[Illustration: No 82]

To Mr. LEE, of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, the first, and as we
understand, the only Nurseryman as yet in possession of this plant,
which has but lately been introduced into this country from the Cape, we
are indebted for the present specimen.

Mr. JACQUIN, jun. who has figured and described it in the _Acta
Helvetica_, gives it the name of _Lachenalia_, in honour of WARNERUS
de la CHENAL, a very eminent Swiss Botanist, and the particular
friend of the late illustrious HALLER. Our readers should be
informed, that it had before been called by two other different names,
viz. _Hyacinthus orchiodes_, and _Phormium aloides_, under the latter of
which it now stands in the 14th edition of the _Systema Vegetabilium_,
as well as that of _Lachenalia_.

Its trivial name of _tricolor_ it receives from the three colours
observable in the flowers; but it must be noticed, that it is only at
the middle period of its flowering, that these three colours are highly
distinguishable; as it advances, the brilliant orange of the top flowers
dies away; the spots on the leaves also, which when the plant is young,
give it the appearance of an orchis, as it advances into bloom become
less and less conspicuous.

Like most of the Cape plants, the _Lachenalia_ requires to be sheltered
in the winter; during that season it must therefore be kept in a
greenhouse, or hot-bed frame, well secured.

It flowers in the spring, but its blowing may be accelerated by the