558 CXL. LiLTACE.E (baker). [Scilla. 



38. S. Kirkii, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xiii. 254. Bulb large. 

 Leaves thin, oblong, acute, 6-8 in, long, 1 J-2 in, broad at the middle, 

 narrowed gradually into a long channelled petiole. Peduncle a foot 

 long. Raceme lax, oblong, 5-6 in. long ; central pedicels J- J in. long; 

 bracts minute. Perianth cylindrical, green, slightly tinged with 

 purple, J in. long ; segments ligulate. Stamens shorter than the 

 perianth ; filaments bright mauve-purple. 



XMCozaxnb. Bist. Germ.'in East Africa : Zanguebar, at " Bibi Holly's Shamba," 

 in a close plantation, 300 ft., KirJc, 66 ! 



39. S. textiliSy Rendle in Journ. Linn. Soc. xxx. 427, Bulb ovoid, 

 above 1 in. diam. Leaves 5-6, broadly ovate above the sheathing 

 petiole, acuminate, 3-3J in, long, IJ in, broad at the middle, firm in 

 texture, with many strong veins and a minutely wavy margin. Peduncle 

 flexuose, 4-5 in. long. Raceme dense, oblong, 2-3 in. long ; pedicels 

 J in. long, spreading or cernuous ; bracts minute, linear-subulate. 

 Perianth greenisli, 2-2J lin. long ; segments ligulate from a broader 

 base. Filaments lilac-purple. 



Mozamb' Dlst. German East Africa : Unyamwezi ; Uyui, Taylor. 



Imperfectly known species. 



40. S. graciUima, Engl. Pfi. Ost-Afr. C. 142, Whole plant 

 4 in. high. Bulb ovoid. Leaves 2, narrowed into a petiole as long 

 as the blade. Peduncle slender, longer than the leaves. Raceme lax, 

 12-15-flowered ; pedicels very slender, shorter than the perianth. 

 Perianth campanulate-cylindric ; segments linear. 



nXozamb. Sist. Portuguese East Africa : Lower Zambesi valley, at Sena, 

 Feters. 



28. MERBNDERA, Ram. ; Benth. et Hook, f . Gen. Plant, iii. 822. 



Perianth polyphyllous ; segments subequal, with long narrow con- 

 nivent claws and lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate blades. Stamens 6, 

 inserted at the base of the blade of the perianth-segments ; filaments 

 filiform; anthers linear or oblong, versatile or nearly basifixed. Ovary 

 sessile, 3-celled; ovules superposed; styles 3, long, filiform; stigmas 

 minute, capitate. Capsule septicidally 3-valved. Seeds subglobose; 

 testa brown, opaque; albumen firm; embryo small, — Rootstock a 

 tunicated corm. Leaves contemporary with the flowers. Peduncle 

 very short. Flowers white or lilac. 



Nearly allied to ColcTiicum^ from which it differs by its polyphyllous perianth. 



Species 15, the others East European and West Asiatic, 



1. M. abyssinica, A. Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss, ii. 337. Corm small, 

 globose; tunics rigid, brown-black, produced over its neck; under- 

 ground neck 1-2 in. long, furnished with a cylindrical membranous 

 sheathing leaf. Leaves 2-6, linear, glabrous, ascending or spreading, 

 2-3 in. long. Flowers 1-2, subsessile in the centre of the rosette of 



