46 Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
The Amaryllidaceae of the Transvaal. 
By R. Leendertz. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The bulbous plants, though they have mostly showy, 
bright-coloured flowers, seem to have been neglected by the 
collectors, for in most Herbaria they are but poorly repre- 
sented. It is true, the Lilies and' Amaryllids with the 
generally big bulbs and thick leaves are difficult to preserve, 
and the flowers and leaves in many species appearing at a 
different time, the specimens are often incomplete. 
The collections of Transvaal Amaryllids in the Herbaria 
are but small ones and the record for the Transvaal of 11 
genera with 36 species is certainly too low. It will be far 
higher when several districts of the Transvaal, e.g. Zoutpans- 
berg, visited by but very few collectors, will have been more 
thoroughly explored. 
However, it will take some considerable time yet, until 
sufficient material is brought together, and for this reason I 
thought it advisable to commence providing some literature 
on the subject, however incomplete, if only to stimulate lovers 
and students of Botany in different outlying districts to send 
us more material. 
Only where I had fresh material or herbarium specimens 
I have given descriptions of the species ; for the other ones I 
have referred to the Flora Capensis VI. where Mr. Baker has 
worked out the South African Amaryllidaceae. 
Agave is included in the Transvaal genera of Amaryl- 
lidaceae, although it is an American genus. 
On account of its usefulness in forming hedges round the 
farms, it has been planted everywhere and is now growing 
wild. It thrives very well here, as its native land, Mexico, 
has much the same climate as South Africa. 
I have followed Engler & Prantl in removing Yellozia, in 
Baker and Bentham and Hooker belonging to the family of 
Amaryllidaceae, to the family of the Yelloziaceae, which has 
two genera, viz.: — 
a. Yellozia with many stamens in South America ; 
b. Barbacenia with 6 stamens in South Africa. 
According to this, Yellozia, our Baboon’s Tail or Baviaan’s- 
stert, must be altered into Barbacenia. 
