of the genus, for while Gawler refers this plant to his original 
Ophiopogon (O. Japonicus), Richard constitutes of the latter a 
distinct genus, by the name of Fhiggea. Gawler’s artist has not 
done justice to the plant in his figure above quoted, for the 
graceful habit, broad, grassy leaves, and the long spike of bright 
purple-blue flowers, render it a pretty object. It is a native of 
Cochin China, China, and Japan; but not, as has been stated, of 
Northern India, where a similar but different species is found. 
Our plants were raised from seeds sent by Pemberton Hodg- 
son, Hsq., from Hakodadi, in Japan, and the flowers are in per- 
fection in a cool greenhouse in October, 1862. 
Derscr. Leaves all radical, six inches to a foot long, subgra- 
mineous, narrow, linear-lanceolate, obtuse, three-nerved, and 
obscurely striated ; at the base they are surrounded by a few. 
membranaceous scales. Scape erect, dark livid-purple, angular, 
longer than the leaves, and terminated by a spicated raceme six 
to twelve inches long. The flowers are rather small, in fascicles 
or clusters of three to five, which are bracteated; dracts ovate 
acuminated. Pedicels short, green, upon which the flowers are 
jomted at the very apex. Perianth deep violet-blue, subcam- 
panulate, divided down to the ovary into six, moderately spread- 
ing, ovate-oblong, obtuse concave segments. Sfamens six, sub- 
erect, much shorter than the segments of the perianth. Fila- 
ments short, filiform, moderately incurved. Axthers linear-ob- 
long, bright yellow, scarcely sagittate at the base. Ovary free, 
depressed, three-lobed, the lobes globose, two-lobed, 2-ovuled ; 
ovules collateral. Sty/e columnar, about as long as the stamens ; 
stigma obtuse, not sensibly divided. 
Fig. 1. Fascicle of flowers from a portion of the rachis. 2. Base of flower ; 
ovary and style :—doth magnified. 
