290 
NOTE  UPON  THE  FECULA  OF  ALSTRCEMERIA. 
six-parted,  subcampanulate,  regular  or  sub-bilabiate,  interior 
divisions  narrower,  the  two  basic  subtubulose.  Stamina  six, 
inserted  in  the  bottom  of  the  perianth  ;  filaments  erect  or  de- 
clinate  ;  anthers  oval,  erect.  Ovary  inferior,  trilocular ;  ovula 
in  each  cell  numerous,  horizontal,  anatropous.  Style  filiform 
in  the  direction  of  the  stamina.  Stigma  trifid,  lobes  replicated. 
Capsule  oblong  or  globose,  triple  six-ribbed,  trilocular,  locularly 
trivalved,  or  more  rarely  berry- like,  indehiscent.  Seeds  nu- 
merous, subglobose,  horizontal ;  testa  membranaceous,  rugose, 
raphe  immersed  in  the  umbilicus,  and  joining  the  tuberculiform 
apex  of  the  chalaza.  Embryo  axillary,  shorter  by  half  than  the 
carnose  albumen. — Endlicher.  Genera  Plantorum. 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  found  in  tropical  America,  or 
extra  tropical  Australia.  They  have  fasciculate  tuberous  roots, 
with  leafy  stems,  which  may  be  erect,  scandent  or  voluble,  and 
umbellate  terminal  flowers. 
A.  peregrina,  Ruiz  and  Pavon,  Flor.  Peruv.  v.  iii.,  p.  288. 
Bot.  Mag.  tab.  139.  Jacquin.  Collec.  ii.  fig.  6.  RedouteLil.  t.  46, 
Sp.  Des  Glabrous  ;  leaves  sessile,  resupinate,  linear  lanceo- 
late, carnose  ;  umbel  2-6  flowered,  involucrate  ;  sepal  leaves  of 
the  perianth  obovote-cuneate,  shortly  acuminate,  or  oval ;  petals 
lanceolate,  obliquely  linear  maculate. 
This  species  ha3  a  somewhat  large  fasciculated  root,  the  fas- 
cicles being  oblong  cylindrical,  white,  soft  and  very  fibrous  at 
their  termination.  Stems  diverse,  simple,  more  than  two  feet 
in  height,  cylindrical,  thick  and  shining,  angled.  Peduncles 
much  longer  than  the  terminal  leaves,  shining,  erect.  Perianth 
two  inches  in  length,  handsome,  divisions  white,  deeply  colored 
purple  rose  in  the  centre,  and  greenish  at  the  point.  Stamens 
declinate,  shorter  than  the  perianth,  Aliments  subulate,  anthers 
oval,  obscurely  purple.  Style  shorter  than  the  stamina,  with 
three  diverging  stigmata.  Capsule  subglobose,  obtusely  acumi- 
nate,  trigonous,  trisulcate,  pale  colored,  Seeds  glabrous, 
yellow. 
This  species  pre?ents  several  varieties  :  1.  The  squamous, 
having  the  leaves  to  disappear  and  be  replaced  by  scales.  2. 
With  white  flowers.  3.  White  and  uniflowered.  4.  When  termi- 
nating in  two  or  three  flowers.  Almost  all  are  common  in  Chili, 
