Descr. Leaves tufted, eight to ten inches and a foot in 
length, somewhat ensiform, broader upwards, the back 
dilated into a tube, very narrow for the greater part of the 
length, gradually enlarged towards the oblique mouth, 
which is terminated on the upper side by a nearly erect, 
ovato-lanceolate, slightly concave, acuminated appendage. 
Often the leaves are imperfect at the extremity, without 
tube, and without appendage. Scape, in our plant, two feet 
long, rounded, erect but wavy, curved at the apex so that 
the fine large flower is drooping. Involucre of three ovate 
leaves, pressed close to the flower. Calyx of five broadly 
ovate leaves or sepals, curved downwards at the extremity, 
the margins a little recurved, green, the base and sides 
red. Petals five, broadly-obovate, the base spreading, the 
rest suddenly decurved, flaccid, rich and deep red, greenish 
at the base. Stamens numerous. Anthers two-celled, yellow, 
each with a large opening at the extremity. Pistil: Ger- 
men roundish-ovate, green. Style short, dilated into an 
immense five-cleft, convex, membranous stigma, the seg- 
ments bifid, with a spur within, bent down: so that the 
whole covers the rest of the organs of fructification like a 
spread umbrella: the stigmatic surface being undermost, 
and slightly papillose. 
—_—_——_—____ 
Fig. 1. Stamen. 2. Pistil. 
