upwards. Flowers arranged in raceme-like cymes; 
pedicels 3-24 in. long, prickly, usually bracteate ; bracts 
like the leaves, but smaller and sessile. Sepals 2, ovate, 
2 in. long, sparingly prickly externally. Petals 6-8, 
bright blue, sometimes flushed with purple and occasion- 
ally pale purple throughout, ovate-oblong, obtuse, 1}- 
14 in. long, 1-1} in. wide. Stamens numerous, several- 
- geriate; filaments glabrous, free, blue; anthers oblong, 
yellow. Ovary made up of 4 carpels, ovoid or subglobose, 
11 in, long, densely prickly ; style glabrous, 4 in. long; 
stigma pale yellow. Capsule subglobose or oblong, 3-3 
in. long, resting on a flattened enlarged torus } in. 
across. 
Figs. 1 and 2, stamens; 3, pistil; 4, sketch of an entire plant :—all enlarged 
except 4, which is much reduced. 
