approximation towards the genus Sprekelia, but in no Hip- 

 peastrum is there any convolution of the lower sepals, of 

 which tlic base in our plant is in a very singular manner 

 obliquely enlarged so as to enclose the filaments. Both spe- 

 cies of Sprekelia differ from Hippeastrum in having narrower 

 leaves and a black-coated bulb, and their pollen magnified 

 appears a little narrower and more acute. It may be a ques- 

 tion to be ascertained by horticultural experiments, and the 

 examination of species yet unknown, whether Sprekelia is a 

 section of Hippeastrum, the genus most nearly allied to it, or 

 absolutely separate, but at present their distinction is suffi- 

 ciently marked." 



For the preceding matter I am indebted to the Honour- 

 able and Reverend W. Herbert. The plant now named by 

 him S. cyb'ister was given to the Horticultural Society in 

 March last by Mr. Joseph Knight, of the nursery King's 

 Road, who imported it from Bolivia. At that time I regarded 

 it as a species of Hippeastrum rather than Sprekelia, and 

 named it H. anomalum, considering the umbellate inflores- 

 cence and general habit to be of more importance than the 

 incurvation of the lovver sepals. In this point however Mr. 

 Herbert's opinion is against me. 



The uncoloured figures at the foot of the accompanying 

 plate indicate the structure of some parts of the flower. 

 No. 1. is a view in part of the interior of the ovary, and in 

 part of the base of the perianthium and stamens cut through ; 

 it shews that the upper petaline filaments are furnished with 

 a thin border, while all the others are tapering ; and also 

 that the filaments are separated from each other by fringed 

 plates radiating from the style to the junctions of the sepals 

 and petals. No. f2. exhibits the appearance of the ovary 

 divided horizontally ; the figure just over it is the stigma and 

 upper part of the style. 



