Plate 60. 



spaeaxis grandiflora. 



Cape Province. 



Ieidaceae. Tribe Ixieae. 

 Spabaxis, Ker ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 708. 



Sparaxis grandiflora, Ker in Konig and Sims' Ann. i. 225 ; Fl. Cap. 



vol. vi. p. 116. 



The plant here figured was introduced into Kew Gardens 

 in the year 1758. Though it has been more than once 

 illustrated in botanical publications, we do not apologise for 

 reproducing this coloured illustration of one of the common 

 bulbs found in so many gardens at the Cape. The species 

 grandiflora is represented by many colour varieties, and is 

 probably the same as the plant described as Spiraxis tricolor, 

 which only appears to differ from it in the colour markings on 

 the perianth. The variety here figured is probably the form 

 originally described under the name Spiraxis atropurpurea. 



The specimens were collected by Dr. R. Marloth, who 

 forwarded them to the Division of Botany, Pretoria, where 

 they flowered in August. They are preserved in the National 

 Herbarium (Herb. No. 1454). 



Description : — Bulb 1"3 cm. long, 1*3 cm. in diameter, 

 covered with light-coloured fibrous tunics. Leaves about 10 to 

 a bulb, distichous; the lower leaves about 5 cm. long and 

 4 mm. broad ; the upper up to 26 cm. long and 1-2 cm. broad ; 

 all linear, acuminate, acute, with a distinct midrib and the 

 inner margin membranous, sheathing at the base, glabrous. 

 Inflorescence shorter than the upper leaves ; peduncle about 

 12 cm. long, clasped and hidden by the inner leaves. Flowers 

 about 6 to an inflorescence, purple. Bracts membranous, 1 cm. 

 long, awned or lacerated with the awns up to 1*2 cm. long. 

 Perianth-tube 9 mm. long, cylindric in the lower half, cam- 

 panulate in the upper half; lobes 1*5 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, 

 spathulate-obovate. Stamens attached to the throat of the 



