396 MESSES. P. MACOWAN AND H. BOLUS ON 



paruui superantia, 1-2 centim. longa, 2 millim. lata. Scapus sub- 

 nullus filiforinis umbellatus, 1-2- vel rarius 3-florus. Bractese 

 foliis subconformes, basi vaginantes, vetustiores 8-10 millim. 

 longa?. Pedicelli floriferi ascendentes subcarnosi flavi, fructiferi 

 decurvati indurantes diu persistentes, 6-8 millim. longi (apice 

 articulati ?). Perianthium pallide cseruleum, apice purpureo- 

 suffusum ; seginentis oblanceolatis subconformibus, medio tantum 

 leviter 3-nervatis, 6 millim. longis, 3 millim. latis, post anthesin 

 spiraliter contortis. Stamina inclusa, 3 exteriora profunde peri- 

 gyna, 3 interiora hypogyna breviora, filamentis dilatatis lanceo- 

 latis luteis, antheris ovatis obtusis. Ovarium semiovatum, stig- 

 mate punctiformi, stamina breviora aequante. Capsula subglobosa 

 leviter 3-lobata, 5 millim. longa et lata, loculicide dehiscens, 

 seminibus in loculis geminis collateralibus erectis translucenti- 

 bus. (v. v.) 



Sab. In saxoso cacumiue inferioris e duobus montibus " Win- 

 terbok" dictis, prope Tulbagh, in regione austro-occidentali 

 Colonise Capensis, alt. circa 6500 ped., flor. Nov. ; legit H. Bolus 

 (No. 5170). 



I know of no Cape plant to which this interesting little species 

 is allied. In habit it reminds one of a prostrate Wahlenbergia or 

 of Boella muscosa. Structurally it is nearest to Herpolirion, 

 hitherto known only from Australasia. The differences are chiefly 

 in the two erect collateral seeds of each cell of the capsule, and in 

 the spiral twisting of the withered perianth, a character not 

 always clearly exhibited. On turning to the beautiful figure of 

 H. Tasmania:, Hook, f., hi Sir J. D. Hooker's ' Mora of Tasmania,' 

 tab. 132, the structure and general habit are seen to be so 

 strikingly similar that I can hardly doubt the propriety of 

 regarding it as a Cape representative of that genus. If this be 

 correct, the generic character of Herpolirion must be modified to 

 admit it. I have never met with the plant elsewhere than on the 

 mountain above named; and the peak, which is not very easy of 

 access, has probably been seldom if ever visited by collectors. 



Gethtllis (§ Clinosttlis) lonoisttla, Bolus, n.sp.—G. 

 foliis squamoso-strigosis, rectis ; corollas tubo longo gracillimo ; 

 stylo longe exserto declinato. 



Bulbus ovatus vel ovato-rotundus, squamis exterioribus solutis, 

 tunicis interioribus in collo longo productis, pallide rubris. Folia 

 12-18, hysteranthia, e basi lata linearia, interdum involuta, 



