_Cor._ 6-partita, campanulata, regularis. _Stigmata_ 3.
IXIA _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus secundis corolia basi hyalino-fenestratis. _Thunb. Diss. de Ixia._ _Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. 14. Murr. p. 85._
IXIA _crocata_ foliis ensiformibus, floribus alternis, tubo longitudine bractearum, corollæ laminis ovatis integerrimis basi hyalinis. _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 60. V. 1._
IXIA planifolia, caule multifloro spatha brevissima. _Mill. Ic. 160. t. 239. f. 2._
To the Cape of Good Hope, that never-failing source of rare and beautiful plants, we are indebted for most of our Ixias, and among others for the present species, which though not of that value, nor possessing the delicacy or fragrance of the blossoms of some others, is a very desirable plant, not only as an object of curiosity, from the transparency of the base of the corolla, but as it adds much to the brilliancy of a collection, is easily obtained, and as easily propagated.
It flowers in May and June, but its flowering may be prolonged by putting its bulbs into pots at different periods, or accelerated by artificial heat.
It produces offsets more plentifully than many of the genus.
Mr. AITON informs us that it was cultivated by Mr. MILLER in 1758, who figures it in his _Icones_.
CORONILLA VALENTINA. RUE-LEAVED CORONILLA.
_Cal._ 2-labiatus: 2/3: dentibus superioribus connatis. _Vexillum_ vix alis longius. _Legumen_ isthmis interceptum.
CORONILLA _valentina_ fruticosa, foliolis subnovenis, stipulis suborbiculatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 669._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. V. 3. p. 58._
POLYGALA valentina. _Clus. hist. pl. rar. p. 98. fig. inf._
The _Coronilla valentina_ comes very near to the _glauca_ already figured in this work, but may be distinguished by a little attention; the _valentina_ has smaller leaves, which are more numerous, and more truly glaucous; the stipulæ, which in the _glauca_ are small, narrow, and pointed, in the _valentina_ are large, and almost round, and in the young plant are strikingly conspicuous; as the plant comes into flower, they drop off; the _valentina_ is not so much disposed to flower the year through as the _glauca_, but produces its blossoms chiefly in May, June, and July; the flowers of the _glauca_ are observed to smell more strongly in the day-time, those of the _valentina_ at all times diffuse a very powerful odour, so as even to scent a small greenhouse; we have often been amused with hearing the different opinions entertained of this smell, some speaking of it in terms of rapture, others ready to faint when they approach it: the flowers of the _valentina_ are more disposed to produce seed-vessels than those of the _glauca_, the seeds of which usually ripen well, and afford the means of increasing the plant most readily. To have a succession of small handsome bushy plants for the greenhouse, the old ones must either be frequently cut down, or young ones raised from seed, or cuttings, the stems as they grow up becoming naked at bottom.