Tas. 6585. 
BABIANA socorrana. 
Native of the Island of Socotra. 
Nat. Ord. Intpex. 
Genus Baprana, Ker.; (Baker in Journ. Linn, Soc. Lond. vol. xvi. p. 164.) 
BaBrana socotrana; parvula, acaulis, glaberrima, bulbi tunica reticulatim fibrosa, 
foliis anguste lanceolatis sensim acuminatis rigidulis plicatis et striato-nervosis, 
floribus solitariis parvis inter folia sessilibus, spathe valvis linearibus, peri- 
anthii tubo elongato gracillimo, limbo bilabiato ringente pallide violaceo, 
segmentis elliptico-lanceolatis acutis. ; 
This is one of the most remarkable discoveries of Dr. I. B. 
Balfour’s exploration of the Island of Socotra in 1879-80; 
the genus Babiana being previously known as South African 
only, though extending from the Cape itself as far north 
as the Transvaal. 
Hence in respect of the distribution of Cape types of 
vegetation, the occurrence of a Babiana to the north of 
the Equator, and especially so far east as the Arabian Sea, 
is a very interesting fact; for it is another instance of that 
botanical affinity of Socotra with the Cape which J have 
alluded to under Begonia socotrana (Tab. 6555). Singu- 
larly enough, no species of the genus occurs in Angola, or 
any of the collections from the Lake regions of Central 
Africa, where, however, it may be expected to occur when 
these are better botanically explored. 
I can find no generic difference at all between B. socotrana 
and the South African Babianas ; it is, however, much the 
smallest known species of the genus, and is one of the few 
that is perfectly glabrous. Its nearest affinity is with BP. 
plicata (Tab. 576). 
The Royal Gardens are indebted to Dr. Balfour for bulbs 
of this plant, which flowered in September, 1880, in the 
bulb-pit. 
OCTOBER Ist, 188] 
