Plate 1. 



AGAPANTHUS umbellatus. 



Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State, Basutoland, and 



Transvaal, 



Liliaceae. Tribe Allioideae. 

 Agapanthus, ISHerit; Benth. et HooJc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 798. 



Agapantlms umbellatus, VHerit. Sert. Angl. 17 ; Fl. Cap. vi. 402. 



This well-known garden plant, commonly called the 

 " Agapanthus " or " Blue Lily," was introduced into culti- 

 vation in England from the Cape as far back as 1692, and was 

 figured by Commelin of Amsterdam in 1697. 



In South Africa the plant is characteristic of the vegeta- 

 tion found on high mountain ranges. It usually occurs on 

 well-drained slopes. 



It is a herbaceous plant with a tuberous rootstock from 

 which 6-10 broad strap-shaped leaves arise. The lower stalk 

 is about a metre high, and bears an umbel of 20-50 handsome 

 blue flowers. 



Description : — Rootstock short, tuberous, with fleshy 

 cylindric roots. Leaves dark green, 6-10, basal, 20-60 cm. 

 long, 2-4 cm. broad, strap-shaped, obtuse, glabrous. Peduncle 

 0'25-l metre high, terete, glabrous. Inflorescence a many- 

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

 base, ovate, acuminate, withering in the mature inflorescence. 

 Floral-bracts 2*7 cm. long, linear. Pedicels about 6 cm. long, 

 terete, jointed at the apex. Flowers blue; perianth-tube 1*7 

 cm. long, 6 mm. in diameter ; lobes 2-5 cm. long, 9 mm. 

 broad, oblanceolate, obtuse. Stamens inserted at the throat 

 of the perianth-tube ; filaments 2*5-3 cm. long, arcuate ; 

 anthers oblong. Fruit a triquetrous capsule. 



E.P.S.A., 1920. 



