Tas, 6665. 
DORYANTHES Pacmnrr. 
Native of Queensland. 
Nat. Ord. AmarYLuIpex.—Tribe AGAVER. 
Genus Doryantues, Oorr. ; (Benth. et Hook. J. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p. 739, ined.) 
DoryantueEs -Palmeri; foliis perplurimis patentim recurvis 5-6-pedalibus 4-6 
poil. latis anguste ensiformi-lanceolatis subplicatis nervis crassis prominulis, 
apice in tubum sphacelatum cylindraceum 4-5-poll. abrupte angustatis, caule y. 
scapo stricto elato 6-10-pedali foliis parvis erectis lineari-lanceolatis instructo, 
inflorescentia thyrsoidea bracteata e spicis perplurimis paucifloris secus rhachim 
brevem crassam constante, bracteis coloratis exterioribus vaginantibus oblongis 
acutis interioribus lanceolatis concavis floribus brevioribus, perianthii tubo 
supra ovarium coloratum. brevissime, segmentis lineari-oblongis obtusis extus 
‘coccineis erecto-patentibus, interioribus dorso crasse ‘costatis, filamentis inferne 
incrassatis, antheris breviter oblongis. ; 
D. Palmeri, W. Hill MSS.; Benth. Fl. Austrat. vol. vi. p. 402; Gard. Chron. 
1874, vol. i. p. 181, ewm ic. xylog. f. 44, 45 (icones in Fl. des Serres iterate et 
incaute colorate), ef-I881, vol. i. p. 408, f. 64; Regel Gartenfl. 1874. 
When, in the very commencement of ‘this century, the 
prototype of the genus Doryanthes (D. excélsa, Plate 1685) 
flowered for the first time in Europe, it was regarded as 
one of the wonders of the vegetable kingdom; and all the 
more so from the singular fact that the above-mentioned 
flowering was that of a solitary flower “which came to per- 
fection at Kew from a portion of stem without roots, which 
had been cut many months before in New Holland.” This 
fact, overlooked by some of the later historians of the 
genus, is recorded by its founder, Dr. Correa de Serra, in 
the sixth volume of the Linnaan Society’s ‘Transactions, 
where the genus is well figured and described in a paper 
read December 2nd, 1800. Though very rarely flowering 
im this country, D. ewcelsa-has continued in cultivation in 
establishments provided with space enough for so gigantic 
an amaryllid, along with its allies, the Fourcroyas and 
JANUARY Ist, 1883. 
