47 



* SPIRONEMA fragrans. 

 Sweet-scented Spiralthread. 



HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

 Nat, Ord. COMMELINACEvE. 



SPIRONEMA. Floras paniculati, nudi, in axillis spatharum fasciculati. 

 Calyx 3-phyllus, herbaceus, paleaceus, imbricatus. Petala 3, diaphana, pa- 

 leacea, inclusa. Stamina 6, hypogyna, aequalia, filamentis spiralibus, antheris 

 cordatis petaloideis, loculos suos in lobis baseos transversini gerentibus. 

 Ovariutn 3-loculare, oligospermum ; ovulis horizontalibus. Stylus simplex ; 

 stigma simplex, papillosum. Herba Satisemerte hahitix. 



Spironema fragrans. Supra p. 26. misc. 



Herba, Sanseviercs habitu, glabra, acaulis. Folia oblongo-lanceolata, acu- 

 tissima, Icete viridia, obsolete nervosa, margine minutissime scabrida. Panicula 

 ramosa, adnodos spathis membranaceis triquinquedentatis integrisque aristatis 

 subciliatis mimita. Flores odoratissimi, axillares, subsessiles, glomerati, jiarvi, 

 bracteis paleaceis involucrati. Sepala 3, paleacea, imbricata, striata, vires- 

 centia, dorso pilis longis ciliata. Petala paulb minora, tenuissima, diaphana, 

 paleceformia, obtusa. Stamina 6, cequalia, hypogyna ; filamentorum epider- 

 mide tenuissimd laxd axin e vasis spiralibus constructam spiralem induentibus ; 

 antherse connectivum cordatum, album, obtusum, sublobatum, basi loculos sim- 

 plices transversos gerens. Ovarium ovatum, medio siibcotistrictum, parce glan- 

 didosum, triloculare : ovulis cuique loculo paucis (4) horizontalibus sphcericis. 

 Siylus ^li/ormis ; stigma simplex, papillosum. 



This very curious thing is a native of Mexico, whence it 

 was imported by Messrs. Lowe and Co. By the searcher after 

 show plants it will be despised, for it is not more handsome 

 than a rush ; by the lover of fragrant plants it will be che- 

 rished, for its smell is delicious ; and by him who delights in 

 studying the secret workings of nature it will be preserved 

 with the greatest care, because its thin and delicate tissue 

 allows the hidden motion of its fluids and the subtile texture 

 of its fructifying organs to be watched with ease and pleasure. 



* From aiztlpa a spire and vijiia a stamen, in allusion to the spiral threads 

 that occupy the interior of the filaments. 



August, 1840. r 



