one of which our figure was drawn.

It obviously differs from the other more tender plants of this genus, in
the colour of its flowers, which are of a fine scarlet, with large white
somewhat rhomboidal spots, on several of the lowermost divisions of the
Corolla; strong plants will throw up a stem three or four feet high.

It is most probably a native of the Cape, flowers with us in July and
August, and is increased by offsets from the bulbs; must be treated like
the Ixias and other similar Cape plants.

[136]

PELARGONIUM TETRAGONUM. SQUARE STALKED GERANIUM.

_Class and Order._

MONADELPHIA HEPTANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-partitus, lacinia suprema definente in tubulum capillarem,
nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _Cor._ 5-petala,
irregularis. _Filamenta_ 10, inaequalia: quorum 3 (raro 5)
castrata. _Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus: _rostra_ spiralia,
introrsum barbata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PELARGONIUM _tetragonum_ pedunculis bifloris, ramis tetragonis carnosis,
corollis tetrapetalis, _L'Herit. n. 72. t. 23._

GERANIUM _tetragonum_. _Linn. Suppl. p. 305._

[Illustration: No 136]

A vein of singularity runs through the whole of this plant, its stalks
are unequally and obtusely quadrangular, sometimes more evidently
triangular; its leaves few, and remarkably small; its flowers, on the
contrary, are uncommonly large, and what is more extraordinary have only
four petals; previous to their expansion they exhibit also an appearance
somewhat outre, the body of the filaments being bent so as to form a
kind of bow, in which state we have represented one of the blossoms in
our figure.

When it flowers in perfection, which it is not apt to do in all places,
the largeness of its blossoms renders it one of the most ornamental of
the genus.

There is a variety of it with beautifully coloured leaves, of which we
have availed ourselves in its representation.

It flowers from June, to August, and September; requires the same
treatment as the more common