116 
NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Knysna Div., J. D. Keet 
(Bolus Herbarium, No. 17852). 
Described from numerous living specimens which have flowered in the Na- 
tional Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, during November, for several years. 
The colour of the perianth varies from nearly white to pale rose-pink, 
old-rose, and shades of salmon-pink, coral and terra-cotta. A very beauti- 
ful form is the one with pale pink flowers and an apple-green flowering- 
axis. 
The affinity is with TP. Pillansii, L. Bolus, from which it differs in the 
flowers being distichous; bracts narrower and more acute and enclosing 
the perianth only — not clasping the rachis as in TP. Pillansii — and the 
whole being divergent from the rachis, as in TP. Wilmaniae, Mathews 
and L. Bolus. 
Watsonia hysterantha, Mathews and L. Bolus (Eu-Watsonia). Planta 70 — 80 
cm. alta, in genere inter graciliores ; cormus fere globosus, tunicis percrassis, 
intricate cancellatis, reliquis fibrosis numerosis coronatus, ca. 7 cm. diam.; 
folia radicalia hysterantha, basalia vaginiformia 3, producta 5, ad 1 met. 
longa vel ultra, in cultis saepius 50 — 80 cm. longa, 0-6 — 1 cm. lata, vaginis 
5 — 12 cm. longis, saepe decumbentia, nervo medio conspicuo tantum in 
pagina unica, marginibus baud incrassatis, nervis intermediis crebris 
inconspicuis, viridia (haud glauco-pruinosa) , caulina 4, insigniter acuminata, 
in setam terminantia, 21 — 7 cm. longa, vaginis 9 — 3 cm. longis, internodiis 
superioribus bene exsertis; spica simplex, 20 cm. longa, sat laxe 9-fl. , 
floribus fere erectis; bractea infima late amplexicaulis, longe cuspidata, 
ceterae cuspidato-acuminatae, 2 — 1-3 cm. longae, bracteolis parum 
brevioribus, fere ad apicem coalitis; perianthium saturate rubrum, 7 cm. 
longum, tubo apice 6 — 7 mm. diam., 4-3 cm. longo, parte filiformi 1-8 cm. 
longa, segmentis obtusis vel subacutis, exterioribus ovalibus, 8 — 9 mm. 
longis, interioribus obovato-oblongis, 1 — 1-2 cm. latis; stamina arcuata, 
ultra dimidium segmenti attingentia, antheris 1-2 cm. longis, stigmata 
superantibus; capsula inflata obovata, 2-1 cm. longa, seminibus ad 
1-1 cm. longis. 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Malmesbury Div., Oliphant’s 
Kop, near Langebaan (and Saldanha Bay), J. TP. Mathews (National 
Botanic Gardens, No. iim). 
Described partly from dried and partly from living specimens which 
flowered at Kirstenbosch in May-June, 1925 and 1926. The leaves started 
their growth at the same time but only reached their full size in August- 
November. Hysterant.hous leaves have not been observed by us before 
in living plants, and once only in an undescribed herbarium specimen, 
where, however, there is some doubt on the point. The thin texture of the 
bracts and of the leaves, in the wild state, is also to be noted. 
