tbwards the upper part of the Stalk, three quarters of an Inch, in 
fome a little Icfs. 
Immediately above the Root, the longcft Diameter of it is feven 
lixtecnth parts of an Inch, and the fhorteft five fixteenth Parts. 
Juft under the rife of the Flowers, the longeft Diameter is a quar- 
ter of an Inch, the fhorteft three fixteenth Parts. 
The Stalk is without any hollow or cavity in the Middle, and 
very ftrong in proportion to its Bignefs ; being thus enabled to bear 
up and fupport that large Bouquet or noble bunch of Flowers, with 
which it is, for fo long a Time, adorned : However we often meet 
W'ith it bent in one or more Places, and inclining downwards. 
Corniitus deferibes the Stalk to be without Leaves, a Foot high^ 
green on the upper Part, and below marked with innumerable pur- 
ple Specks. Speiiabilis Thyrjis per Initia nudus foltiSy paulatim 
fefe in pedis altitudinem fubrigit i fuperiore parte virensy inferna 
mile at TO -pur pur eis notis injufeatus. 
PERI ANTHIUM. 
W Hile the Flowers of this beautiful Plant are a forming, they 
are covered and inclofcd by a fort of Vagina or Cafe, made 
up of two diftind membranous Films, arifing round the upper part 
of the Stalk, whereof one is much larger than the other. 
They arc of a reddifh Colour, and a triangular Figure, the Bafe 
(?. e. where the Perianthium adheres to the Stalk) being half an Inch 
long, and the perpendicular Heighth one Inch three quarters. 
Before the Flowers arc blown, the Perianthium appears of the 
fhape of a Tulip before its blown, but when thefc arrive at a cer- 
tain bignefs, they burft open the Cafe, and it falls back in two 
Pieces. 
Between the two membranous Films, and the beginning of the 
Pedunculi, there are nine, and fometimes more fmall and narrow 
Filaments, that hang down like fo many Threads or Lacinia:, of 
the fame Subftance and Colour with that of the Perianthium. Thefc 
continue on the Stalk till the Flowers are quite withered and de- 
cayed. 
Cornutus has only mentioned the figure of the Perianthium, and 
that not very diftindly neither : florum gemma qua prtus ob- 
longa & rotunda quadam vagina, membranacea celabantur. 
F P E D U N. 
