130 rRIpEx (Baker). [ Acidanthera. 
XXVIII. ACIDANTHERA, Hochst. 
Perianth with a cylindrical tube slightly dilated towards the top; 
segments of the limb subequal, oblong or oblanceolate. Stamens 
unilateral, contiguous, arcuate, inserted at or a little below the throat 
of the perianth-tube ; filaments filiform ; anthers linear or lanceolate. 
Ovary 3-celled; ovules many, superposed; style long, filiform ; 
branches short, undivided, flattened, falcate. Capsule oblong, mem- 
branous, loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds globose or discoid and broadly 
winged. 
Rootstock a tunicated corm; leaves narrow linear; flowers few, arranged in a 
lax simple spike ; spathe-valves long, lanceolate, entire, herbaceous, 
Distr1B. Five species in Tropical Africa. 
Perianth-tube 2}~3 in. long: 
Segments of the limb oblanceolate : 
Leaves linear-subulate ... Se a ... (1) brachystachys. 
Leaves linear, 4-} in. broad. = ... (2) graminifolia. 
Segments of the limb oblong : ; 
Perianth-tube a little longer than the spathe... (3) forsythiana. 
Perianth-tube twice as long as the spathe ... (4) platypetala. 
Perianth-tube 14-2 in. long, exserted from the spathe : 
Only one basal leaf produced : 
Flowers in a short spike... - as as 5) flexuosa. 
Flowersinalaxspike ... ... {3 tubulosa, 
Two or more basal leaves produced : 
Flowers 1-2 in a spike: 
Segments of limb oblanceolate ...  ... (7) rosea. 
Segments of limb oblong: 
Perianth-tube a little longer than the 
spathe .. (8) pauciflora. 
Perianth-tube twice as long as the 
spathe - AS ei «. (9) brevicaulis. 
agit 2-6 in osnike 5 
ter spathe-valve Ag : 
Leaves grass-like ... (10) Huttoni, 
Leaves moderately firm ry ¥s ie Tysoni. 
: Outer spathe-valve brownish, acuminate... (12) capensis. 
Perianth-tube an inch long, not exserted from the 
STOO a ge ne ces ee es oo, (0) ovine, 
Perianth-tube very short .., ‘ (14) ixioides, 
1. A. brachystachys (Baker in Journ. Bot. 1876, 338); corm 
not seen; stem 4 ft. long including inflorescence, simple ; ba 
leaves 4-8, crowded, erect, narrow linear, subterete upwards, thick 
and rigid in texture, a foot long; flowers 4-6 in a lax spike ; spathe- 
valves lanceolate, acuminate, firm in texture, green, finely pubescent, 
distinctly ribbed, 14-13 in. long; perianth-tube slender, about 3 in. 
long ; segments of the limb oblanceolate, obtuse, cuspidate, 3 in. long, 
nearly white, erect ; stamens inserted at the throat of the perianth- 
tube ; anthers lanceolate, 2 in. long, equalling the filament. Journ. 
Linn. Soc, xvi, 160; Handb. Irid. 185. 
Coast Region: Clanwilliam Div., Mader in Herb. MacOwan, 2183! 
2, A. grawinifolia (Baker in Journ. Bot. 1876, 338); corm 
globose, 1 in. diam. ; tunies thick, fibrous, produced into long bristles 
eee see 
