MONANDROUS PLANTS,, 331 



ens; making their appearance with the first showers in April, or May; 

 and perish about the beginning of the cool season, in November* 



The infioresccftce is constantly a simple, ere6t scape, of a few iirches in 

 length; either lateral, that is, rising from the root, distin6lfrom the leaveSj 

 and generally with or before they appear; or central, that is springing 

 from their centre, when they have attained their greatest luxuriance; sup- 

 porting, in both cases, a loosely imbricate, simple, subcylindrie, ereel, 

 comose spike. The coma is composed of more highly coloured bractes than 

 those of the body of the spike, and they are for. the most part, if not al- 

 ways, sterile. The flower-bearing bractes which surround the body of the 

 spike, are nearly alike in all, and have their lower margins united to the 

 backs of the lower half of the next two immediately within, and above; 

 forming pouches for the flowers, of which there are generally three, four, 

 or five in each, expanding in succession ; and are mixed with some small 

 proper bra^les, which help to form the fascicle. The flowers are more or 

 less yellow in all ; the two upper segments of the interior border are con- 

 fined, in an ere6l, or somewhat incurved position, by the conical, acute apex 

 of the upper segment of the exterior border; these three form a vault 

 over the anther and stigma, giving to the whole the appearance of a rin- 

 gent corolla. The lip or lower segment is large, more highly coloured, and 

 generally emarginate. The fi.lament short, and broad ; standing between 

 the two superior segments of the inner border, opposite to the lip.- Airther' 

 double ; the lobes separated by a deep groove, through which the style 

 passes ; the lower end of each lobe ends in a larg.e conspicuous spiu\ which 

 for these twenty years past, Lha-ve considered the essential character 'oi 

 the genus. Style filiform. The nectarial bodies which embrace its base, 

 are here subulate. The stigma is somewhat bilabiate, and infundibuli- 



