Descr. From an erect, shrubby stem, there spring a few 

 short branches, clothed with large, obovato-spathulate, ob- 

 tuse, but mucronated leaves, tapering below into a short 

 though broad footstalk. From the apex of these branches 

 the peduncle has its origin, this is a foot or more high, and 

 forms at the top a large, branching, compound panicle; 

 branches compressed, and bordered with broad, flat, or 

 slightly waved, foliaceous wings, broadest upwards ; the 

 pedicels, or ultimate branchlets, assume a cuneate form, from 

 the wing narrowing below. Small, ovate, cuspidate brac- 

 teas are at the base of the ramifications. The flowers are 

 large (for the Genus), handsome, and two or three arise 

 together from four or five large, imbricated, sheathing 

 bracteas, green, with a brown, membranaceous edge. 

 Calyx with the limb large, spreading, dentato-crenate at 

 the margin, of a rich, purple-blue colour, with five yellow 

 radiated lines, like a star. Petals white. 



Fig. 1. Flowers and Bractea: — magnified. 



