94 ALETRIS FARINOSA. 
of an oblong bell-shape, divided at the mouth into 
six acute, spreading segments. The outside, 
particularly as the flower grows old, has a rough- 
ish, wrinkled or mealy appearance, by which the 
specific name was suggested. The! stamens are 
short, inserted near the mouth of the corolla at 
the base of the segments. The circumstance 
of their being opposite to the segments, and not 
alternate with them, affords the most distinguish- 
ing mark of this genus. The anthers are some- 
what heart-shaped. Germ pyramidal, half infe- 
rior, tapering: style triangular, separable into 
three. Capsule invested with the permanent 
corolla, triangular, three celled, three valved at 
top. Seeds numerous, minute, fixed to a central 
receptacle. | 
The Aletris -awrea, of Miahiven and — 
elosely resembles this species, and it is difficult, 
by comparing specimens of the two, to point out 
any permanent distinctive marks. The leaves of 
A. aurea are somewhat narrower and the flowers 
bright yellow. Walter places it under A. farinosa’ 
as a variety, and adds that he could not detect a 
specific difference ; although the time of flowering 
and place of growth indicate that they are dis« 
tinct. In sensible properties they are. similar. 
