GELASINE AZtJREA. 169 



of Manchester at Spofforth, where it flowered and ripened its seed. It is a native 

 of the Banda Oriental and the province of Rio Grande, where it occurs in stony- 

 places. It is sufficiently hardy to bear exposure in this climate, especially if 

 covered with a few dry fern leaves, and like some of the Irises, retains a part of its 

 foliage through the winter. It is readily raised from seed, and young plants will pro- 

 duce flowers the second season ; so that it will, we hope, soon be classed among the 

 commonest of our hardy bulb. The seeds germinate most freely when sown as 

 Boon as ripe, on a gentle heat, and the seedlings should be kept growing through the 

 winter. The plant also produces offsets, by which it may be increased. 



Our drawing is necessarily much reduced, at least, as far as the stem and foliage 

 are concerned, and we will therefore give a brief description of the plant. It grows 

 from eighteen inches to two feet high, the flower stalk being furnished with four 

 bracts placed at regular distances, the upper one being leaf-like. The leaves are 

 from one to two feet in length, and about one inch in breadth, pointed at their ex- 

 tremities, and plaited, as in the case of the Tiger flower (Tigridia Pavonia.) The 

 flowers are produced from a spathe, which is shorter than their foot-stalks. The 

 funnel-shaped limb of the blossom is divided into six regular segments, alternately 

 smaller, which are united at the base into a tube ; each segment is marked with 

 white at its base, on which are several black spots, the segments themselves being of 

 a deep blue tint. The three filaments are united into a short tube, in other words, 

 monadelphous, the anthers tapering upwards, and opening by their sides. Style 

 simple, divided into a three -lobed stigma. Capsule egg-shaped, opening when ripe, 

 at the top by three valves. Seeds angular, flat at top, tapering downwards. One of 

 the divisions of the flower, and also the monadelphous filaments, are shewn 

 separately in the plate. 



The G. azurea is, we believe, the only species yet cultivated in this country ; but 

 Beveral others are known to exist and were named respectively by Dr. Herbert, 

 from dried specimens, G. Purruchuchana, of which there are two varieties; 

 G. grandifiora ; G. punctata ; G. nuda, and G. Texana ; the two last, however, are 

 somewhat doubtful. 



The genus is closely allied to Mmostglis of Nuttall, the chief difference being in 

 the non-adhesion of the stamens, and the division of each of the three stigmas into 

 two lobes, in the latter genus. It is also related to the better known genus 

 Trichonerna. 



The term Gelasine is derived from gelasinos, a smiling dimple. Paxton's Botanical 

 Dictionary gives it as derived from kelas, late ; in allusion to its season of flowering; 

 but this is evidently an error. 



Before quitting this subject, we are desirous of calling the attention of our readers 

 to one or two other very interesting genera of Iridaceous plants, not commonly seen 

 in cultivation. One of these is the Cypella Hcrhcrtii, a beautiful bulb from Buenos 



