I ;
iii ' I '
II
3
in rather a bluntish point, but more acute than most of the
related species ; furrowed on the upper side and keeled below,
longitudinally striated, somewhat glaucescent. Scape
in plants, not forced, longer than the leaves,.very stout and
succulent, solid below, but hollow from about the middle,
roundly subcompressed, with a sharp angle on each side,
and striated longitudinally with numerous prominent lines,
a little glaucescent or mealy. Spathe ovate, acute, membranaceous,
striated, not half the length of the front peduncles,
but about even with the back ones. Umbels 4 to 8-flowered,
most frequently 6-flowered; pedicels acutely 3-angled,
flat at the back, the upper angle rather inconspicuous, so
as to make them subsemicylindrical, longitudinally striated
with several lines ; front ones 4 inches in length; back
ones 2 inches, all more or less varying in height from the two
extremes. Ovarium ovate, acutely 3-sided. Tube of the
flower bluntly triangular, with a longitudinal line on each
side between the angles, about half as long again as the
segments of the limb. Segments ovate, tapering to the base,
white, every other one terminated by a short mucrone, the
others ending in a small callosity: when first expanded,
flat and closely imbricate ; at length becoming more or less
twisted. Crown about one fourth of an inch in height,
nearly three fourths of an inch across, bason-formed, rugulose,
and crenulated at the margin, of a golden yellow.
Stamens 6, inserted in the mouth of the tube; 3 extending
beyond it, and 3 equal to i t : Jilainents very short, inserted
about the centre of the back of the anthers. Style
smooth, flat, and slightly furrowed on 2 sides. Stigma of 3
short rounded lobes, slightly reflexed at the points, and pustulose.
Ovula numerous, the seeds obovate, smooth.
It is impossible that the present species can produce
seed of itself without assistance, as the stigma is so far below
the stamens, that the pollen cannot come in contact
with it ; most probably this is effected by insects in its natural
habitats.
Our drawing was made from a bulb received from Mr.
Charlwood, Seedsman, Covent Garden, which flowered in
our Garden, at Chelsea, last Spring.
The generic name is from Hermione, the daughter of
Menelaiis and Helena.
I. The tube o f tlie flower laid open, to show the insertion o f the stamina. 2. The
ovary, with its sty le and 3-lobed stignia.