_triandrus_ is white, ours is pale yellow, but colour is not in the
least to be depended on, for it is found to vary in this as in all the
other species; his _triandrus_ he describes as having in general 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 LINNÆUS
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.~