488 PLANTS FEOM THE REGION OF LAKE TANGANYIKA. 



Appendix I. Root not seen. Stem a foot high, with 3-4 leaves, which vary in length from 6 to 

 15 inches, narrow, linear, firm, persistent, acuminate, 3-4 lines broad, quite gla- 

 brous, with a thickened keel, and about 20 close distinct ribs on each side of it, 

 the uppermost one rising from half-way up the stem, and reaching as high as the 

 • top of the raceme. Raceme simple, half a foot long, with a slender, very flexuose 

 rachis. Bracts minute, deltoid. Flowers laxly placed, all up to the tip in pairs. 

 Pedicels unequal, ascending or spreading, 1-3 hnes long, articulated just above the 

 base, and the flowers easily falling away by this articulation. Perianth J inch 

 long; segments lanceolate, I5— 2 lines broad at the middle, rather reflexed when 

 fully expanded, with five distinct purple ribs in the centre, leaving only a narrow 

 white border on each side. Stamens nearly as long as the perianth ; anther lin- 

 ear, papillose, as long as the rather flattened filament. Ovary minute, oblong, with 

 a large number of horizontal ovules in each cell. Style ^ inch long, filiform, dec- 

 Unate. 



