* 



MB. J. G. BAKER ON HYPOXIDACEiE. 95 



each with its corresponding stamen, and the ovary trilocular and 

 strictly inferior. Taking the organs one by one, the following 

 are their pricipal characters and variations. 



Hoot-stock. — We have two principal types of root-stock in the 

 tribe : the commonest, a firm perennial tuber with a thin rind, 

 which is sometimes as large as a turnip, is crowned outside the 

 tuft of leaves and scapes of the year with the withered relics of 

 the year before in the shape of fibres or brown membranes. This 

 type is shown through Molineria, JEuhypoxis, and Fucurculigo. 

 The other type is an annual corm, like that of a Crocus, with 

 several tunics of interlacing or honeycombed fibres. This type 

 is shown in Pauridia, in the subgenus lanihe of Hypoxis, and the 

 subgenus Forbesia of Curculigo ; so that the difference between 

 two kinds of root-stock separates both the two principal genera 

 of the Order into two unequal halves. The new annual corms 

 originate from the top of the old ones, and are consequently flat- 

 tened at the base. The root-fibres are usually cylindrical and 

 fleshy in texture. 



L 



eaves. 



multaneouslv 



the flowers, and are grass-like or coriaceous in texture, never 

 fleshy and evanescent as in the typical bulbous Amaryllideae. In 

 the perennial species of Hypoxis they often show a distinct trifa- 

 rious arrangement. They are never equitant and flattened later- 

 ally, as is so common in Iridacese and Hsemadoraceae. In Hypoxis 

 and Pauridia they are sessile, dilated at the base, not plicate in 

 the blade, and in shape rarely subterete, usually either linear or 

 lanceolate. In Forbesia they are narrow and sessile, but di- 

 stinctly plicate. In Molineria and Curculigo proper they are 

 always petioled and very distinctly plicate, linear, or lanceolate, 

 narrowed very gradually from the middle to both ends. In Cur- 

 culigo seychellensis we have a very large bifid, plicate, palm-like 

 leaf, with a long petiole, armed with stout pungent prickles. 



Pubescence. — In Pauridia and the annual species 

 we have all parts of the plant quite glabrous. In 

 Curculigo, and the perennial species of Hypoxis, hairs are present 

 in greater or smaller quantity. They are most constant and plen- 

 tiful on the scapes and ovaries, and usually extend more or less 

 to the leaf, especially its underside, and to the outside of the 

 three outer segments of the perianth. The pubescence varies 

 greatly, not only in quantity, but in character, but is never glan- 

 dular, as is so conspicuously the case in the neighbouring tribe 



Hypoxis 

 Molineria, 



