PLATE 578. 



OLIVIA GABDENI, HOOK. (Fl. Cap Vol. VI., p. 228.) 

 Nat. Order, AMARYLLIDE^I. 



An herbaceous perennial, bearing umbels of orange red flowers. Bulb 

 imperfect composed of the dilated bases of the leaves. Leaves strap-shaped, 

 distichous, bright green, glabrous, margin smooth, 2ft. to 2 ft. 6 inches long, 2 

 inches broad in the centre, 1 7 to 18 lines at the base, tapering very gradually to 

 an acute apex. Peduncle stout, strongly ancipital, 12 to 20 inches long, flat on 

 one side, convex on the other, f to 1 inch wide in widest portion. Umbels 12 to 

 20-flowered ; pedicels 1 to 1 f inches long ; spathe valves several, oblong, tapering 

 gradually upwards 1 to 1^ inch long; perianth orange red tipped with green, 

 curved, tubular, widening to throat, 1 to If inch long, tube very short, segments 

 6, linear-oblong, the three outer ones acute the three inner ones obtuse, all 1|- inch 

 long, to inch broad. Stamens 6, inserted at throat of perianth tube, finally a 

 little exserted, filaments filiform, anthers oblong, dorsifixed, versatile. Ovary 

 inferior, 3-celled, globose, cells 5-6-ovuled. Style a little longer than the stamens, 

 minutely 3-fid at apex. Fruit a bright red pulpy berry, about 1 inch long, 

 subglobose or ovoid. 



Habitat: NATAL. Garden; Trans vaalHort Nelson. Durban, plants purchased 

 from a native and planted in garden, Wood 11879. 



The genus Olivia is peculiar to South Africa and contains 3 species only, viz., 

 G. nobilis, Lindl C. miniata Regel. and the above described species. 0. miniata 

 was figured and described in the present volume plate 503. According to the 

 Flora Capensis the chief difference between C. Gardeni, and C. nobilis is that in 

 one the leaf is not narrowed to the apex, and in the other it is so, and as in the 

 present species the leaf is certainly narrowed to the apex, I have with some mis- 

 giving called it G. Gardeni, we have not seen any authentic specimen of that plant, 

 but our specimen quite agrees with the description of C. Gardeni in the length and 

 shape of the leaf, and its smooth, not scabrous margins, I have decided to allow it 

 to stand. 



Fig. 1, leaf ; 2, peduncle with umbel; 3, plant much reduced; 4, longitudinal 

 section of flower; 5, cross section of ovary; 6, a stamen; 7, cross section < 

 peduncle ; figs. 1, 2, 7 natural size, 4, 5, 6 enlarged, 



