bluish-green, clothed with exceedingly minute furfuraceous scales, 
canaliculate, the upper half reflexed, dilated below, so as to form 
a concave convolute base, the margins for the whole length be- 
set with slightly curved dark-brown spiny ¢eeth, longest and 
strongest towards the base. Scape central, scarcely rising above 
the sheathing bases of the upper leaves, and bearing six to eight, 
spreading, large, coloured (scarlet), broad-lanceolate, acuminated 
(but not mucronated), denticulated, concave dracts, immediately 
above which the spzse, oblong-cylindrical, short (four inches 
long), terminates the scape. ‘The flowers are glomerated upon 
the spike. Partial bract so large and broad as to surround the 
whole base of the flower, or ovary, green, membranaceous, stri- 
ated, tipped with a strong dark-brown spine or mucro. Calyx of 
three, convolute, large, membranous, yellow-green sepals, tipped 
with a spiny mucro, like that of the partial bract. Petals three, 
erect, or slightly twisted, connivent, orange-yellow, streaked with 
dark purple-brown at the back, oblong, concave, tipped with a 
hard, brown, spinous mucro: within each petal, at the base, are 
two, membranaceous, white, fimbriated scales. Stamens six, three 
alternate with the petals free ; the others have the long filaments 
combined with the disc of the petals, the apex and the oblong 
anthers only being free. Ovary turbinate, inferior: style nearly 
as long as the petals, dilated upwards: stigmas three, convolute, 
fimbriated. Fruit a pyramidal Jerry of a rich blue, similar to 
that represented in our 4. Mertensii, Tab. 3186. 
Fig. 1. Flower and partial bract. 2. Petal and two stamens. 3. Pistil, 
from which the petals and stamens are removed :—magnified. 
