PLATE 521. 



SOHIZOSTTLIS COGCINEA, BAOKH. AND HARV. (Fl. Cap. Vol. VI, p. 56.) 



Natural Order, 



An erect herb bearing deep crimson flowers. Rootstock not bulbous, the root 

 fibres tufted, rather fleshy. Leaves distichous, linear, glabrous, grass-like in 

 texture, 1 to 1^ foot long, to ^ inch broad, the lower ones sheathing the stem, 

 with a few stem leaves in upper portion similar but smaller. Stems slender, 

 terete, 1 to 3 feet long. Inflorescence spicate, spikes 6 to 10 flowered, elongating; 

 outer spathe-valves, oblong-lanceolate, long acuminate, reddish-green, 1^ inch long, 

 3 to 4 lines wide a little from base, inner similar but smaller and more membranous, 

 green. Perianth salver-shaped tube straight, erect, cylindrical, 1 to 1^ inch long, 

 limb 6-lobed, lobes oblong-ovate, acute, spreading, two thirds the length of the 

 tube, 3 to 5 lines wide, deep crimson. Stamens 3, inserted at base of alternate 

 perianth lobes, and two thirds their length, filaments filiform, anthers linear, 

 basifixed, 3 to 4 lines long. Ovary inferior, clavate, indistinctly 3-lobed, glabrous, 

 3-celled, ovules many, crowded; style slender, divided nearly half way down into 

 3 filiform branches which are recurved at apex and stigmatose on inner surface. 

 Capsule sessile, clavate, J inch long, seeds not seen. 



Habitat : NATAL : Without precise locality, Gerrard 1528; Sevenfontein 3-4000 

 feet, Wylie in Herb. Wood 11090. Also in Cape Colony and Transvaal. 



The genus Schizostylis is confined to South Africa, and includes two species 

 only, the one here described and S. pauciflora, Klatt ; both of these species are 

 found in Natal, and always in moist places, edges of brooks and rivers, and often 

 actually in the water; both are handsome flowering- plants, 8. coccinea perhaps, the 

 handsomest of the two. 



The generic name refers to the long style-branches, the specific name to the 

 deep colour of the flowers. The plant was introduced into England in 1 864, and 

 is said to thrive well " in a warm sunny border," and also thai it is well adapted 

 for pot culture, and that the flowers retain their beauty for a considerable period, 

 and are useful for cutting. 



Fig. 1, perianth opened, showing stamens; 2, a stamen; 3, pistil; 4, cross 

 section of ovary ; 5, capsule, natural size, remainder enlarged. 



