Co'inmelina.] cxliii. commelinace-e (clarke). r»3 



42. C. Welwitschii, 0. B. Clarke In DC. Moaoijr. Phan. in. 17.'). 

 Scabrous-pubescent, or nearly glabrous. Stems 4-1 1 in. long, erect, 

 thickened at the base, sometimes into bulbs ^ in. in cliam. ; roots 

 thickened. Leaves linear, 4-8 by \-\ in., or (in WelwUsch, <l(;;-)l») ex- 

 ceeding 12 in., dilated at the base. Peduncles scattered, exserted 

 1-;J in. from the leaf-sheaths, mostly very pubescent. Spathes ^'-1 j in. 

 long, ovate, acuminate acute, hairy or nearly glabrate ; margius free. 

 Two posticous petals yellow ; anticous petal yellow-brown or dull 

 violet-green {Welwitsch). Capsule nearly J by -I in., 4-seeded. Seeds 

 much longer than broad, wrinkled or obscurely reticulate. — Duiand tfc 

 Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 420 ; Rendle in Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 

 ii. 78. 



liOwer Guinea. Angola: Pungo Antlongo, 240O-8S00 ft.; on the slopes of 

 the volcanic rocks of the Prassidium, Welwitsch, 6627 ! damp rocks of CaI)OnJa, on 

 tlie Proesidimn, Welwitsch, 6632! 6637! Cazella, Welwitsch, 6638! plentiful 

 tliroughout the distriot on rocks and in damp pastures, Welwitsch, 6639 I Huilla ; 

 plentiful in pastures at Humpata, 3800-5500 ft., Welwitsch, 6586 ! 



There may be two species here ; in 6627 the spathes are scarcely 7^ in. long, v/:th 

 conspicuous purple striations ; in 6086 they are 1^ in. long, green : in both these :he 

 two posticous petals are yellow, the autiox)US dull violet-green. The other numbers 

 cited come all between these two extremes, nor have I been able to sort the spevics 

 into two varieties. 



4:5. C. subcucuUata, C. B. Clarke. More or less hairy. Stems 

 1 ft. long, suberect at the base ; internodes 2-4 i in. long. Leaves 

 4-")! in. long, linear, but more or less dilated at the base, where they 

 are sometimes h in. wide. Peduncles solitary towards the ends of the 

 branches, erect^ exserted 1-2 in. from the leaf -sheaths. Spathes |- in. 

 long, ovate-acuminate, acute, more or less hairy, pale brown, with 

 purple longitudinal veins ; the margins connate at thebavse for yV"?; ^"• 

 Petals (from tlie dried plant) appear yellow to brown-red. Capsule 

 \ in. long, square, 4-seeded. Seeds globose, smooth, brown. 



Mozamb. ]>ist. British Central Africa : Nyasaland ; Mount Malosa, -iOOO- 

 6000 ft., Whyte ! Mount Zomba, 4000-6000 ft., Whyte ! Mount ^Ilanji, Scott- 

 Elliot, 8675 ! 



This may prove only a variety of C. Carsoni. The typical five specimens of 

 Whyte, Avith acuminate highly coloured spathes, having the margins distinctly 

 connate at the base, look distinct enough ; but Scott-Elliot, 8675, has less acuminate, 

 less coloured spathes, with nearly free margins, and looks half-way to C. Carsoni. 



44. C. neurophylla, C. B. Clarke. Nearly glabrous. Branches 

 12-lH in. long ; internodes '2-b in. long. Leaves ^-j} by J in. (usually 

 narrow), linear-oblong or linear, often dilated at the base ; longitudinal 

 nerves 5-7, conspicuous in the dry specimens. Peduncles solitary 

 towards the ends of the branches, exserted h-'Ih in. from the leaf- 

 sheath. Spathes J- J in. long, triangular in outline, obliquely funnel- 

 shaped, green, with obscure green longitudinal veins ; margins connate, 

 often for h in. Petals blue. Capsule 1 in. long, square, 4-seeded. 

 Seeds globose, smooth, brown. 



VOL. VIII. C 



