118 HANDBOOK OF IRIDEjT;. 



subulate, stigmatose at the apex. Cdpsule obloDg-trigonous locu- 

 licidally 3-valved. Sccdii minute, triquetrous. — lioutstock very short. 

 Leaves firm, linear, equitant. (Jhoiters many -flowered, panicled. 

 Flowers fugitive, pale blue. Pcdicch so short that the capsule is 

 not protruded from the spathe. Very near Sisyrinchhim both in 

 habit and character. 



Australian species . . . Sp. 1-5. 

 Tropical American species . Sp. 6-7. 



1. 0. MULTiFLORUS Swect, Fl. Austral, t. 11 ; Lodd. Bot. Cab. 

 t. 1474. Sisyrinchium cijaneiim Lindl. Bot. Reg. t. 1090. Lihertia 

 azuvea Hort. — Leaves a dozen or more to a tuft, rigid, linear, 1-1^ 

 ft. long, ^-^ in. broad. Stem with inflorescence equalling or over- 

 topping the leaves. Clusters several, forming a narrow panicle 4-6 

 in. long, some sessile, some peduncled ; lower bracts large, linear. 

 Spathes oblong, |— f in. long ; outer valves oblong, green with a 

 scariose tip ; pedicels very short. Expanded flower 1-1 i in. diam. 

 Capsule oblong-trigonous, ^ in. long, not exserted from the spathe. 



Hab. Southern and Western Australia. Var. hebecarpa Benth is a form 

 with a pubescent capsule. The five Australian species are all very near to one 

 another. 



2. 0. MuELLEEi Benth. Fl. Austral, vi. 411. Very near (K 

 mnltijiurus. — Leaves -^^ in. broad, woolly on the keel and inner edge 

 when young. Stem with panicle 6-9 in. long ; clusters 2-4, 

 sessile or peduncled, at first oblong, finally globose. Spathes ^ in. 

 long, 3-4-flowered ; outer valves oblong. Capsule oblong, acutely 

 trigonous, J in. long. 



Hab. Western Australia. First gathered by Drummond and recently by 

 Baron von Mueller. 



3. 0. LAxus Benth. Fl. Austral, vi. 411. Lihertia laxa Endl. — 

 Leaves 1-1|^ ft. long, ^ in. broad. Stem with inflorescence 2-3 ft. 

 long. Panicle ^-1 ft. long; clusters many, all long-peduncled ; 

 lower branch subtended by a long linear leaf. Spathes few- 

 flowered, h in. long ; outer valves oblong, green with a membranous 

 tip. Perianth -segments ^ in. loiig. Capsule oblong, acutely tri- 

 gonous, ^ in. long ; pedicel very short. 



Hab. Western Australia. First gathered by Drummond. 



4. 0. GRAMiNEus Beutli. Fl. Austral, vi. 411. Lihertia yraininea 

 Endl. — Leaves very narrow, -|-1 ft. long. Stem very slender, 

 about a foot long ; spikes 1-3, long-peduncled. Spathes ^ in. 

 long ; outer valves oblong, green. Capsule oblong, acute. 



Hab. West Australia. First gathered by Drummond. 



5. 0. POLYSTACHYUS Benth. Fl. Austral, vi. 411. — Leaves 1^-2 

 ft. long, i— ^ in. broad. Stem with inflorescence 2-3 ft. long. 

 Panicle 6-9 in. long; clusters very numerous, mostly several- 

 fascicled, subtended by an ovate bract. Spathes oblong, 1- 

 flowered, ^ in. long. Perianth-segments pale blue, ^ in. long. 

 Capsule oblong, obtuse, ^ in. long, very .shortly pedicellate, the top 

 protruded beyond the tip of the spathe-valves. 



Hab. Western Australia. First gathered bv Drummond. 



