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SPA R A X IS versicolor.
Vatious-coloured Sparaxis.
Naturai Order. Irideæ. Brown p ro d r .l. p . 362.
S P A R A X I S . Inflorescentia disticho-spicata, alterna, remo-
tius seorsim bivalvi spathacea; spatha membranacea amplius-
cula aristato-lacera plerumque arido-sphacelata. Perianmum
supernm, erectum, infundibuliformi-patens, tubnloso-sexnduin :
tubus gracilis brevior; limbus sexpartitus amplus regulans
æqualis stellato-turbinatove explanatus. Stamina tubo adnata,
inclusa, collaterali-inflexa, recto-inclinata, nunc adscendentia,
rarius trifaria erecta. Anthera. lineares, a dorso appensæ. »iyZws
gracilis, directione staminum. Stigmata 3, angustius lineari-
complicata, recurvato-divergentia. C aW a menibranacea oblonga,
rotondate trigona, torulosa ; trilocnlaris, trivalvis ; valvis
septigeris. Semina biserialia, plurima, subglobosa.
Bulbo-tuber ovatum reticulis multiplicibus tenuibim (externis
sericeo-flbrosis) vestitum; folia 4-10 collaterab-disticha, en-
sata, dense striatala, latitudine bilineari ad uncialem, caulina
sapius in axillis bulbifera ; caulis simplex vel pamculato-ramo-
sus, 3-uncialis ad orgyalem; flos raro unicus, sapius in ramo
pauci, ampli, speciosi, colore quam maxfime ludentes ; semina
magnitudine fere Sinapeos. Ker in Botah. magaz. 1482.
S. versicolor, caule folioso erecto ramoso, foliis ensiformibus
striato-nervosis uncinato-mucronatis, spica 3-4-flora, spatha
scarioso-sphacelata multistriata longe aristata tubo perianthii
triplo longiore, segmentis perianthii oblongis rotundato-ob-
Sp'araxis tricolor |3. Botan. magaz. 1482?______
Bulb-tuherfhovX the size of a Walnut, clothed with
an elegantly netted fibrous coat. Stem leafy, about a
foot high, producing many branches, all of which terminate
with a spike of flowers. Leaves numerous, distichous,
broadly ensiform, erect, of a pale green colour,
or slightly glaucous, striated with numerous longitudinal
veins, points acute, and terminated with a short
sharp slightly hooked mucrone; inner margin membranaceous,
and more or less oblique. Scapes higher
than the leaves, flexuose, scarcely angular, and slightly
flattened on the inner side. Spikes 3 or 4-flowered
Spatha 2-valved, membranaceous and scariose, streaked
with numerous brown and purple stripes, and termi- 'I I