110 SHORT NOTES AND QUEllIES. 



tlie rootlets thickened. Stem erect, 1-4 inches high, 1-3-flowered, with 

 2-3 leaves placed closely distichoiisly on each side. Leaves sharply fal- 

 cate, linear-lanceolate, 2-4 inches long, 6-8 lines broad at the base, 

 glaucescent on the outside, narrowed gradually from the middle to an 

 acute point, the edge minutely ciliato- denticulate. Valves of the spathe 

 lanceolate, 1^-2 inches long, very ventricose, reaching up to the base of 

 the limb at the flowering time. Ovary sessile in the spathe. Tube 12-18 

 lines long. Limb yellow, tiie outer divisions oblanceolate, 1^ inch long, 

 5-6 lines broad ; the inner linear 6-8 lines long, spreading or deflexed 

 between the edges of the outer ones. Stigmas with their crest nearly as 

 long and broad as the outer segments. 



Hab. Georgia, Steven! Szovits ! Hohenacker ! Iberia, Fischer! 

 AYilhelms ! Gamba ! Armenia, Aucher Eloy, 5345 ! Bourgeau, 247 ! 

 Huet du Pavilion ! etc. Kurdistan, Olgum ! "Capt. Garden ! Afghanistan, 

 Griffith (E. Ind. Co. distr. no. 5903). Beloochistan and Scinde, Stocks ! 

 Oidv found amongst the mountains at a considerable elevation, flower- 

 ing in May and June. 



14. X. Aucheri, Baker ; bulbo ovoideo membranaceo-tunicato, caule 

 erecto 6-9-unciali 1-2-floro, foliis 4-6 lorato-lanceolatis deorsura 12-15 

 lin. latis falcatis margine iutegris infimis caule subeequilongis, spathse 

 valvis 2-3-uncialibus ad basin limbi attingentibus, pedunculo subuullo, 

 tubo biunciali, periantliii liml)0 flavescente, segmentis exterioribus sesqui- 

 uncialibus oblongo-oblanceolatis, interioribus anguste linearibus, triplo 

 brevioribus patulis vel deflexis, stigmatibus cum cristis segmentis ex- 

 terioribus subsequilongis. 



Bulb ovoid, 15-18 lines thick, with dark brown membranous coats. 

 Stem erect, 6-9 inches high, 1-2-flowered. Leaves 4-6, like those of 

 alatim in breadth and texture, but proceeding from the stem, 12-15 lines 

 broad at the base, distichous, falcate, narrowed gradually from the middle to 

 an acute point, the edge not at all denticulate, the lowest 6-9 inches long. 

 Valves of the spathe lanceolate, scariose, reaching the base of the limb at 

 the flowering time. Ovary sessile. Tube about 2 inches long. Limb 

 yellow ; the outer divisions about 18 lines long in the wild specimens, 

 oblanceolate-oblong, 5-6 lines broad ; inner divisions linear, about half 

 an inch long, spreading between the outer ones as in the other species. 

 Stigmas with the crest as long as the outer divisions, 4-5 lines broad at 

 the base of the limb. 



Hab. Syria, Aucher-Eloy, 2137 ! 



I have seen only three dried specimens of this ; but it seems a very 

 well-marked plant, combining the habit and flower of caucasicum with 

 the leaves of alatum. 



SHORT NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Vegetable Broom-materials. — As supplementary to Prof. Dyer's 

 notes (p. 51) the stalks oF the common garden Cress {Lepidium sativum) 

 may be added. In Russia they are used for this purpose, and a small 

 broom brought home by Dr. Hooker on his return from Russia is now 

 in the Museum at Kew. The stalks are stiff and strong ; and judging 

 from the above specimen, they appear quite suitable for broom making. 

 The stems of Tamarix (jallica have also been used for a similar purpose. 



