TRITONIA AUREA. 
(Golden Tritonla.) 
Class. Order. 
TRIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDACEiE. 
(Irids, Feci. King.) 
Generic Character.— Spatha two-valved. Perianth 
somewhat campanulate or tubular, with a six parted, 
regular, or somewhat bilabiate limb. Stamens three, 
arising from the base of the sepals ; filaments filiform. 
Ovary ovate, three-celled, cells many-seeded. Style 
one, filiform. Stigmas three, spreading. 
Specific Character.— Plant a bulbous perennial. 
Bulb in the shape of a flattened sphere, striated, dark 
brown. Scape eighteen inches high, the lower part 
leafy, the upper part merely bracteate and forming 
a many-flowered, flexuous panicle. Leaves sword- 
shaped, acuminate, long, narrow, and with a pro- 
minent midrib. Spatha two-leaved, coloured. Peri- 
anth rich golden orange ; tube almost an inch long, 
slender, curved ; limb spreading, segments oblong- 
ovate. Stamens and style longer than the sepals. 
Synonymes and Authorities. — Tritonia aurea, 
Pappe, MS. in Hook. Herb. T. aurea, Hooker, in Bot. 
Mag., t. 4335. T. aurea, Lindley, in Bot. Reg., vol. 
xxxiii, t. 61. 
For the opportunity of figuring this fine species of Tritonia we are indebted to 
Mr. James Backhouse, of York, in whose nursery it flowered profusely in August, 
1847, and by whom it was recently introduced from Caffraria. It is certainly the 
most beautiful kind known of this interesting genus, and must be considered a valuable 
acquisition, being easy of culture, a profuse flowerer, and the colour being of so rich 
an orange. 
From- the situations in which it is found in its native country, we consider its 
treatment should be as follows : — 
The bulbs should be either potted and placed in a frame or a cool part of the 
greenhouse, or, which is better, planted out into a frame or on a warm border in front 
of the green or hothouse, or in any other sheltered place exposed to the rays of the 
sun. This should be done either in October or very early in Spring. 
The soil in which they are planted should be made light ; the best is a mixture 
of peat, sandy loam, and leaf mould, in equal proportions. 
If planted in pots, protect them securely from frost and wet ; but take care they 
have no artificial heat until the roots have spread well through the soil ; then 
remove them to a warmer situation in the greenhouse. 
When planted, do not administer water until the bulbs show signs of growth, and 
continue to water sparingly until the leaves and flower-stems begin to be developed, 
