66 ON Tin: (sknus syuinoodka. 



ON TWO NEW AMARYLLTDACE^ FROM NATAL. 



By J. G. Bakeh, F.L.S. 



In a packet of Monocotyledons just received from the Rev. J. 

 Buchanan, of Durban, are the two following interesting novelties : — 



CvRTANxars (Gastronema) lutkus, Baker, n. sp. — Biilbus ovoideus 

 tunicis raembranaceis. Folia 2-3 angustissime linearia glabra sub- 

 synanthia 2-3 poll. longa. Scapus gracilis uniflorus erectus 1-2 poll, 

 longus, Spatlia) valvoc gemina) lineares membranaceaj pollicares. 

 Pedicolli 1^-2 lin. longi. Perianthiuin luteuni crcctum infundibularo 

 9-12 lin. lonjrum, segmcntis oblanceolatis dorso subtiliter 7-9-norvati3 

 tubo infundibulari 2-3-plo superantibiis. Stamina biseriata, 3 in- 

 feriora ex tubo exserta, 3 supcriora limbo duplo breviora. Stylus 

 antheras auperans, stigmatibus tribus subulatis patulis. 



CrpnowEMA BucuAXAxr, Baker, n. sp. — Bulbus globosus ^-1 poll. 

 crassus, tunicis mombranaceis supra coUum lotige productis. Folia 

 hystoranthia ignota. Scapus brevissimus, in tunicis bulbi occultua. 

 Spatha univalvis membranacea pollicaris ovarium amplectens, apice 

 dentibus 2-3 linearibus rubro-tinctis instructa. Tubus supra ovarium 

 filiformis 12-18 lin. lontjus, apice dilatato late infundibulari 3-4 liu. 

 longo, sogmcntis ascendontibus linearibus vel oblanceolatis 12-15 

 lin. longis jilbidis dorso subtiliter ajqualiter nervatis H-3 lin. latis. 

 Stamina bis(>riata, antboris 3 lin. longis, 3 inferioribua in tubi apice 

 inclusis, 3 superioribus o tubo exsertis. 



ON THE GENUS SYRINGODEA, Hook. fil. 

 By J. G. Baker. 



The genus Syringodea, in Iridaceoi, founded by Dr. Hooker two 

 years ago in the <* Botanical Magazine," under tab. G072, upon a 

 plant sent by Mr. Bolus from the Cape, and cultivated in Kcw 

 Gardens, is one of great interest, as it furnishes from the southern 

 hemisphere a close approximation to Crocus, which is confined to the 

 North Temperate zone in the Old World. It has the same long perianth- 

 tube proceeding from an ovary which is subtended by two long spathe- 

 valves and produced from the centre of a rosette of leaves almost from 

 the surface of the soil, and the same regular perianth. The flowers are 

 not so conspicuous as in Crocus, as the limb of the perianth is less than 

 an inch in length, and the stigma is materially ditferent, being just like 

 that of a Gladiolus. Upon the whole it may perhaps be most safely 

 regarded as an intermediate step between Crocus oMiS. Roinulea {IVicho- 

 nema), which latter is abundantly represented both at the Cape and, 

 along with Crocus, in the Mediterranean region. The original species 

 had a hypocrateriform peiianth, with the segments of the limb spread- 

 ing horizontally when fully expanded, and deeply emarginate, like 

 the petals of a Stellaria. There are two other plants, of one of which 

 there is a copious suite of specimens in the Kew Hcr1)arium, which 

 has been described by Klatt as a Trichonema, and another gathered by 



