506 MR. J. MIERS ON THE CONANTHERE X. 
rior, having sixteen ascending sessile ovules collaterally fixed to the inner angle of each 
cell. The plant flowers in October and November. 
Genus CONANTHERA. 
This genus was established by Ruiz and Pavon in 1802. I found the typical species 
in 1820, and it was first raised in England in 1823 from bulbs and seeds sent by me. It 
differs from Zephyra and Tecophilea in its stamens being all fertile, and in the absence 
of the basal spur of the anther, together with a somewhat different mode of dehiscence. 
The ovary and capsule are half superior. 
Conantuera, R. & P.—Perianthium petaloideum, imo breviter tubulosum, 6-partitum, segmentis tubo 
8-plo longioribus, zstivatione 2-serialiter imbricatis, lineari-oblongis, 3 exterioribus apice calloso- 
mucronatis, 3 interioribus paulo latioribus, inermibus, imo ad margines ciliolatis, omnibus valde 
reflexis. Stamina 6, segmentis opposita, zequalia, exserta, in conum centralem conniventia ; filamenta 
brevissima, imo dilatata et in annulum brevem ad tubi basin adnatum coalita; anthere tenuiter elon- 
gate, subulatze, basi 2-lobatze et in sinu basifixze, sub lente scabridulze, 4-sulcatz, 2-loculate, apice 
transversim et 2-valvatim profunde fissz, valvulis membranaceis, acuminatis, apice 2-denticulatis, 
erectis, antica paulo breviore. Ovariwn plusquam semisuperum, 3-gonum, parte superiore profunde 
3-suleatum, 3-loculare: ovula numerosa, ad axin centralem serialiter affixa, horizontalia: stylus 
tenuissime filiformis, rectus, staminibus paulo longior: stigma fere obsoletum, fimbriato-truncatum. 
Capsula trigono-globosa, pro tertia parte infera et hinc cicatrice transversa cincta, 3-locularis, apice 
loculicido-trivalvis, valvis medio septiferis. Semina in quoque loculo plurima, angulo centrali affixa, 
 guttiformi-ovata, intus angulata, et hinc raphe longitudinali apiceque strophiolo crasso signata: festa 
crassiuscula, scrobiculato-rugosd, nigrescens: fegmen tenuiter membranaceum: embryo teres, in 
albwmine corneo paulo longiore inclusus, radicula supera, strophiolo proxima.—H erbze Chilenses : 
bulbus tuberosus, tegete e fibris numerosissimis intricatis crassa amictus: caulis erectus, simplex vel 
pauci-ramosus, ramis laxe paniculatis ; folia radicalia sepius 2, lineari-ensiformia, parallelim nervosa, 
erumpens basi vaginantia ; flores cerulei, pedicellati, cernui ; pedicelli imo bracteati ; anthere 
tee. 
1. CoNANTHERA BIFOLIA, R. & P., Fl. Per. iii. 68, tab. 301. fig. a; Bot. Mag. 51, tab. 2496. ; 
Bermudiana bulbosa, Feuill. iii. 8, tab. 3. Foliis radicalibus 2-3, imo vaginatis, sub- 
oppositis, lineari-ensiformibus, læte virentibus; floribus cernuis; segmentis valde re- 
curvis, violaceo-czeruleis, imo macula magna alba variegatis, 3 alternis imo ad mar- 
gines ciliatis.—In Chile prov. centralibus: v. v. ad Concon. 
The semiglobose tuberose bulb 3 inch in diameter, as well as the submerged portion of 
the stalk 13-23 inches long, are covered by a densely matted network 1-2 lines thick, 
formed of loose crossing fibres. The radical leaves are about 4 inches long, 3 lines broad ; 
the stem, when simple, has about three alternate, equidistant, vaginant, acute, membrana- 
ceous bracts ; but when compound, the branches from these bracts form a panicle rising 
6 to 9 inches above the ground; the pedicels, also bracteated at their origin, are 3—4 lines 
long ; the tube of the perianth is 3 line long, the segments 6 lines long, 13-2 lines broad, 
with five parallel nerves; the filaments + line long; the anthers, crowded together like 
an exserted cone, are 32 lines long and of a pale vell 1 The capsule is about 
21 lines in diameter. S paie yeliow colour. p 
