Plate 9. 



TULBAGHIA violacea. 



Cape Province, Natal. 



Liliaceae. Tribe Allieae. 

 Tulbaghia, Linn.; Benth. et ffoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. 798. 



Tulbaghia violaeea, Harv. Bot. Mag. t. 3555. Fl. Cap. vol. vi. 407. 



This beautiful little Tulbaghia has a special interest attached 

 to it, inasmuch as it flowered in Baron von Ludwig's garden 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, and was there illustrated and 

 described by Harvey, who sent his description and drawing 

 to the Botanical Magazine for publication. In this respect it 

 differs from most of the other Cape plants, which were described 

 and figured from specimens grown in Europe. 



The present illustration was made from specimens cul- 

 tivated at the Botanic Gardens, Durban, Natal, from tubers 

 presented by Mrs. Todd of Pietermaritzburg. Notwithstand- 

 ing the unpleasant odour of garlic, the species is worth 

 cultivation. It is commonly known as the " Wild Garlic." 



Desceiption : — Rootstoch tuberous. Leaves crowded ; basal 

 leaves rudimentary and membranous ; upper leaves 6-10, 

 erect, 20-30 cm. long, 5-8 mm. broad, linear, acute, glabrous, 

 concave on the upper surface, rounded beneath. Peduncles 

 erect, 30-60 cm. long, terete. Inflorescence a 10-20-flowered 

 umbel. Spathe-valves 2-2*5 cm. long, 5 mm. broad at the base, 

 ovate-linear, acuminate, acute, membranous. Pedicles 2*5-4 

 cm. long, terete. Flowers pale ampare-purple to light haryense- 

 violet (E.C.S.). Perianth-tube 1*1-1 *5 cm. long, 4 mm. in 

 diameter, cylindrical, slightly inflated at the base ; lobes 1-1*1 

 cm. long, 3-5 mm. broad, elliptic or lanceolate, acute or obtuse. 

 Corona-lobes 3, 1*5 mm. long, opposite the inner segments. 

 Stamens subsessile, in 2 whorls about halfway down the 

 perianth-tube; anthers sub-globose. Ovary sessile, sub-globose ; 

 style 2 mm. long, thick ; stigma capitate. 



Plate 9. — Fig. 1, perianth laid open to show corona lobes and stamens x 1J. 

 F.P.S.A., 1920. 



