68 



HANDBOOK OF IRIDE*. 



Hab. Cape Colony; Mossel bay. Gathered by the Rev. W. M. Eogers in 

 1862. 



45. M. siMULANs Baker. — Corm small, ovoid. Stem varying 

 from a few inches to a foot long, bearing 1-2 linear rigid leaves 

 from the base of the inflorescence, sometimes with a bulbil in their 

 axil. Clusters 2-4, the side ones sessile or shortly peduncled, 

 erect. Spathes l|^-2 in. long ; valves scariose, very acute. Ovary 

 cylindrical, narrowed into a long beak. Perianth lilac, fugacious, 

 under an inch long ; falls with a spreading obovate blade. Style- 

 crests small. 



Hab. Cape Colony ; banks of the Vaal river, Nelson 203 ! Scott Elliot 

 1250 ! Habit of Iris Sisyrinchium. 



46. M. CLADOSTACHYA Baker. — Corm not seen. Produced leaf 

 single, linear, rigid, 2 ft. or more long, with a large bulbil in its 

 axil. Spikes 1-3, bearing each several sessile erect clusters. 

 Spathes scariose, 1^-2 in. long ; valves acute. Ovary narrowed 

 into a slender beak nearly an inch long. Perianth small, fugacious. 



Hab. Cape Colony ; north-west district, Drege 2610 ! Eastern frontier, 

 Mrs. Barber I Gathered also by Burchell. Nearly allied to M, simulam. 



Subgenus III. Vieusseuxia (Delar.), 



47. M. Elliotii Baker. — Corm not seen. Basal leaf single, 

 rudimentary. Stem slender, 1-lJ ft. long, bearing a large linear 

 leaf from tlie middle. Clusters of flowers 1-2 ; spathe cylindrical, 

 2-flowered, 1|^ in. long ; valves lanceolate, rigid, the outer much 

 shorter thanj;the inner. Outer perianth-segments oblong-unguicu- 

 late, I in. long, bright lilac with a pale spot at the base of the 

 blade ; inner about half as long. Style-crests lanceolate. Capsule 

 small, oblong-clavate. 



Hab. Transvaal ; marshes at Lake Chrissie, Scott Elliot 1592 1 Habit of 

 M. tenuis. 



48. M. TENUIS Ker in Bot. Mag. t. 1047. /. tricuspis, var. Jacq. 

 Ic. t. 222. Vieicsseuxia tenuis E. & S. Iris gracilis Lichten. — Corm 

 small, globose ; tunics thick fibrous or cancellate. Produced leaf 

 1, basal, long, narrow linear. Stem long, very slender, terete, 

 simple or with 1-2 short erect branches. Spathes cylindrical, 

 2-3-flowered, 1^ in. long ; valves scariose at the tip only ; outer 

 much shorter than the inner. Perianth with yellow-brown oblong- 

 unguiculate, outer segments under an inch long ; inner with a long 

 claw and 3 linear cusps. Crests of stigma large, lanceolate. 

 Capsule small, clavate-oblong. 



Hab. Cape Colony ; south-eastern provinces to Natal. 



49. M. TRICUSPIS Ker in Bot. Mag. t. 696. Iris tricuspidata 

 Linn. fil. /. tricuspis Jacq. Ic. t. 292, ex parte. Vieusseuxia tri- 

 cuspis Spreng. F. aristata Houtt. Handl. xii. 105, t. 80. — Corm 

 small, globose ; coats thick, fibrous. Produced leaf single, sub- 

 basal, long, firm, narrow linear, glabrous. Stem 1-2 ft. long, 

 with 2-3 sheath-leaves, simple, or with 2-4 short erect branches. 

 Spathes cylindrical, 2-2^ in. long, scariose at the tip. Perianth 



