— 307 — 



Fig. 2, Branch of the panicle with numerous bulbils and a flower (XVs)- 



the single branches with small brown membranous bracts. Flowers 



solitary, with 1 — 2 bulbils (Fig. 2). These are of very varying 



sizes, the largest 3,5 cm long, 1,5 cm broad, very compressed, with 



3 — 5 visible leaves, not densely united 



like a biilb (Fig. 6, 7). Bulbils also are 



developed in the axils of the upper bracts 



of the scape below the inflorescence. The 



flowérs on pedicels ^/g — 1 cm long, cer- 



nuous, with 6 cream-coloured perianth- 



segments and of a faint scent. The outer 



segments 1,4 cm long, 0,6 cm broad, the 



inner a little broader (Fig. 3, 4). Stamens 



much shorter than the perianth-seg- 



ments. Filaments 2,5 mm long, at the 



base 1 mm thick, upwards subulate. 



Anthers 4 mm long, 1,5 mm thick, versa- 



tile (Fig. 5). Ovary 8 mm long, 2 mm 



thick, its transverse section obtiise tri- 



angular. Style 5 mm long, thickened at Fig. 3. Flower. (xl'A); 

 *u u T^u fi 11 u +u Fig. 4. Longitudinal section 



the base. Ihe ilowers all barren; the of a flower ( x iVa). 



Fig. 6. Stamens; back-view, 



front-view, and side-view 

 (X 3). K. Wiinstedt del. 



fruit therefore unknown. 



One of the most striking peculiarities 

 of the plant in question, I should think, is 

 the very compressed bulbils, similar to the flower-buds with the two 

 green bracts of Stratiotes aloides (hence the name of the species). I 

 tried therefore, to compare these bulbils with those of other spe- 

 cies of Furcraea allied to our species, but I found that in most 

 descriptions given the bulbils were not mentioned at all. Only 



20* 



