10 



* SOWERB^A laxifk>ra. 



Loose-flowered Sowerbcea. 



TRIANDRIA MONOQYNIA. 



Nut. ord. Liliace^e. 



SOWERBJEA. Perigonium corollinum, sexpartitum, laciniis eequali- 

 bus, paten tibus. Stamina 6, imo perigonio inserta: tria laciniis exterioribus 

 opposita sterilia : filamenta filiformia, glabra. Ovarium triloculare. Ovula in 

 loculis 2, peltata. Stylus filiformis, persistens ; stigma simplex. Capsula mem- 

 branacea, bilocularis, loculicido-trivalvis. Semina in loculis subsolitaria peltata. 



Herba perennis, in Nova Hollandia orientali extratropica indigena ; radice 



fasciculato-fibrosd, foliis radicalibus fdiformibus,basibus dilatatis, scariosis, dis- 

 tiche equitantibus, supra in stipulam intrafoliaceam solutam productis ; scapo 

 simplicissimo, nudo, umbella congestd, capituliformi, bracteis membranaceis, 

 exterioribus integris subsericeis interioribus lacero-multifidis ; pedicellis sensim 

 erumpentibus, apice cum perigonio roseo articulatis. Endlicher genera plan- 

 tarum, no. 1138. 



S. laxiflora ; foliis triquetris scapo subsequalibus, pedicellis floribus duplo 

 longioribus, sepalis petalisque ovatis, antherarum locubs elongatis. 

 Swan River Plants, p. lviii. no. 2/6. 



A pretty little greenhouse herbaceous plant from Swan 

 River, for which we are indebted to the Earl of Orkney. It 

 differs from the old Sowerbcea juncea in having paler and 

 smaller flowers, the stalks of which are long and slender, and 

 in the leaves being nearly as long as the scapes, and triangular 

 not tapering. 



The plant has much the appearance of an Allium, but 

 manifestly differs from that genus in having three of the 

 stamens imperfect, scales only appearing in the place of fila- 

 ments and anthers, a circumstance far from uncommon among 

 the Liliaceous order of New Holland. 



* Named by Smith in honour of the late Mr. James Sowerby, whose 

 English Botany and British Fungi are records of zeal and patience such as few 

 have left behind them. 



