Inbertia.] IRIDACEAE. 329 
may be developed lower down the scape; pedicels very slender, pubes- 
cent, #-lin. long; bracts numerous, whorled at the base of the clusters. 
Perianth 4-4in. diam.; segments almost equal, oblong-obovate. Capsule 
4-3 In. diam., globose, membranous.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vi (1873) 413; 
Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 700. L. micrantha A. Cunn. Precur. (1836) 
n. 308; Raoul Choix (1846) 41; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 1 (1853) 252; 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 274. 
Norta anp Sout Isnanps, Srewarr Isnanp: Damp mossy places in hilly 
forests throughout, not uncommon. Sea-level to 4000 ft. November—January. 
Also in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. 
Family XXIT. BURMANNIACEAE. 
Annual or perennial herbs, usually of small size and saprophytic ; stems 
whitish or pink, rarely green; leaves usually absent. Flowers herma- 
phrodite, solitary and terminal or arranged in a 2-fid helicoid cyme. 
Perianth superior, regular, petaloid; segments 6 or 3, free. Stamens 
generally 6, affixed to the base of the perianth-tube; filaments short ; 
anthers 2-celled, their connectives usually dilated, and sometimes connate 
into a tube. Ovary inferior, 1-celled with 3 parietal placentas, or 3-celled 
with as many axile placentas. Ovules numerous on each placenta, minute ; 
style short, simple; stigmas 3. Fruit a capsule with variable dehiscence ; 
seeds numerous, small. 
A small family of about 16 genera and 75 species, almost confined to the tropics ; 
but a few species extend into the North Temperate Zone, one reaching as far north as 
Illinois, in the United States. In the Southern Hemisphere a single species occurs in 
Tasmania and another in New Zealand. The species have no important properties 
or uses. 
1. BAGNISIA Bece. 
Small fleshy saprophytes, everywhere smooth and glabrous, leaves 
absent or reduced to scales. Rhizome creeping, sparingly or copiously 
branched, putting up here and there short erect peduncles or stems, 
furnished with small scale-like leaves or bracts. Flowers solitary, terminal, 
variously coloured, Perianth-lobes 6, the 3 inner larger, dilated at the 
tip, and connivent into a kind of hood; the 3 inner somewhat smaller, 
free. Stamens 6, affixed to the throat of the perianth-tube, abruptly 
deflexed ; connectives very large, connivent into a tube; anthers 2-celled. 
Style short; apex 3-fid, stigmatose. Fruit turbinate; seeds numerous, 
small. me LAD nnn VU Mebel. ST. 
— “ | es 
ee ee 
— 
A curious little genus of 7 or 8 species; al! Malayan except one found in New 
Zealand, another in Tasmania, and a third in the northern United States of America. 
1. B. (Geomitra) Hillii Cheesem. in Kew Bulletin (1908) 420.—A 
minute colourless saprophyte, perfectly smooth in all its parts, leaves 
wanting or reduced to minute scales. Rhizomes creeping amongst humus 
at the base of tall forest-trees, sparingly or copiously branched, 2-4 in. 
long, -5-s'5 in. diam., fleshy, naked. Peduncles springing from the axils 
of minute fleshy bracts, 1-flowered, erect or curved, 1-4 1n. long; bracteoles 
3-7, alternate, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, the 
upper gradually larger, 2-$1n. long. Flowers solitary, terminal, large 
