G9 



STYPANDRA FRUTESCENS. 



{Shrubby Stypandra.} 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. ASPHODELIACE^E. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Perianthium 6-partitum aequale, patens, deciduum. Stamina 6, filamenta infra attenuata, 

 curvata glabra supra stuposo-barbata. Antherce basi emarginata? insertse. Ovarium loculis 

 polyspermis. Stylis filiformibus. Stigma simplex. Capsula 3 loc. 3 valv. Semina pauca 

 ovalia lsevia umbilico nudo. Embryo rectus. 



Plantse perennes. Rhizoma repens fibris fasciculatis, filiformibus. Folia lineari-ensiformia, 

 stricta ; caulina nunc numerosa disticha vaginis integris strictis ; nunc pauciora basi semivagi- 

 nantia. Flores paniculato-corymbosi, pedicellis sub-umbellatis, cum perianthio articulatis, 

 caerulei vel albicantes. Antherce defloratse revolutee filamentorumque barbae flavse. — Brown's 

 Prod. Flor. Nov. Holl. p. 278. 



Perianthium divided into six equal parts, patent and falling off. Stamens six ; filaments 

 beneath slender, curved, smooth, above bearded. Anthers inserted at the base, notched. Ova- 

 rium with many-seeded cells. Styles filiform. Stigma simple. Capsule 3-celled and 3-valved. 

 Seeds few, oval, smooth, with a naked umbilicus. Embryo straight. 



Plants perennial. Rhizoma creeping, fibres bundled, filiform. Radical leaves linear sword- 

 shaped, upright; stem leaves numerous, distichous, sheathing, entire, upright, a few half sheathed 

 at the base. Flowers in a paniculate corymb, nearly umbellate, joined with the perianth, blue or 

 whitish. Anthers, after flowering, bent back, and the beards of the filaments yellow. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



S. frutescens ; frutescens glabra ; caule compresso ; foliis distichis lineari-lanceolatis acumi- 

 natis vaginatis basi recurvatis ; floribus cernuis-subcorymbosis caeruleis. 



Prutescent, smooth ; stem compressed ; leaves in two rows, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 

 sheathing, recurved at the base ; flowers drooping, somewhat corymbose, blue. 



Stypandra frutescens. Flor. Cab. No. XVI., p. 61. 



Descr. — Stem frutescent, smooth and flattened, three feet high, the lower part without 

 leaves, and covered with numerous brown sheaths. Leaves in two rows, smooth, from four to 

 six inches long, of a light, pleasing, green colour, sheathing at the base, and acuminate ; sheaths 

 about half an inch long, reflexed. Flowers of a bright blue colour, pedicellate, somewhat 

 corymbose, drooping; perianth unequal, composed of six parts, three interior and three exterior, 

 the interior broader than the exterior ; divisions ovate acute ; filaments are as stated in the 

 generic character, thickened at the apex, and covered with yellow hairs. Anthers fixed on 

 their base, recurved after they have discharged their pollen; ovarium three-celled; seeds 

 smooth, oval, and black. 



