Plate 65. 



ORNITHOGALUM Thunbergianum. 



Cape Province. 



Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae. 

 Ornithogalum, Linn.; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 815. 



Ornithogalum Thunbergianum, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xiii. p. 269 ; 



Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 497. 



Ornithogalum Thunbergianum, the "Yellow Chinkerichee," 

 is found in the Malmesbury, Paarl, and Van Rhynsdorp 

 Districts of Cape Province. It was found by Carl Thunberg 

 at Saldana Bay about the year 1772, and named by him 

 0. maculatum, but as this specific name had already been 

 given to a plant figured by Jacquin, the late Mr. Baker 

 redescribed the species here dealt with and named it after 

 Thunberg, although there is some doubt as to whether the 

 plant figured by Jacquin is specifically distinct from 0. 

 Thunbergianum. 



The perianth is a beautiful " flame scarlet " colour with a 

 black mark at the tip of the three outer segments. The 

 species should be grown by all lovers of our native flora, and 

 would well repay cultivation. 



We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood, Van Rhynsdorp, for 

 specimens which enabled us to prepare the present plate. 

 Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria 

 (Herb. No. 1469). 



Description : — Bulb 2-3 cm. long, 2-3 cm. in diameter, 

 ovoid or compressed-globose, covered with thin membranous 

 tunics. Leaves withering at time of flowering, 5-10 cm. long, 

 1 cm. broad below, ovate-linear, tapering to an acute apex, 

 glabrous, glaucous-green. Peduncle 12—38 cm. long, terete, 

 rigid, glabrous. Inflorescence 2— 6-flowered. Bracts membranous, 

 2-3-2-5 cm. long, linear-oblong, acuminate, more or less 

 clasping and equalling the pedicel. Pedicels 1*7 cm. long, 

 terete, the lower somewhat arcuate. Perianth segments 2—2-3 



