Xi/ris.] cxLii. XYRiDE^ (browx). 11 



Corolla-lobes yellow, toothed at the apex. Arms of the staminodes 

 very short, ending in a brush-like tuft of long yellow hairs. Anthera 

 linear. — Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afr. v. 42(>. 



ILower Guinea. Angola : Malange, Mechow in Zurich Herb. 



I have not seen this plant, but, according to the description, it difFera from all 

 the other African species in its involucrate spikes. The leaves are undescribed, the 

 specimen being imperfect. 



2. X. aristata, X. E. Br. Leaves 7^-12 in. or more long, 1-2J 

 lin. broad, linear, acute, shortly awned in the young state, rather 

 rigid, conspicuously striate, glabrous, green, with concolorous sheaths 

 8-3J in. long. Peduncular-sheath 8-0 in. long, keeled in the upper 

 part, with an acute fiat point 1-3 J lin. long, glabrous, green, passing 

 into pale reddish-brown at the base. Peduncle 2-3 ft. high, 1-1 i lin. 

 thick, more or less compressed and slightly 2-edged in the upper part, 

 very minutely transversely rugulose, not striate ; pith loose, not hollow 

 at the centre. Spikes 5-0 lin. long, 4-5 lin. thick, somewhat obovoid, 

 about 10-12-liowered. Outer barren bracts nearly as long as the 

 spike, similar to the flowering bracts, all about 4-4J lin. long, exclusive 

 of the 1-2 lin. long awn, 3 lin. broad, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, with a 

 terminal awn, concave or hooded, dark chestnut brown with very broad 

 white membranous margins, lacerate and ciliate ; nerves indistinct, re- 

 ticulated at their apex. Lateral sepals 3|^-3| lin. long, excluding the 

 f lin. long awn, rather more than 1 lin. broad, oblong or somewhat 

 elliptic-oblong, acute, awned, keeled, dark-brown along the keel, pale 

 horn-colour on the membranous sides ; keel narrowly winged, ciliate 

 from the base nearly to the apex. Corolla yellow ; petals 2 lin. long,. 

 lj-l|lin. broad, cuneate-obovate, minutely crenulate-denticulate. Arms 

 of the staminodes about § lin. long, slender, covered with long yellow 

 hairs. Anthers oblong. 



AKozamb. Blst. British Central Africa : Kambole, south-west of Lake 

 Tanganyika, 5000 ft., Nntt ! 



A very distinct species, differing from every other A't/rix known to me in its 

 ari>tate biacts with broad white membianous ciliate margins. 



) 4 .. 



3. X. rigidescens, Wehv. ex Rendle in Cat. Afr. PL Welu-. li. (i 

 A tall plant of robust habit. Leaves 7-10 in. long, 1-1 f lin. broad, 

 linear, tapering rapidly above to a shortly pungent apex, rigid, glabrous. 

 Peduncular-sheath 3-G in. long, leafless, ending abruptly in a sharp stift* 

 apiculus, glabrous, reddish-brown to the middle. Peduncle 1-2^ ft. 

 long, compressed. Spike 4-0 lin. long and thick, subglobose. Outer 

 bracts very coriaceous 2-2^ lin. long, 2 lin. broad, orbicular, concave, 

 keeled below the abruptly aristate apex, blackish, shining ; inner bracts 

 slightly shorter than the calyx, 2h lin. long, ovate, acuminate to a 

 hardened mucronate (not aristate) apex, boat-shaped, keeled, entire, 

 ciliate at the apex, golden-brown, with thinner and paler margins, 

 darker at the apex, with a narrowly lanceolate greenish dorsal area. 

 Lateral sepals 3-3| lin. long, § lin. broad, linear-oblong, subulate- 

 apiculate, golden-brown along the back, passing into light straw- 



