52 
NOVITATES AFRICAN AE 
minatae, interdum circa in medio utrinque subauriculatae ; bracteolae 
acuminatae, bracteis breviores; periantbinm 6-4 cm. longum, tubo 
gracillimo, tantum apicem versus parum ampliato, 4-8 cm. longo, parte 
filiformi 3-5 cm. longa, segmentis lineari- vel oblongo-spathulatis, 
exterioribus apiculatis, 3 mm. latis, interioribus 4 mm. latis; stamina vix 
ad dimidium segmentorum attingentia, antberis 6 mm. longis; stylus 
antberas vix attingens, stigmatibus prof unde divisis, 4 — 5 mm. longis. 
Kalahari Region: Transvaal; Lydenburg Div., Krocodilfluss, near 
Lydenburg, fl. Dec. 1883, F. Wilms, 1439 (in Herb. Berlin and in the 
British Museum). 
A very distinct species. The large acuminate bracts, which are some- 
times lobed on each side, about in the middle, and which hide most of 
the flower, and the relatively very long and slender perianth-tube 
distinguish it from the rest of the genus. 
W. Beatricis, Mathews and L. Bolus (Eu-Watsonia). W. Pillansii affinis, sed 
foliis subglaucescent.ibus, nervo medio marginibusque magis prominen- 
tibus, floribus pluribus eodem tempore apertis, segmentis patentibus mox 
recurvatis, latioribus, distinguitur. 
Cormus depresse globosus, ca. 6 cm. diam., tunicis e fibris crassis 
compositis; caulis, cum spica, ad 95 cm. altus vel rarius parum ultra; 
folia radicalia 3, subglaucescentia, nervo medio marginibusque sat 
prominentibus, cum aetate stramineis, nervis intermediis crebris incon- 
spicuissimis, ad 75 cm. longa, 3 cm. lata, caulina 8, imbricata, caule 
omnino vestito, inferum, cum vagina 14 cm. longa, ad 74 cm., supremum 
9 cm., longum; inflorescentia ad 51 cm. longa; spica simplex vel ramis 2, 
tardissime evolutis, saepius 30 — 40-fl., floribus saepe 15 — 17 eodem 
tempore apertis; bracteae internodia aequantes vel superiores ea ex- 
cedentes, herbaceae rubescentes, apice margineque membranaceae, ovato- 
oblongae, basi latissimae, ventricosae, haud carinatae, inferiores acu- 
minatae, superiores obtusae, intus viseidae, 3-5 — 1-5 cm. longae, bracteolis 
omnino coalitis, ovato-orbicularibus, inferioribus multo brevioribus, 
superioribus aequilongis, bracteis ; perianthium erecto-patens, tubo 5 cm. 
longo, parte filiformi 2 cm. longa, faucibus 6 mm. diam., segmentis 
patentibus, mox sub recurvatis, obtusis, 2-5 cm. longis, exterioribus 
oblongis, 1-1 cm. latis, interioribus obovato-oblongis, fere ad T6 cm. 
latis ; stamina arcuata, ad 6 mm. infra apicem segmentorum attingentia, 
filamentis salmoneis, antheris inapertis T4 cm. longis, albidis, deinde 
purpureo-cyaneis; stylus stamina parum excedens, ramis primariis 1 cm., 
ultimis 5 mm., longis; ovarium subobconicum, 5 mm. longum, apice 
3 mm. diam.; capsula cylindrica, ad basin leviter angustata, subobliqua, 
1-1 — 1-9 cm. longa, apice ad 6 mm. diam.; semina utrinque alata, rubro- 
brunnea, saepius 9 mm. longa. 
