PLATE 540. 



KNIPHOFIA ROOPERI, Lemaire. (Fl. Cap. Vol. VI, p. 283.) 

 Natural Order LILIACE.S;. 



A perennial stemless plant. Leaves many, ensiform, acuminate, 4 to 7 feet 

 long, 1^ to If inches broad at base, very acutely keeled for the whole of their 

 length, scabrous on margins and on keel in its upper portion ; with 1 5 to 20 close 

 vertical veins on each side of the midrib. Peduncles stout, erect, 4 feet long to 

 base of raceme, and bearing a few depauperated leaves, the lowest one 12 to 14 

 inches long, -J inch broad at base, tapering suddenly at first, then gradually to 

 1 line broad. Raceme very densely many flowered, 4 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 

 inches diameter ; lowest and open flowers yellow, upper bright orange-red ; 

 perianth cylindrical 1-J to If inch long, J inch diameter at throat, 6-toothed, the 

 teeth 1-line long, a little broader than long, with faint green keel, pedicels very 

 short, bracts oblong, acute, inch long, scarious. Stamens 6, inserted under the 

 ovary, the three opposite the inner segments longest, at maturity projecting 5 to 

 6 lines beyond the perianth, filaments filiform ; anthers oblong, dorsifixed, ver- 

 satile. Ovary sessile, ovoid, 3-celled, many ovuled, ovules superposed ; style 

 filiform, finally exserted 6 to 8 lines beyond the perianth; stigma minute, 

 capitate, seeds triquetrous. 



Habitat : NATAL: Near Sinkwasi River, 100 ft. alt., Wood. 



In the Flora Capensis Ratal is not quoted for this species, the only locality 

 given being "British Kaffraria, Cooper," but the plant from which the drawing 

 was made and the description written was brought by the writer from near 

 Sinkwasi River, and has been growing in the Gardens for many years. It 

 agrees fairly well with the description of K. Rooperi as given in the Flora 

 Capensis, but the difference between this species and some forms of K. aloides 

 seem to be scarcely sufficient for the establishment of a new species. 



Fig. 1 , raceme ; 2, lower portion of leaf ; 3, flower ; 4, bract ; 5, stamen ; 6, 

 same, back view ; 7, pistil ; 8, cross section of ovary ; 9, clump of plants, much 

 reduced; Fig. 1, 2 and 3 natural size, 4 to 8 enlarged. 



