obferves that all the plants of this order which have fpathaceous 

 cauline leaves are fubject to branch, it may probably be fome- 

 times polyitachious. Spathes green, fphacelate towards the 

 point, keeled, and much fiiorter than the tube. Corolla about 

 three inches long. Tube twice as long as the throat, into 

 which it gradually widens, and is joined by a geniculate cur- 

 vature. Segments horizontally fpreading, equal, acuminate, 

 as long as the throat, margins of the alternate ones ilightly re- 

 volute. Stamens clofely accumbent, equal to the throat. An- 

 thers deep blue. Style projecting nearly equal to the fegments. 

 The bulb is fmaller than in many of its congeners and roundiih. 



The length of the tube, relative to the faux, is the perma- 

 nent fpecific diftinftion ; for although Jacouin defcribes the 

 fegments, tube, and faux, as of equal length, his own figure 

 Ihews his mi (take. As fome authors fpeak of thefe flowers 

 having a double tube, it mav not be amifs to mention here, 

 that, in Mr. G awi.rr's defcriptions, that part only, to which 

 the filaments are joined, is called tube, where thefe become 

 free the faux begins, and extends to the bale, of the fegments 

 of the limb. 



Our figure was drawn laft July from a plant at MelTrs. 

 Grimwood and Wykks's, who imported it fome time fince 

 from the Cape. Mr. Alderman Hibbert poffeffes a variety 

 with deep purple (lowers, but with the mouth always of a 

 deeper colour in the inhde. 



All the Watson ias flower late in the Summer, or m 

 Autumn. 



Befides the Watsonia aletroides and rofeo-alba, the follow- 

 ing lift, with others not yet defcribed, will rank under this 

 genus, as above defined : 



Ixia marginal a. rlit. Kezv. 



Gladiolus iridifolius. Willd. but not his fynonym of Gla- 

 diolus cardinalis. Schneeve. 



Gladioli iridifolii v arte Lis. > J acq. Ic. rar. 

 Gladiolus laccatus. Id. 

 Antholyza meriana. Linn. 

 Antholyz^ meriana varietas. 

 Watsonia bumilis. Miller. 



