if lacerated, sessile. PERIANTH six-parted, sepals and petals uniform, 
oblong, obtuse. ANnTHERs linear, dark purple. Capsute 3-celled, 
3-valved, loculicidal, each cell containing two roundish brown seeds. 
Porunar anp Geocrapuicat Notice. Thunberg found this — 
plant in wet situations near Krumrivier, at the Cape of Good Hope. 
The moist locality in which it grows enables it to preserve some signs 
of life and beauty where all around is scorched by the power of an al- 
most tropical sun, which occasions nearly the same effects, that cold 
does in high latitudes. The progress of vegetation in sandy dis- 
tricts is almost completely checked till the return of the rainy season, 
when it revives, and the desert “blossoms as the rose.” Till this 
more favourable period arrives, bulbs and tubers lie protected under the 
earth, by theig aemerous sealy coats. Many bulbs might be found in 
regions which seem barren, and without a trace of vegetable life, were 
they trayersed in the rainy season, or properly examined, by digging 
some inches under the surface, in the dry mould. Meyen in his voyage 
round the World, records the following. “5th February, (place) Cor-: 
dilleras. The continued heat had so completely burnt up the whole 
plain which lay exposed to the sun’s rays, that a few scattered halms 
of wild oats and some flowering shrubs were all that remained. On 
accidentally turning up the clayey soil, it was found completely filled 
with small bulbs, the flowers and leaves of which had long since dis+ 
appeared. How beautiful must be the aspect of this plain} and all the 
declivities of these mountains in the spring of the year, when they are 
clothed with the splendid mantle of the liliacee. Here and there where 
there was some moisture to lessen the withering effect of the heat, were 
seen traces of this first beauty of the spring.” 
INTRODUCTION; WHERE GRrOwN; CuLTurE. Introduced by Mr. 
Tate of Sloane Street, in 1825. Flowered in May, in the greenhouse 
of the Messrs. Pope, of Handsworth. A light sandy soil with plenty 
of water suits this plant.. In warm summers the pot may be sunk at 
the side of any ornamental piece of water, which this graceful flower 
would contribute to beautify. A bright warm sun will expand its 
perianth, but so expanded our artist had no ster of drawing it. 
VATION OF THE NAME 
Deriv 
Sparaxis, from Sxrapaccw sParasso to tear, allnding to the torn-like spathas. 
Penpvta from the drooping sfc of the head of flowers 
Syn. 
Ixta penputa. Thunberg: Diaaestsiog’ No. 16. Prodromus 9, Flore Capen- 
sis, 1,286. Linneus: Supplement, 91. aes Species Plant. I, 204. 
Wartsonta PALUSTRIS. P. Synopsis. 
Spanaxis penputa. Ker in text of joe ders Magazine, 1482, Sprengel: Sp. 
Pl. I, 149. Lindley : Botanical Regi 
