57 
ELEUTHERlNE anomala. 
Anomalous Eleutherine. 
MONADELPHIA TRIANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. Iridace^e. 
ELETJTHERINE. Herbert. Corraus acute ovalis tunicatus ; folia 
plicata ; perianthium fugax regulare ; filaraenta libera tenuia ; stylus superne 
trifidus ; capsula trilocularis superne dehiscens cliartaceus ; semina rugosa 
subrotunda. Gelasini et Nemostyli affinis. Eleutherine & Nemostylis Gela- 
sinis forsitan sectiones ? — W. H. 
E. anomala ( Herbert in lift.) ; foliis oblongis basi angustatis superioris petio- 
latis floribus laxe pedunculatis longioribus, floribus hexandris. 
This singular little plant appeared in a flower-pot in the 
garden of the Horticultural Society in April last, hut its 
origin is unknown. Its similarity to the West Indian Marica 
plicata renders it probable that it had been imported from 
that part of the world. From Marica plicata it differs in its 
dwarfishness, in the leaves tapering very evidently to the base, 
while the uppermost have long channelled stalks, and are 
much longer than the flowers. 
The great peculiarity, however, consists in the flowers 
having six stamens instead of three, a circumstance previously, 
we believe, unobserved in the Iridaceous order. Whether, 
however, this was an accidental circumstance in the plant 
now figured, or is peculiar to the species, is uncertain. The 
increase in number of stamens is of the same nature as their 
redundancy in Vellozia and Gethyllis. 
If the views of previous Botanists, as to the genus in 
which this should be included, are consulted, we shall find one 
placing its nearest ally in Sisyrinchium (Swartz), another in 
Morsea (Swartz), and a third in Marica ( Ker) ; a pretty 
good indication of its really belonging to none of them. The 
regular flowers, free stamens, trifid slender-lobed style, ovate 
corms, and plaited leaves are so peculiar as to have led the 
Dean of Manchester to distinguish it under the name of 
Eleutherine, a view we do not hesitate to adopt. It is indeed 
inconceivable how it could ever have been referred to either 
Morsea or Marica ; its relation to Sisyrinchium is more 
obvious ; the separate stamens, however, distinguish it. The 
real affinity of the genus is, in Dr. Herbert’s opinion, with 
Gelasine. 
The following memorandum on the subject has reached us 
from that gentleman since the above was in type : — 
