of the Hortus Kewcnsis^ upon a suggestion of our own in an 

 observation subjoined to the generie character of Gethylus, 

 at the place we have cited above. All have a resemblance 

 in habit to Colchicum, by the germen from radical and 

 subterraneous, becoming a stalked fruit above gi'onnd ; and 

 by the foliage from sliort during inflorescence, becoming 

 greatly longer and acqumng its complete size while the fruit 

 ripens. 



The present species is native of the Cape of Good Hope ; 

 and was introduced by Mr. Masson in 1788. It varies with 

 a smooth foliage, and with one that is slightly furred and 

 ciliate. Specimens of both are preserved in the Banksian 

 Herbarium. The drawing was taken at the nm-sery of 

 Messrs. Whitley, Brames, and Milne, at Fulham, where it 

 is kept along with other Cape bulbs in a garden-pit or 

 frame. 



Bulb depressed, twdce the size of a hazel-nut or more, 

 with a membrano-fibrous, reticulated tunic. Leaves radical, 

 from one to three, lineai'ly ensiform, long-tapered towards 

 the point, slightly plaited or striate, during the flowering of 

 the plant upnght and about two or three inches high, but 

 growing to the length of eight or ten inches during the 

 fruiting of the same, enclosed at the lower part by a 

 root-sheath. Flowers sessile, few, scentless, standing upon 

 the root. Spathes few, pale, membranous, surrounding the 

 base of the corolla. Tube of the corolla looking like a pe- 

 duncle or stalk to the flower, very long, filiform, tz'iangular, 

 straight: limb deep yellow, sixparted, flatly stellate; seg- 

 ments lanceolate, long-pointed or acuminate, streakletted, 3 

 alternate ones partly green at the back, 3 entirely so. Fila- 

 ments deep yellow, very short, upright, subulate. Anthers 

 pale yellow, large, obtuse, upnght. Germen linear, trian- 

 gular, compressed. Stifle grown to the inside of the tube, 

 yellow, very short beyond the tube. Stigma yellow, semi- 

 trifid, lobes nearly upright, linear, pointed. 



