192 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



No time was lost in seeking out the place where it was 

 found, and there, in the rich brown carpet under the pines, the 

 stars were glowing in profusion. Several inches below the 

 pine-needles a slender ovary was unearthed, concealed in the 

 dry brown scale-leaves of a bulb, from which were extended 

 some long, dried-up, brown remnants of last winter's green 

 leaves. 



The flower had a long slender style, leading down through 



"/<^ 



Fig. 



191 





Flower of Gethyllis (Kukuma- 

 kranka). 



-Bulb and leaves of 



Gethyllis. 



the tube to the ovary. It was crowned with a cushion-shaped 

 stigma. There were six filaments borne at the throat of the 

 tube, divided near the middle into two branches, each bearing 

 an anther. 



On looking for it in Flora Capensis among the Amaryl- 

 lidese, its book name was found to be Gethyllis. There are 

 nine .different species bearing the name, the number of stamens 



