Tab. 7879. 

 ACIDANTHERA Candida. 

 Native of East Tropical Africa. 



Nat. Ord. Iride*.— Tribe IxikjE. 

 Genus Acidanthera, Hochst.; (Benth $ Hooh.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 706.) 



Acidanthera Candida ; herba gracilis, glaberrima, cormo globoso, caule sim- 

 plici 2-3-ioliato 2-4-floro basi vaginato, foliis linearibus acuminata I-14 

 pedalibus \ poll, latis rigidis costa prominula nervi3 obscuris, spatha 

 exteriore 2£ poll, longa lanceolata herbacea, floribns alliis odonferis, 

 perianthii tubo fere recto graoili 3i-pollicari, limbi 2 poll. diam. segmentis 

 1| poll, longis, ovato-rotundatis subacutis obtusisve, filamentis brevibus, 

 antheris \ poll, longis rectis, connectivo dorso ruguloso in appendiceal 

 validam pnbernlam conico-subulatam producto, stigmatis raniia magms 

 spathulatis fimbriatis patenti-recurvis. 



A. Candida, Bendle in Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. vol. xxx. (1895) p. 404 



Acidanthera Candida is described by Dr. Rendle, F.L.S., 

 as a native of woodless, undulating grassy steppes at 

 Lairjoro, in the Athi plains, Eastern tropical Africa, 

 where it was discovered in 1893 by Prof. J. W. Gregory, 

 F.R.S., of the Geological Department of the British 

 Museum (now of Melbourne University). Its nearest 

 affinity is, he says, with A. laxlflora, Baker (" Handbook 

 of IrideaB," p. 188) a native of the slopes of Kiliman- 

 jaro, from which it differs in its more robust habit, firm, 

 narrow, linear leaves, its more linear outer spathe- valve, 

 and broad, pure white perianth-segments. 



The genus Acidanthera consists of about eighteen 

 species, chiefly natives of the hilly regions of tropical 

 Eastern Africa. It is almost too closely allied to Tritonia, 

 through A. capensis, Benth. Two species only have pre- 

 viously been figured in this work : A. equinoctial U , Baker, 

 of Abyssinia, t. 7393, and A. capensis, Benth., of the Cape 

 Colony (Tritonia capensis, Ker), t. 618 and 1531. 



The Koyal Gardens, Kew, are indebted to J. T. Bennett 

 Foe, Esq., of Ashley Place, London, for the plant of 

 A. Candida here figured, which flowered in the Cape House 

 in April, 1902. 



Deter. — A slender, erect, glabrous, leafy herb. Gorm 

 globose. Stem a foot to a foot and a half high, slender, 

 February 1s>t, 1903. 



