Bulb clothed by feveral concentric wiry-fibrous tunies 
fitting on a rootftack that is convex and very fmooth beneath, 
above which and from: its bafe the fibres are radiately ex- 
truded. Leaves radical, feveral, recurved-recumbent round 
the ftem, broad-fubulate, channelled, carinate, triquetral, edged 
with a minutely {cabrous reverfely fubaculeate cartilage, fcarcely . 
perceptible but to the touch; ftem upright (fometimes twin) 
with a one-flowered long peduncle, both together refembling a 
one-jointed culm, the latter obtufely trigonal upwards, far 
‘fheathed by a leaf-like, convolute, upright bratte. Petals 
narrow-lanceolate, alternate ones narroweft and more in- 
clined to a linear form, Stigmas fhallowly feparating above, 
joined in a fagittated fhaft with three linear, decurrent, 
channelled-dehifcent. angles, equal to the anthers, as flyle is 
to the filaments, which are fubulate, thick, and very-thort. 
Flowers large, beautiful, expanding only when the fun fhiness 
laft feveral days; quite fcentlefs;. when clofed have the appear- 
ance of aperianth. Should be kept in a {mall pot of light 
earth in the greenhoufe; when the plant decays the bulbs 
fhould be kept dry, parted.and replanted early in Autumn. 
Found at the Cape by Tuunserc. Sent to the Kew | 
Garden by Mr. Masson in 1778. - ; < 
_.. Our drawing was taken at Meffrs. Corvitie’s Nurfery in 
the King’s-Road, Chelfea, where it flowered in May. . 
Few living fpecies being as yet introduced into our gardens, 
and thofe not feeding, we doubt if the above effential ‘cha- 
ra€ter will prove fufficiently determinate ; “but at all events 
the one ufually prefixed to this genus is too materially incor 
re& to be retained, G, 
a 
7 
