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GEISSORHIZA vaginata.
Sheathed Geissorhiza.
Natural Order. Irideæ. B row n p ro d r.l, p . 302.
G E I S S O R H IZ A . Spatha tubum corollæ subæquans. Perianthium
corollaceum, subinfundibuliforme : limbo sexpartito;
regular!. StaminaS,eiecta. SiyZasinclinatus. 3, latiuscula,
fimbriata. Capsula membranacea, 3-gona. Semina minima.
G. vaginata, foliis ensiformibus acutis falcatis nervoso-plicatis
glaucescentibus basi tubuloso-vaginantibus, scapo subramoso
pauoifloro, tubo perianthii brevissimo : laciniis patentibus
basi macula obcordata notatis.
jRooZ a bulb-tuber, flattish, clothed with a hard brown
shell. Leaves about 4, ensiform, acute, falcate or obliquely
bent, strongly nerved and plaited, hollow or fistulöse,
glaucous, the base sheathing the scape for a great
length. Scape divided, or 2 scapes proceeding from
the same sheath, cylindrical, glaucous, each producing
2 or 3 flowers. Spathe 2-valved;, outer one leaf-like,,
nearly 3 times the length of the tube, lanceolate* acute*
striate ; inner one scarcely more than half the length,
with membranaceous edges. Flowers very large and
handsome. Perianthium. petal like: the tube very
short, slender at the base and widening upwards :
limb deeply 6-cleft, the segments nearly equal, spreading,
elliptic, bluntish, concave, of a bright yellow, each
marked at the base with an obcordate dark purple or
velvet spot ; the three outer ones having a large dark
velvet patch at the point, edged with yellow, which
extends nearly half way down, and which the back is
more or lesp tinged all over Avith : inner ones with
only a small spot at the point, but larger in some
flowers than in others. Stamens 3, erect, inserted in
the base of the outer segments of the limb : filaments
short and smooth, purple : anthers very long, linear,
sagittate at the base : pollen pale yelloAV. Style shorter
than the tnbe. Stigmas 3, slender, spreading, a little
above the base of the anthers, fhe points a little thickened
and divided, slightly fimbriate.
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