OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 457 



long), 1^ or 2 lines wide, plicate and retrorsely scabrous on the margins 

 of the folds : stems 1 ^ to 2 feet high, subterete, smooth, with two rather 

 rigid bracts at first plicate and retrorsely spiuulose-scabrous : spathes 

 terminal, nearly equal and equalling the pedicels (IJ to 2 inches long), 

 smooth, 1-4-flowered : periantli 9 lines long, concolorous both sides, 

 the outer segments cuneate-obovate, abruptly short-acuminate, violet, 

 the inner with a short broadly cuueate claw, broadly elliptical with a 

 subhastate base, blue-violet with an obtuse orange-colored apiculatiou, 

 and an angular band of yellow connecting the basal lobes : stamineal 

 column 3 lines long; anthers 2 lines long, with a broad connective, 

 equalling the style-divisions: capsule oblong-obovate, G lines long. 

 Rio Blanco, among grass near water; July. (182.) — " Cacomite " ; 

 the bulbs are sold in the markets, and eaten either boiled or roasted. 



SisYRiNCHiUM ? A yellow-flowered short-leaved species. 



Rio Blanco, in moist places; June. (18.) 



Zephyranthes pallida, Roem. Flowers white turning to dark 

 pink. Rio Blanco, in rich moist places; June. (72.) 



Sprekelia formosissima. Herb. Rio Blanco, on shady ledges 

 and hillsides ; June. (71.) 



Bomarea affinis, Kunth? Glabrous throughout, or the leaves 

 very slightly pubescent beneath near the base ; perianth tipped with 

 green, at first sulphur-color, then salmon, dotted with brown. Tequila, 

 in the barranca, among underbrush. (420.) 



Prochntanthes * VIRIDESCENS. Glabrous : flowerinor stem 4 to 

 6 feet high, from a short caudex covered with broad clasping bracts 

 (4 to 6 inches long, and at length wholly fibrous), few-leaved near the 

 base: leaves a foot long or more by 1 to 1^ inches broad, acuminate, 

 attenuate below into a long winged petiole, somewhat scabrous espe- 

 cially on the margins; bracts above few and distant; floral bracts 

 lanceolate, half an inch long: pedicels ascending, 1 to IJ inches long: 

 flowers greenish yellow with a tinge of brown; ovary narrowly oblong, 



* PROCHNYANTHES; new genus of Agavece. Perianth persistent, its tube 

 sub-cylindrical at base, abruptly geniculate and dilated, with erect equal lobes. 

 Stamens inserted at the base of the throat, nearly equalling the lobes ; filaments 

 filiform, free; anthers linear, dorsifixed. Ovary 3-celled; ovules numerous; 

 style filiform ; stigmas oblong. Capsule membranaceous, sub-globose, loculi- 

 cidally dehiscent. Seeds numerous, flat-compressed, subdeltoid ; testa dark, 

 close. — Stem erect from a short thick erect bract-covered caudex, simple, leafy 

 below, sparingly bracteate above. Leaves unarmed, linear lanceolate, petiolate, 

 subcoriaceous, many-veined. Flowers racemose, on jointless pedicels, somewhat 

 fascicled (1 to 3) in the axils. 



This genus is closely related to Polijanthes, differing in its habit and foliage 

 and in the characters of the perianth. 



