17 



SISYRINCHIUM JUNCEUM. 



(Rush-like Sisyrinchium.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. _ _ NATURAL ORDER. 



No. 95. 



TRIDACEiE. MONADELPHIA TRIANDRIA. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Sisyrinchium (Lin.) Perianthium sex-partitum regulare. Filamenta infra connata vel dis- 

 tincta. Stylus 3-fidus. Stigmata simplicia. Capsula subglobosa. — Brown, Prod. Flor. Nov. 

 Holl. p. 304. 



Perianth in six regular divisions. Filaments joined together or separate. Style divided into 

 three parts. Stigma simple. Capsule somewhat globose. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



S. junceum ; caule simplici cylindraceo sulcato, monophyllo ; folio fistulosp ; spathd longis- 

 sima ; floribus stipitatis numerosis incarnatis ; pedunculis longissimis ; filamentis connatis in 

 medio infiatis ; ovariis subglobosis hirsutis. 



Stem simple, cylindrical, furrowed, one-leafed ; leaf hollow ; spathe very long ; flowers stipi- 

 tate, numerous, pink ; peduncles very long ; filaments joined, inflated in the middle ; ovaria 

 somewhat round, hairy. 



Descr. — Bulbous. Stem cylindrical, furrowed, about two feet and a half high, sheathed 

 below the leaves. Leaves fistulose, solitary. Spathe very long, half as long as the stem. 

 Flowers with tortuous stalks issuing out of the spathe, at the top of which are three lanceolate 

 scales (involucre?) with scarious edges, which enclose a portion of the peduncles. Perianth 

 of a pleasing pink colour, having green spots at the base. Divisions of the perianth six, lanceo- 

 late, apiculate. Peduncles very long, smooth, having at the base of each a scarious bract one- 

 third the length of the peduncle. Filaments joined, inflated in the middle. Anthers not joined, 

 subsagittate, of an orange colour. Pollen composed of oblong cylindrical grains. Style divided 

 into three portions towards* the top. Stigma minute, entire. Ovarium situate below the peri- 

 anth, being triangular, three-celled, each cell containing two seeds. Seeds roundish. 



This species of Sisyrinchium differs from all others with which we are 

 acquainted ; and indeed deviates in some respects from the genus, although we 

 imagine that it ought not to be separated. It differs from all the Sisyrinchia 

 we have examined, in having stipes issuing out of the spathe, on which are 

 arranged numerous flowers, and also in having three scales (which we have 

 before described) situated at the base of the flowers. This formation we have 

 never before seen in the genus ; on the contrary, the flowers are decidedly those 



VOL. III. N 0# XXVI. APRIL, 1839- D 



