CXXV. IRIDEA. 373 
spikes or thyrsi. Perianth twisted after flowering. Flowers sky-blue or 
rarely white. 
5. WITSENTA, Thunb. 
Perianth tubular, the limb 6-fid, equal, spreading or con- 
verging. Stamens in the throat of the tube, included ; fila- 
ments very short. Style filiform, exserted; stigma 3-toothed 
or very shortly 3-fid.— Endl. Gen. n. 1233. 
Almost shrubby, simple or much-branched plants, with tuberous roots. 
Stem woody, 2-edged, rough with the bases of old leaves ; branches ending 
in fan-like tufts of distichous, sword-shaped, nerved leaves. Peduncles 
simple or branched, often corymbose. Flowers blue.—Few species. 
6. OVIEDA, Spreng. 
Perianth funnel-shaped, with a short or long slender tube, 
and 6-parted, erect or spreading limb; the segments equal. 
Stamens in the throat, erect or subsecund; filaments subulate. 
Style filiform ; stigmas 3, narrow-linear, conduplicate, 2-parted, 
with revolute lobes.— Endl. Gen. n. 1236. , 
Small, bulbous plants, with compressed or angular, simple or branching 
stems ; gladiate or channelled leaves, often rigid, with rough edges, the 
lower ones falcate ; and laxly spiked or corymbose flowers. Spathes herba- 
ceous, with withered tips. Flowers blue or white.—Several species. 
7. ANOMATHECA, Ker. 
Perianth salver-shaped, with a long, slender tube, constricted 
in the throat ; limb 6-parted ; segments oblong, spreading, the 
2 back ones nearer. Stamens in the throat, subsecund ; fila- 
ments short. Style filiform; stigmas 3, narrow-linear, com- 
plicate, 2-fid. Capsule subglobose, somewhat rough with 
raised points.—Zndl. Gen. n. 1237. 
Bulbous plants, with ensiform leaves, a slender, rigid stem, and branch- 
ing spikes of subsecund flowers. Flowers crimson, spotted.—1 or 2 species. 
8. BABIANA, Ker. 
Perianth-tube long or very long, gradually expanding into a 
funnel-shaped, nearly regular or a very irregular, ringent 
limb. Stamens in the throat, ascending. Style filiform ; 
stigmas 3, cuneate, folded, entire. Capsule subovate.—Lndl. 
Gen. n. 1238. 
Bulbous plants, with spiked flowers and coarsely plaited, broad, mostly 
downy leaves. The perianth varies greatly in shape, being (as in B. ringens) 
sometimes extremely unequal, and in others nearly bell-shaped. Bracts 2, 
with a withered apex, the inner deeply 2-fid—Several species, with blue 
purple red or white flowers. 
9. GLADIOLUS, Tourn. 
Perianth-tube curved, widening upwards ; limb more or less 
