16 



RIGIDELLA flammei. 



Flame-coloured Stiff-stalk. 



MONADELPHIA TBIANDRIA. 



Nat, ord. iRiDACEiE. 



RIGIDELLA. Folia equitantia, plicata, vaginantia. Flores fascicu- 

 lati, terniinales, intra spatham bivalvem ; pedunculi sub anthesi decurvi, mox 

 fructu matiirescente strictissim^ erecti. Perianthium triphyllum ; foliolis 

 basi imbricatis, convolutis, infra medium constrictis, limbo concavo revoluto, 

 post anthesin splraliter tortis. Stamina 3, in tubum exsertum conuata, an- 

 theris tantum linearibus, erectis, liberis. Stigmata 3, bipartita, dorso appen- 

 dicuiata, antheris opposita ; laciniis linearibus, apice papillosis. Capmhi 

 papyracea, apice 3-valvis, polysperma. Semina subglobosa, punctata, raphe 

 et chalazii conspicuis. 



Rigidella fiammea . 



This very pretty plant was found by Mr. Hartweg in the 

 earlier of his excursions in Mexico, and was by him sent to 

 the Horticultural Society, where it proves to be of easy culti- 

 vation, requiring exactly the same treatment as a Tigridia. 



It grows from three to five feet high, with broad equitant 

 strongly plaited leaves, which are dilated at the base where 

 they sheath the stem. The flowers grow in a dense umbel 

 from within a two-valved spathe, and open singly day by dav ; 

 they are drooping, and of a bright flame colour, with a com- 

 panulate tube, and a reflexed limb strongly marked at the 

 base with short deep purple stripes. After flowering, the 

 stalks, which are long and slender, become erect, and so 

 rigid as to bear the seed vessel perfectly erect, even when 

 gravid with seeds; from which circumstance the generic 

 name has been contrived. 



Upon submitting the drawing to the Hon. and Rev. Wm. 

 Herbert, who is now making this subject his peculiar study, 

 that gentleman favoured me with a note, of which the follow- 

 ino' is an extract. 



