of the leaves, which form a clearly defined and singular con- 
trast both to the bright green of the upper surface and the 
glaucous dull green of the lower surface of the leaf. 
Drscr. Tufted, stemless. Leaves twelve to fourteen inches 
long by one and a half to two inches broad, inner shorter, 
broadly strap-shaped from a very broad sheathing base, 
slightly concave, points rounded with a beak-like cusp, 
margin with small remote spiny teeth, upper surface dark 
green except the tip, which presents a bright blood-red 
patch half an inch deep on both surfaces; under surface 
covered with alternate dull green and dirty white lepidote 
transverse bands; towards the base of the leaf the green 
bands are purplish. FVowers numerous in a crowded terminal 
flat-topped fascicle, one and three quarters to two inches in 
diameter, sunk amongst the uppermost leaves, spinulose 
from the prominent bracts, which are lanceolate concave, rose- 
purple above the middle, and terminate in acicular points. 
Ovary ovoid, white. Calyzx-limb of three elliptic blood-red seg- 
ments, terminating in erect acicular points, which equal the 
corolla-tube.  Corolla-tube ‘pale, obtusely 3-angled; limb 
three quarters of an inch diameter, of three spreading and 
recurved ovate acuminate violet-blue segments. Anthers 
linear-oblong, sessile in the mouth of the tube.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Whole plant reduced ; 2, flower and bracts; 38, portion of tube 
and a segment of corolla with anthers; 4, ovary :—all magnified. 
