extremely shy bloomer ; it probably lives to a great age before 
flowering, after which it dies. It seems entirely to fail under 
pot culture, but Mr. Maw informs me that M. Boissier has 
succeeded in growing it by wedging the rosettes firmly 
into the crevices of a brick wall with a northern exposure. 
Mr. Ellacombe has found it intolerant of frost at Bitton, near 
Bristol. 
Descr. Rosettes five to seven inches in diameter, concave, — 
becoming convex at the time of flowering, bright green. 
Leaves three-quarters of an inch to two inches long, inner- 
most shortest, very numerous, densely imbricated, spathulate, 
mucronate, margin cartilaginous, with setaceous cilia below, 
entire towards the apex. Inflorescence a narrow thyrsoid 
panicle with a fistulose rachis, five to twelve inches high, 
more or less densely hairy; bracts linear-spathulate ; 
peduncles 1—2-flowered, with one or two linear-lanceolate 
bracteoles. lowers half an inch long, slightly nodding. 
Calyx obconical, densely clothed with gland-tipped hairs ; 
lobes lanceolate, mucronulate. Petals pale lilac, twice as long 
as the calyx-lobes and stamens, spathulate, obtuse, 5-nerved. 
Ovary three-celled; styles capitate. Capsule globular.— 
ds led. 
Fig. 1, Leaf of a rosette; 2, do. back; 3, transverse section; 4, flower; 
5, do. calyx, limb, and petals removed; 6, transverse section of ovary :— 
all magnified. 
