RIGIDELLA ORTIIANTHA. 
(Upright-flowered Stiff-Stalk.) 
Class. 
MONADELPHIA. 
Order. 
TRIANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDACEA2. 
Generic Character. — Perianth three-leaved ; leaves 
imbricated at the base, convolute, bound together below 
the middle ; limb concave, revolute, spirally twisted 
after expansion. Stamens three, joined together in an 
exserted tube. Anthers linear, erect, free. Stigmas 
three, bipartite, appendiculate at the back, opposite 
the anthers ; lobes linear, papillose at the apex. Cap- 
sule papyraceous, apex three-valved, many-seeded. 
Seeds subglobose, dotted. Raphe and chalaza conspi- 
cuous.*— Mag. Bot., vol. vii., t. 247. 
Specific Character.— Plant a bulbous perennial, 
growing about eighteen inches high. Stem herbaceous. 
Leaves lanceolate, plaited, sheathing, pale green. 
Bracts in conjunction, sheath-like. Flowers terminal, 
fasciculate, nodding. Perianth three-leaved, deep 
vivid scarlet, and a triangular black spot at the base 
of each leaf ; somewhat concave, divided to the base. 
Anthers linear, dark brown. Stigmas deep pink. 
Fruit triangular. 
This new and brilliant-flowering bulbous plant was blooming in the stove of 
Messrs. Knight and Perry, Nurserymen, King’s Road, Chelsea, last October, when 
our drawing was made. 
The rich and deep scarlet of the flowers, contrasted with the delicate green of the 
foliage, renders it a very conspicuous object, surpassing in several respects the B. 
flammea figured Mag. Bot., v. 7, t. 247, to which in its general aspect it bears some 
resemblance. The flowers, however, of this species, although nodding, are not pen- 
dulous, neither does the limb assume that reflexed form which, in the B. flammea , 
is so distinguishing a character. The flowers, like those of the last mentioned 
species, are developed in a very short space of time, and decline with nearly the 
same rapidity, so that the duration of each is very limited ; but by the successive 
opening of others each day, the flowering season is prolonged. 
Nothing is known of the history and introduction of this species ; probably, 
however, it is a native of Mexico, and found its way into Europe through some of the 
continental travellers, and from thence was introduced into England. 
As far as our knowledge of its culture extends, it requires the temperature 
of a mild stove to bring it to perfection. Pot in a mixture of sandy heath mould, 
leaf mould, and loam ; and be careful to give a good drainage. When the plant 
comes into flower, remove to a warm greenhouse, where probably the flowers will be 
VOL. XIV. NO. CLXII. R 
