SPARAX'IS PEN’DULA. 
PENDULOUS-FLOWERED SPARAXIS. 
ENDOGENZ, OR MONOCOTYLEDONE2: 
Natural division 
to which aaah 
this plant belongs. 
NATURAL ORDER, [RIDACE, 
EPIGYNOSE, Yo 1 {i divisions i SZ oR | TRIANDRIA, 
OF Y to which MONOGYNIA, 
LINDLEY. this Plant belongs. OF LINNEUS. 
No. 62, 
GENUS. Sparaxts. Ker. Periconrom corollinum superum, infundibu- 
liforme, tubo brevi gracili, limbi ampli sexpartiti laciniis subequalibus, stellato- 
patentibus. Stamina 3, tubo perigonii inserta, adscendentia, inclusa; filamen- 
sup wz. Ovarrum inferum, obtuse 
trigonum, triloculare. OvuLa plurima, in loculorum angulo centrali biseriata. 
Stryxvs filiformis: stigmata 3, linearia, complicato-carinata, recurva. CApsvULa 
membranacea, obsolete trigona, subtorulosa, trilocularis, loculicido-trivalvis. 
Semrya plurima subglobosa. Enpuicaer. Genera Plantarum, p. 168. 
SPECIES. Sparaxts penpura. Ker. Foliis linearibus strictis scapo 
polystachyo duplo brevioribus, spicis pendulis multifloris. pg 
CHARACTER OF THE GENUS, SPARAXIS. PERIGONE (PERIANTH) 
corolla-like, superior, funnel-shaped, tube short, slender, limb large, 
six-parted, segments nearly equal, stellately spreading. STAMENS 3, 
inserted on the tube of the perigone, ascending, included; filaments 
awl-shaped, anthers linear, attached by the back, somewhat above the. 
base. Ovary inferior, obtusely 3-angled, 3-celled. Ovuxes several, 
arranged in two rows, along the central angle of the cells. STYLE fili- 
form; stigmas 3, linear, complicately-keel-shaped, recurved. Cap- 
SULE membranaceous, indistinctly 3-cornered, somewhat turgidly 
knotty, 3-celled, by loculicidal dehiscence 3-valyed. SEEDS nume-— 
rous, subglobose. ; o 
DESCRIPTION OF THE SpEcTES, SPARAXIS PENDULA. A  peren- 
nial herbaceous plant, with a tuberous tunicated rhizoma, from 
which spring numerous tufts of leaves, from the centre of each of 
which tufts arise the scapes or flower-stalks. Leaves ensate, linear- 
acute, straight, nerved, 3-feet long, shorter than the scapes. Scapes 
slender, erect, panicled, pendulous at the top, pedicels having two 
capillary leaves at the base of each; spikes pendulous, secund ; flowers 
large, of a lilac colour, beautifully veined, each flower placed between 
two membranous bracts, or spathas which are convulute, appearing as 
REFERENCE TO THE DissEcTIONS. 
1, Pistil. 2, Perianth laid open, shewing stamens. 3, Spathas with their lacerated point. 4, Seed- 
vessel cut transversely. 
