196 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



pollen brought by bees from other flowers. Like other flowers 

 of this group, their beauty is fleeting, as theywither quickly. 



Homeria, formerly called Mo7-cea, has a much smaller 

 pistil. H. Collina is the " Tulp " which is poisonous to 

 cattle. Dr. Pappe writes of a whole family being killed by 

 eating the little bulbs which are produced in great abundance 



Fig. 199. — Gladiolus alatus. 



in the bulbs and axils of the leaves. This flower covers large 

 areas in the western region. 



Romulea ("Frutang"). — Flowers reddish-purple lilac, or 

 yellow. Leaves narrow, usually over-topping the flowers. 



Aristea is a widely distributed genus, with bright blue 

 flowers, which twist up in a spiral and become inky after 

 flowering. The inner bract is papery, brown or white, and 

 often deeply fringed. Rootstock of slender fibres or a 

 rhizome, never bulbous. Leaves in a dense two-sided rosette. 



J 



