sheathing base, the rest broadly channelled, minutely striated, 
the margin quite entire, the apex rather apiculate than acumi- 
nate ; colour a full green; their length varies from one to two 
feet. Scape as long as the leaves, central, erect, almost resem- 
bling, with its young inflorescence, a head of Asparagus, below, 
at the very base, clothed with long, sterile, acuminated dracteas, 
above with short, ovate, acute, closely imbricated fertile ones, these 
of a bright and pale yellow-green, richly streaked with blackish- 
purple ; towards the apex of the spike they are tinged with red, 
and at the very apex they are rich scarlet. Calyw deeply cut 
into three oblong segments, rigid and white, erect. Corolla 
white. The other parts of the flower are as described in the 
generic character. 
Fig. 1. Bract, with its flower. 2. Corolla, laid open. 3. Pistil. 
