Tas. 5891. 
MASSONITA (ASTEMMA) ODORATA. 
Native of South Africa, 
Nat. Ord. Lit1aca.—Tribe HyactntHeEx. 
Genus Massonia, Linn. ; (Kunth. En. Plant., vol. iv. p. 29). 
Massonia (Astemma) odorata; bulbo ovoideo pallido, caule brevi 2-foliato, 
foliis 3-5 pollicaribus erectis anguste lanceolatis concavis obtusiusculis, 
scapo brevi, corymbo subcapitato, floribus 2-6 brevissime pedicellatis 
2-3 poll. longis albis odoris, bracteis obsoletis, perianthii tubo cylin- 
drico fauce paulo ampliato, limbi lobis subequalibus revolutis, corona 
0, staminibus fauci insertis 2-seriatis, filamentis brevibus, antheris 
parvis purpureis, ovario angusto, stylo filiformi recto glaberrimo, 
stigmate punctiformi, ovulis numerosis adscendentibus. 
A deliciously sweet-scented little Cape bulb, sent in 1866 
to the Royal Gardens, by D. Arnot, Esq., a valued corre- 
spondent, who resides in the remote district of Colesberg, under 
the 32nd parallel of N. latitude, bordering the Griqua terri- 
tory and Orange Free States, whence he has transmitted many 
rare and curious plants to Kew. It flowered in a cool house 
in October of last year. 
The affinity of Massonia with Hyacinthus was pointed out 
so long ago as in 1802, by Gawler, in this magazine (under 
M. ensifolia, t. 554); and again in 1843, by Kunth, who 
observes that these genera differ in the insertion of the 
stamens, which in MJassonia are higher up in the perianth- 
tube ; to this may be added the numerous ovules of Massonia, 
the usually longer stamens, and the filaments being in 
almost all the species, though not in this, dilated at the base, 
or connected intoa cup. Taking habit into consideration with 
other characters, it is possible that MWassonia may ultimately 
MARCH lst, 1871. 
