Refugium Botanicum.] [ September, 1869. 
TAB. 166. 
Natural Order COMMELYNACE. 
Genus Commetyna, Linn. 
C. graBra (G. F. Meyer, Fl. Esseq. p. 22). Suberecta, glabra vel sub- 
glabra, foliis glabris lanceolatis, spathis ovato-acuminatis compli- 
catis, pedicellis geminatis, uno sterili deciduo, altero racemum 
scorpioideum 6—8-florum gre exsertum ferente, sepalis duobus 
majoribus alte connatis, petalis rotundatis sequalibus sessilibus.— 
Kunth, Enum. iv. p. 42. 
Widely dispersed in Tropical America. 
Stems ascending, a foot and a half to two feet long, two or three 
times branched with ascending glabrous or very nearly glabrous 
branches. Sheaths six to nine lines long, membranous, tinged 
with pink, sometimes ciliated at the neck. Leaves lanceolate, 
pale green, glabrous, grass-like in texture, the largest three to 
four inches long by six to nine lines broad three-quarters of the 
way down. Peduncles several to a branch, slender, ascending, 
both axillary and terminal, six to twenty-four lines long. Spathes 
folded together in two equal halves, ovate-acuminate, spreading 
horizontally or slightly decurved, glabrous, an inch or rather 
more in length. Pedicels two to a spathe, one barren and de- 
ciduous, the other producing a scarcely exserted scorpioid raceme 
of six to eight flowers. Sepals green, membranous, one lanceo- 
late, the other two larger and connate more than half-way up. 
Petals round, equal, bright blue, sessile, very delicate in texture 
and fugacious. Stamens as in all the other species, three fertile 
and oblong-sagittate, three barren and unequally four-lobed. 
Tab. 166.—1, single flower; 2, pistil and stamens; 38, a barren and 
fertile stamen; 4, flower with corolla taken away; 5, ovary: all mag- 
nified—J. G. B. 
ne 
The bright blue of the flowers of this plant is very striking, 
and as the flowers are produced freely the species is well worth 
growing. It thrives well, planted either in a large pot or placed 
in the open ground during the summer months. It must have 
a cool greenhouse treatment during the winter. The plant 
originated with me from seed sent from Peru by Mr. Farris. 
pore Wad. 
