under cultivation with Dr. Caspary, N. zanzibariensis 
flowers only from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the flower expands 
on five successive days, and cannot fertilize itself. Of 
N. capensis the flower is open from 5 to 7 a.m. till 1 to 
3 p.m., expands on five successive days, and cannot fertilize 
itself. Of N.ceerulea the flower is open from 8 a.m. till 2 p.m., 
expands on four successive days, and does fertilize itself. 
Of N. stellata the flower is open from 8 a.m. till 2 p.m., 
expands on three successive days, and fertilizes itself even 
in the bud. How far these characters will stand the test 
of cultivation in other houses (they do not at Kew) of 
different conditions of light, heat and water, and, above 
all, how far they will prove constant in plants raised from 
seeds collected in other localities, remains to be proved. 
Be this as it may, it is impossible to exaggerate the value 
of such careful and conscientious observations, which ought | 
to be repeated on plants growing in their native country. 
N. zanzibariensis was introduced into Europe in 1877 by 
Dr. Hildebrandt. The species has no rival except the 
Australian N. gigantea (Plate 4647), the flowers of which 
are even larger, attaining a foot in diameter, but they are 
of a much paler blue. As with N. gigantea, the flowers of 
young tubers are small, and enlarge as these gain size and 
strength. 
The plant here figured was raised from a small tuber 
received from the Berlin Botanical Gardens in 1882, which 
flowered in 1883. The first flowers were small, as figured 
in “The Garden.” At Kew the flowers open at noon and 
close at night; are deliciously fragrant, and remain some- 
times a fortnight before being submerged for the ripening 
of the seed. 
Derscr. Leaves orbicular, 10 to 12 inches in diameter, 
obtusely sinuate-crenate, with 12 to 14 radiating nerves on 
each side of the mesial line, deep green above, paler beneath. 
Flowers 6 to 8 inches in diameter, deep blue. Sepals deep 
green externaily, with a suffused coppery red intermarginal 
band, dark blue within. Petals 18 to 30, oblong, obtuse. 
Stamens 150 to 250; filaments broad, yellow; anthers 
linear, blue; connective produced into a long point. 
Carpels 15 to 30, free part triangular-oblong.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Section of peduncle; 2, tuft of hairs from the air-passages; 3 and 4, 
stamens ; 5, ovary and top of peduncle :—al/ but fi 9g. 5 enlarged, 
