deltoid-acute empty bracts at the base. Peduncle 0*6-1 metre 

 high, stout, glaucous, naked. Racemes densely flowered, 

 22-40 cm. long. Flowers secund, all pointing towards the 

 centre of the inflorescence and at the same time slightly 

 deflexed ; young buds distinctly globular ; in open flowers 

 nopal-red (R.C.S.), green at the tips; mature flowers sulphur- 

 yellow (R.C.S.) and tinged with red towards the base. 

 Floral-bracts reflexed, 5-6 mm. long, ovate-cuspidate, scariose, 

 pellucid. Pedicels recurved, 3-4 mm. long. Perianth 25 mm. 

 long, cylindrical-ventricose ; outer segments free for 15-17 

 mm., obtuse and recurved at the apex, 3-5-veined ; inner 

 segments obtuse, recurved, tipped with auburn (R.C.S.) at the 

 apex, with 3 inner veins. Stamens exserted for 11 mm. ; 

 filaments slightly recurved, the exposed portion chestnut- 

 brown (R.C.S.) to black. Anthers mars-orange (R.C.S. ). Style 

 pale sulphur-yellow (R.C.S.), stout, recurved. Capsule shortly 

 stipitate, 23 mm. long, 13 mm. in diameter, oblong-ovoid. 



Plate 2. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced ; Fig. 2, lower part of spike ; Fig. 3, 

 apex of spike. 



F.P.S.A., 1920. 



