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NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
apex and which alters its position during the development of the fruit, 
being erect in the flowering-stage, horizontal as the fruit matures, and 
finally curved downwards and then upwards, from about the middle, 
when the fruit is ripe. The stamens tend to diverge from the centre, 
leaving rather more of the flat surface of the ovary exposed than is usual. 
The fruit is particularly sweet and palatable — more so than that of 
another favourite (probably a new species) and of M. Juritzii, L. Bolus. 
My attention was first directed to the species by Dr John Muir who had 
known it in the field for years. 
Geissorhiza Mathewsii, L. Bolus. Omnino glabra, 10 — 13 cm. alta; cormus 
ovoideus, ad 1 cm. longus, 0-8 cm. diam. ; folia radicalia 2, linearia acuta, 
crebre nervata, nervis primariis ad 9, 6 — 9 cm. longa, 2 — 6 mm. lata, 
folium caulinum 1, ad 7 cm. longum, vaginans, vagina leviter ventricosa, 
crebre nervata, ad 7 mm. diam., lamina ad 13-nervata, vaginae aequilonga; 
inflorescentia 1-ramosa, ramo in axillo folii caulini oriente, 1 — 3-fl., axi 
florifero terminali ad 5-5 cm. longo, saepe subpatente, flexuoso, 3 — 5-fL, 
floribus erectis secundis; bracteae ovato-oblongae, vel demum fere 
quadratae, mucronatae, herbaceae, apicem versus rubescentes sed vix 
membranaceae, etiam in fructu, 7 — 8 mm. longae, bracteolis eis subae- 
quilongis, fere ad apicem coalitis ; perianthii tubus gracillimus brevissimus, 
1 — 2 mm. longus, limbo crateriformi, segmentis obovatis, basi subcuneatis, 
dimidio inferiore laete rubicundis, dimidio superiore saturate purpureo- 
coeruleis, linea albido-purpurea interposita, ad 1-6 cm. longis, ad 9 mm. 
latis; stamina equilateralia, filamentis 9 mm. longis, antheris sordide 
purpureo-brunneis, 4 — 5 mm. iongis; stylus 7 mm. longus, stigmatibus 
planis lineari-spathulatis acutis recurvatis, marginibus dense papillatis, 
ad 4 mm. longis ; ovarium ad basin leviter attenuatum, obtuse 3-angulare, 
2 mm. longum; capsula ad 7 mm. longa, apice 5 mm. diam. 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Darling Div., in damp and 
marshy places near Darling, fl. Aug. — Sep., 1923, J . W. Mathews (Bolus 
Herbarium, No. 18502). 
Allied to G. Bellendeni, MacOwan, which, however, differs in having 
one nerve only, the midrib of the leaf, prominent, the axis pubepcent 
throughout, the bracts with a tendency to be keeled and distinctly 
membranous in the upper third, and the colouring of the perianth-limb 
a dull red in the lower portion with a somewhat transparent band between 
this and the purplish-blue upper part. The colouring of the perianth is 
more like that of G. rochensis, Ker, but there are no “nectary-sacs” (or 
foveoles) and the flowers are smaller. In both there is a marked tendency 
for the stamens and style to be unilateral. 
Dierama argyrea, L. Bolus. Planta 56 — 80 cm. alta; cormus depresse globosus, 
ad 1-5 cm. diam., tunicis fibris tenuibus compositis; folia 5, omnia 
