leaflets about half the size of the inner, lanceolately oblong,
acute, smooth, green marked with purple on the
outside, and yellow with a purple spot on the inside :
three inner ones oblong, obtuse, elegantly fringed round
the edges, and bearing some rigid yellow and purple
stiff hairs on the inside. Stamens 6 ; Jilaments smooth,
inserted in the base of the perianthium : attached to the
base of the anthers : pollen straw-coloured. Ovarium
superior, smooth, oblong, 3-sided, 3-furrowed, many-
seeded. Stigmas 3, nearly sessile, triangular, somewhat
pointed, more or less spreading.
When we published C. harbàta, at folio 273, of the former series,
we mentioned that Mr. Tate was in possession of another species
introducedfrom Mexico at the same time, and which we believed to
be the present species, which proves correct ; its habit is precisely
that of the former species, even to bearing a number of small bulbs
in the axils of the leaves, but the upper leaves are much broader,
more glaucous, and the flowers are larger and of a finer colour ; the
nectariferous pit above the base on the leaflets of the perianthium,
is also of a different form ; the only thing in which it disagrees with
M. Kunth’s description, is, he describes it round, in which state it
might probably appear in dried specimens ; but we think there can
be no doubt of its being the same species, particularly as his is named
purpùrea, and this is also ciliated at the margins, and not bearded
as in barbàta, as he describes it : its affinity to C a l o c h o e t u s is
more apparent than in the other species.
The plant when in flower was about two feet high, and continued
in full bloom several days : it was sent to us by the kindness of Mr.
Tate, from his Nursery in Sloane Street, the first week of August
last, who informs us that he received it with the other species from
Mr. Peene, who imported them from Mexico ; like the other species,
it thrives best in a light sandy soil, and will succeed well in a warm
border, planted from four to six inches deep, according to the size of
the bulb ; those may be taken up in Autumn after flowering, and
kept dry, and out of the reach of frost, till the following Spring, to
be planted again the latter end of March, or beginning of April, or
before, if they are inclined to shoot ; or if left in the ground all the
Winter, they will require a little covering to secure them from too
much moisture or very severe frost.
The generic name is derived from jcvnka, a circle, and /Sofiko; a well
or pit, from the circular pit in each leaflet of the flower of the other
species.
1. One of the inner leaflets of the Flower, showing the fringed edge, and the
nectariferous pit above the base. 2. One of the smooth outer leaflets. 3. The 6
Stamens, the filaments attached to the base of the anthers, the filaments attached
to the base of the Periantliium. 4. The three-sided Ovarium, that is deeply three-
furrowed, and terminated by the three nearly sessile Stigmas.