— 307 — 



Fig. 2. Branch of the panicle with numerous bulbils and a flower ( X Va)- 



the single branches with small brown membranous bracts. Flowers 

 solitary, with 1 — 2 bulbils (Fig. 2). These are of very varying 

 sizes, the largest 3,5 cm long, 1,5 cm broad, very compressed, with 

 3 — 5 visible leaves, not densely united 

 like a bulb (Fig. 6, 7). Bulbils also are 

 developed in the axils of the upper bracts 

 of the scape below the inflorescence. The 

 flowers on pedicels 1 / 2 — 1 cm long, cer- 

 nuous, with 6 cream-coloured perianth- 

 segments and of a faint scent. The outer 

 segments 1,4 cm long, 0,6 cm broad, the 

 inner a little broader (Fig. 3, 4). Stamens 

 much shorter than the perianth-seg- 

 ments. Filaments 2,5 mm long, at the 

 base 1 mm thick, upwards subulate. 

 Anthers 4 mm long, 1,5 mm thick, versa- 

 tile (Fig. 5). Ovary 8 mm long, 2 mm 

 thick, its transverse section obtuse tri- 

 angular. Style 5 mm long, thickened at 

 the base. The flowers all barren; the 

 fruit therefore unknown. 



One of the most striking peculiarities 

 of the plant in question, I should think, is 

 the very compressed bulbils, similar to the flower-buds with the two 

 green bracts of Stratiotes aloides (hence the name of the species). I 

 tried therefore, to compare these bulbils with those of other spe- 

 cies of Furcraea allied to our species, but I found that in most 

 descriptions given the bulbils were not mentioned at all. Only 



20* 



Fig. 3. Flower. (XI 1 /«)- 

 Fig. 4. Longitudinal section 



of a flower ( X 17a). 

 Fig. 5. Stamens; back- view, 

 front-view, and side-view 

 (X 3). K. Wiinstedt del. 



