Lindl., also a South African plant, which differs in the 
more robust habit, smaller flower and shorter spurs; there 
is, however, a variety of sphxrocarpwm with small and pure 
white flowers (see fig. 4 of the accompanying plate) which 
was received at Kew from Natal along with the larger 
form, and flowered at the same time. This latter, indeed, 
is the typical spherocarpum, according, as it does, in the 
size of the flower with the original plant described from 
Delagoa Bay; but whereas the large flowered form has by 
far the greatest range, it should be regarded as the natural 
type, and the smaller flowered as a variety. The varietal 
names of micrantha and macrantha would meet the diffi- 
culty of nomenclature. 
Tubers of S. sphxerocarpum were sent to Kew in March, 
1892, by Mr. Medley Wood, A.L.S., Curator of the Botanic 
Gardens, Durban, Natal, and flowered in the Temperate 
House in October of the same year. The name sphero- 
carpum 18 not a very appropriate one, the fruit being 
shortly oblong as in many other species.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Flower; 2, column; 3, pollinium, all enlarged; 4, flower of variety 
of the natural size. 
