MR. J. MIERS ON THE CONANTHERE.E. 503. 
tinct tribe of the Liliaceae, following the Alliee (Scillee), and Anthericee, nearly in the 
manner in which it has been well classed by Professor Lindley in his ‘Veg. Kingd.' p. 205 ; 
it would thus consist of Zephyra, Tecophilea, Conanthera, Cummingia, and Cyanella. 
But if it were considered desirable, on account of its very peculiar characters, to raise 
the tribe to the rank of a distinct family, it would then claim on the score of priority 
the title of Conantheree or Conantheracee, rather than that of Tecophileacee. 
I will now proceed to give an ample diagnosis of each genus, from my own careful 
observation. 
Genus ZEPHYRA, D. Don. 
Perianthium. petaloideum, tubulosum, profunde 6-partitum, segmentis tubo brevi cylindrico 3-plo longi- 
oribus, zstivatione 2-serialiter imbricatis, lineari-oblongis, 3 exterioribus extus sub apicem calcari 
reflexo mucronatis, 3 interioribus paulo latioribus, inermibus; his basi ad margines ciliatis, cunctis 
demum reflexis. Stamina 6, summo tubi enata, quorum 1 posticum et 3 anteriora fertilia, et 2 postica 
alterna sterilia: fertilia æqualia ; filamenta brevissima, imo complanata et dilatata, omnia in annulum 
membranaceum liberum fauci tubi adnatum coalita; anthere ovato-cylindricz, 4-sulcatz, 2-locu- 
lares, loculis collateralibus imo in calcar breve confluentibus, apice diagonaliter transversim fisse, 
hine breviter 2-valvatze, et e poris duobus hiantes: sterilia fertilibus longiora; filamenta filiformia, 
elongata, singulis anthera minuta 2-locellata effeeta apiculatis. Ovarium fere superum, globoso- 
trilobum, 3-loculare; ovula numerosa, ad axin centralem in quoque loculo horizontalia. Stylus 
filiformis, rectus, stamina superans. Stigma fere obsoletum, truncatum, cavum, margine ciliolatum. 
Capsula (immatura) fere supera, stylo apiculata, sulcato-trigastra, angulis carinatis, 3-locularis, 
3-valvis, valvis medio septiferis. Semina matura ignota.—Herbz Peruviane, tuberoso-bulbose ; folia 
pauca, approximata, radicalia, alternatim imo vaginantia, linearia, glabra; caulis erectus, breviter scapi- 
formis, et ramoso-paniculatus, ramis paucis, alternis, patentibus, sub-bifloris, imo bractea membranacea 
spathacea. pedicello longiore donatis; flores cernui, cerulei. 
1. ZEPHYRA ELEGANS, D. Don, Edin. Phil. Journ. (1862), p. 236; Kunth, Enum. iv. 634. 
Foliis paucissimis rudimentariis, lineari-lanceolatis, acuminatis, canaliculatis, ner- 
vosis, plerumque adpressis; panicula simplieissima ; floribus erebris, azureis, pedi- 
cellis filiformibus, summo incrassatis, imo bractea subulata viridi longiore donatis.— 
In Peruvia inferiore, ad Tarapaca et Iquique. 
The very few details recorded of this species do not identify it with the following one. 
Its stem is 3 inches long, denuded, but covered at its base with several membranaceous 
sheaths of fallen or abortive leaves; the leaves on its stem are nearly radical and rudi- 
mentary, searcely an inch long; the branches of the panicular termination of the stem 
have green bracts; the perianth is of an azure blue, and 10 lines long. 
2. ZgPHYRA AMGNA, nob. Caule erecto, humili, basi folioso ; foliis circiter 3, alternatim 
approximatis, imo vaginantibus, lineari-lanceolatis, canaliculatis, parallele nervosis ; 
panicula terminali, caule fere æquilonga, ramis paucis, alternis, patentibus, bractea 
basali lineari-canaliculata acuminata æquilonga donatis, singulis 2-floris, pedicellis 
filiformibus summo crassioribus, imo bracteola lineari-acuminata membranacea 
breviore munitis; floribus cernuis, ceeruleis.—In Peruvia inferiore, ad Iquique :. 
v. S. in collect. Bollært. 
i 372 
SS 
