406 then diverging, with membranous, awn-like or linear points, usu- 

 ally without marginal wings, but sometimes with narrow marginal 

 wings at the basal half; cells roofed with cell-wings and the 

 opening nearly closed by a large tubercle. 



Srtecles 25 (and one that doubtfully belongs to the genus), 

 and probably several more, nptive of the i^aroo region of South 

 Africp, from Great Namaqualand southwards to ^aingsburgh J^ivision, 

 The t3rDe of the genus is G. tuberculste, ^«, S, Br. 



The generic name is derived from the Greek, cheiris, a sleeve, 

 and opsis, like, in allusion to the truncate, withered sheath, 

 which in many s^^ecies (not a'l) vzhen the r^lsnt is at rest under 

 natural conditions surrounds the succeeding pair of leaves like 

 a sleeve. 



This genus corresponds with the section Rostrata of ^esembry- 

 anthemura, in books, but is distinguishable at sight from that genus 

 by its peculiar habit, by its more numerous stigmas, and partic- 

 ularly by the structute of its capsule, which, when expanded, is 

 a very nretty, flower-like object, from which alone this genus 

 can usually be recognised. 



It is remarkable for the nanner in which some of the species 

 show greet variation in the vegetative characters of the same indi- 

 vidual at different stages of growth. A coiomon variation being 

 that aternating pairs of leaves differ either in the length to ' 

 which they ere united, one pair being very shortly united or ne6(r- 

 ly free at the base, and the next pair united, sometimes for half 

 or even more then half their length, into s solid-looking body 

 that ultimately becomes a sheath to the next pair; or one pair is 

 entire and the next pair toothed on the keel at the apex. In some 

 species the variation is so ^reat that the same individual seen 

 only at two different periods of the year would certainly be 

 thought to represent two different species, as will be shown in 

 the figures of C, pecularis and G, cigarettifera. ■'■t seems, how- 

 ever, that the peculiar aripearance assumed during the resting 

 season in their native co\intry by some of the scecies is not, or 

 but rarely, repeated in Eurone under cultivation, probably because 

 thev receive too much v^^ater during the summer, while under natural 

 conditions they get no rain during their resting period, the only 

 moisture they then obtain being the slight amount obtained from 

 devr, whic^i would soon be evaporated by the hot sunshine. 



I have sometimes been astonished at the enormous amont of 

 shrinkage the leaves of some species of this genus will endure 

 without any apparent ill effedt. 211A represents a growth of C. 

 candidissimF in a state of rest, as it was when received by me 

 from South Africa. T^e leeves then appeared to me to be little 

 less thpn their full size as the v/rinkles UT?on them were scarcely 

 noticeable, yet when the nlant rooted the leaves at once began to 

 swell and elongrte end sneedily attained the size represented by 

 Fig. SllS. It vms evident that this vms merely expansion from the 

 absorption of water and not real growth, v/hich takes place much 

 more slowly and in a different manner. Therefore, it would appear 

 that the tissues of these nlents are of a somewhat elastic nature. 

 Members of this genus, as a rule, do not flower freely under 

 cultivation in England, because they grow and flower during our 

 cold season from A)ecember to Apr-!i, and to enable them to do so 

 they probably require ulenty of sunshine and a day temperature of 

 not less than 68^ to 70° Fahr. , as I have noticed that the flowers 

 do not expand properly v;hen the temperature is lower* 



Unfortunately, I have not seen many flowers belonging to this 



