Plate 53. 



ANDROCYMBIUM melanthioides. 



Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal. 



Liliaceae. Tribe Anguillarieae. 



Andeocymbium, Wittcl. ; Benth. el Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 822. 



Androcymbium melanthioides, Willd. in Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berl: Mag. 

 vol. ii. p. 21 ; Fl. Gap. vol. vi. p. 517. 



The genus Androcymbium is represented by about eighteen 

 species, two of which are known from the Mediterranean 

 Region and two from Tropical Africa, the remainder of the 

 species being confined to South Africa. 



Our plate was prepared from specimens collected by Dr. 

 I. B. Pole Evans at Silverton, near Pretoria, in May, 1921, 

 and represents the best known and most widely distributed 

 species of the genus. The plant shows the characteristic 

 habit of all the species, viz. stemless, with the flower head 

 hidden by large bracts which may be white, green, or purplish. 

 In cultivation it does not lend itself to planting out, but makes 

 a striking and pleasing object when placed singly in pots. 



Specimens of the plant figured are preserved in the 

 National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1451). 



Description : — A stemless plant. Bulb about 1*5 cm. in 

 diameter, globose, covered with more or less hardened black 

 tunics. Leaves 2-3, 14^22 cm. long, linear from an ovate 

 base, acutely acuminate, glabrous. Bracts white or purplish, 

 several, 3-8*5 cm. long, -8-3-5 cm. broad, oblong, ovate-oblong 

 or ovate, obtuse or sometimes apiculate at the apex, some- 

 times acuminate, many nerved (up to 50-nerved). Head about 

 6-flowered, hidden and overtopped by the bracts. Bracts sub- 

 tending the flowers about 3*5 cm. long, lanceolate, acute, 

 5-nerved. Pedicel 3 mm. long, 2-5 mm. broad above, obovoid, 

 fleshy. Perianth segments produced into a distinct claw ; claw 

 5 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, with a more or less distinct keel ; 



