NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
139 
and are exported from here to Cape Town and elsewhere in great quan- 
tities in sacks. They cost about 2d. per lb. here.” 
The narrow leaves serve to distinguish this species at sight from the 
rest of the section. 
Aristea ensifolia, Muir. [Irideae-Sisyrinchieae-Aristeae.] Herba glaberrima, 
rhizomate radiculas multas fibrosas tenues emittente, ad 58 cm. 
alta; folia basalia disticha, circiter 5, ensiformia acuta, modice 
rigida, basi vaginantia, nerviis multis conspicuis, paullo angustata 
inferne, in medio parte T3 — 2 cm. lata, 30 — 55 cm. longa; caulis 
simplex, valde anceps, strictus vel sub-flexuosus superne, 0-6 cm. 
diametro, 20 — 58 cm. altus (cum inflorescentia), 2 — 3 foliis reductis 
ornatus, foliis reductis, viri dibus rigidis lanceolato-acuminatis, 0-6 — 
25 cm. longis, sursum gradatim attenuatis; inflorescentia laxe race- 
mosa, 10 — 20 cm. longa, e spathis circiter 5, bifloris composita, spathis 
bractea magna viride rigida integra lanceolato-acuta, ad 7 cm. longa 
subtensis; spathae valvae 0-9 — T8 cm. longae, superiores minores, 
basi dilute virides, apicem versus dilute brunneae, angustissime mem- 
branaceo-marginatae, lanceolato-acutae; pedicelli 0-9 — T3 cm. longi, 
exteriores longiores ; perianthii segmenta cyanea speciosa, mox marces- 
centia, exteriora obovata obtusa, T4 cm. longa, 0-8 cm. lata, snbtus 
pallido-carinata, interiora T4 cm. longa, 0-5 cm. lata, subtus viridi- 
carinata; perianthii tnbus cylindricus, 0-2 cm. longus; stamina basi 
segmentorum interiorum inserta, antheris erectis, filamentis 0-5 cm. 
longis; ovarium leviter incurvum, triquetrum, lateribus uni-nervatis ; 
stylus cylindricus 0-7 cm. longis, ramis brevibus rotundatis planis 
paten tibus; capsula triquetra, ad 3-5 cm. longa, 3-locularis, pedicellis 
2 cm. longis; seminibus crebris, superpositis angulatis, saturate 
brunneis. 
Cape Colony: Sonth-Western Region; Riversdale Div., near Alber- 
tinia, in rich black wet soil, alt. 30-5 met., fl. Oct. — Nov., Dr J ohn Muir, 
2458. 
Watsonia Versfeldii, Mathews and L. Bolus (Irideae-Ixieae), W. roseae affinis 
sed floribus multo majoribus, segmentis pro portione longioribus 
angustioribusque, staminibus arcuatis, ceterisque facile distinguitur. 
Erecta, ad T65 met. alta; cormus depresse globosus, 2-5 cm. longus, 
5 cm. diam., tunicis e fibris, inferne tenuibus, superne crassioribus, 
compositis; folia radicalia. 7, ensiformia, ad 85 cm. longa, 5 cm. lata, 
infimo superioribus parum longiore, nervis inconspicuis, caulina 2, 
haud ventricosa, breviter imbricata, inferiore ad 41 cm. longo, vagina 
15 cm. longa, superiore 13 cm. longo, saepissime sine parte libera , 
inflorescentia 87 cm. longa, sublaxe multiflora, internodiis T3 2 cm. 
longis, infra medium ramosa, ramis erectis vel suberectis, bractea < 
10 
B. H. 
