segments are much longer than the tube, and the bracts 

 are much lai-ger than in that group. None of its allies 

 are found near its habitat, all being South African. It is 

 therefore of high interest in point of view of geographical 

 distribution. A further exploration of Arabia may bring 

 other allies to our knowledge." 



Dr. Schweinfurth discovered this species on Mt. Schibam 

 above Menacha in Southern Arabia, near the old castle, 

 at about nine thousand five hundred feet (two thousand 

 nine hundred met.) above the sea. 



Descr. — Stem very stout, twenty inches high by four in 

 diameter, with a single decliuate head of leaves. Leaves 

 about two feet long, by six inches broad, densely rosulate, 

 sub-falcate, spreading and recurved, ensiformly lanceolate, 

 about three-fourths of an inch thick, narrowed into a 

 rather obtuse point, pale green, with a faint, violet bloom, 

 nearly flat above; convex beneath, margins horny, red, 

 armed, except towards the tip, with rather distant, shortly 

 incurved, red spines. Sca/pe ascending, bearing two 

 branches terminated by large cylindric spikes, each two to 

 three feet long, densely clothed with imbricating, pendulous, 

 pale red flowers. Perianth an inch and a half long, 

 cylindric, one-third of an inch diameter. Segments connate 

 for one-third of their length, tips spreading, pale, outer 

 with three darker greenish lines, inner with a broader, 

 central, red band. Filaments exserted for about one-fourth 

 of their length; anthers oblong, dark ochroleucous, at 

 length brownish black. — J. D. H. 



Fig. 1, bracts; 2, stamen and pistil; 3, pistil: — all except 1 enlarged. 



