558 CXL, LILIACEZ (BAKER). [ Scilla. 
38. S. Kirkii, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xiii. 254. Bulb large. 
Leaves thin, oblong, acute, 6-8 in. long, 14-2 in. broad at the middle, 
narrowed gradually into a long channelled petiole. Peduncle a foot 
long. Raceme lax, oblong, 5-6 in. long; central pedicels }—} in. long; 
bracts minute. Perianth cylindrical, green, slightly tinged with 
purple, } in. long; segments ligulate. Stamens shorter than the 
perianth ; filaments bright mauve-purple. 
Mozamb. Dist. German East Africa: Zanguebar, at “ Bibi Holly’s Shamba,” 
in a close plantation, 300 ft., Kirk, 66! 
39. S. textilis, Rendle in Journ. Linn. Soc. xxx. 427. Bulb ovoid, 
above 1 in. diam. Leaves 5-6, broadly ovate above the sheathing 
petiole, acuminate, 3-3} in. long, 14 in. broad at the middle, firm in 
texture, with many strong veins and a minutely wavy margin. Peduncle 
flexuose, 4-5 in. long. Raceme dense, oblong, 2-3 in. long; pedicels 
} in. long, spreading or cernuous; bracts minute, linear-subulate. 
Perianth greenish, 2-24 lin. long; segments ligulate from a broader 
base. Filaments lilac-purple. 
Mozamb. Dist. German East Africa: Unyamwezi; Uyui, Taylor. 
Imperfectly known species. 
40. S. gracillima, Engl. Pfl. Ost-Afr. C. 142. Whole plant 
4 in. high. Bulb ovoid. Leaves 2, narrowed into a petiole as long 
as the blade. Peduncle slender, longer than the leaves. Raceme lax, 
12-15-flowered; pedicels very slender, shorter than the perianth. 
Perianth campanulate-cylindric ; segments linear. 
Mozamb. Dist. Portuguese East Africa: Lower Zambesi valley, at Sena, 
Peters. 
28. MERENDERA, Ram.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. iii. 822. 
Perianth polyphyllous ; segments subequal, with long narrow con- 
nivent claws and lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate blades. Stamens 6, 
inserted at the base of the blade of the perianth-segments; filaments 
filiform; anthers linear or oblong, versatile or nearly basifixed. Ovary 
sessile, 3-celled; ovules superposed; styles 3, long, filiform; stigmas 
minute, capitate. Capsule septicidally 3-valved. Seeds subglobose; 
testa brown, opaque; albumen firm; embryo small.—Rootstock a 
tunicated corm. Leaves contemporary with the flowers. Peduncle 
very short. Flowers white or lilac. 
Nearly allied to Colchicum, from which it differs by its polyphyllous perianth. 
Species 15, the others East European and West Asiatic. 
1. M. abyssinica, A. Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss. ii. 337. Corm small, 
globose; tunics rigid, brown-black, produced over its neck; under- 
ground neck 1-2 in. long, furnished with a cylindrical membranous 
sheathing leaf. Leaves 2-6, linear, glabrous, ascending or spreading, 
2-3 in. long. Flowers 1-2, subsessile in the centre of the rosette of 
