. <1
inwards from the peduncle, bluntly 3-sided, dark green,
3-celled, and 3-valved: the ovula flat, seated on two septums
m each valve, closely pressed to each other. Perianthium
corollaceum: tube scarcely any : segments 6, of a bright
crimson, green at the base, all strongly striated : upper segment
broadest, proceeding direct from the ovarium, straight
a httle way up, then ascending a little to the point, after
being expanded two or three days it becomes reflexed : two
side ones inside of the upper one, considerably narrower
than the other four, spreading, and bending round like a
bow, attenuated a little towards the base : 3 lower segments
hanging down, their points curved inwards towards the
scape: middle one rather shortest and broadest, enclosed
above half way with the outer ones. Stamens 6, inserted
into the base of the perianthium : jilaments bright red, about
four inches in length, thickest at the base, and tapering to a
slender point, which is inserted into the anther considerably
above the base : anthers linear before bursting, channelled
on both sides through the centre, nearly an inch in length
before bursting, crimson purple ; pollen straw-coloured. Style
four inches and a half in length, bright red, more than half
an inch longer than the filaments, point a little ascending.
Stigma 3-cleft, segments spreading, a little recurved, obtuse,
pustulose.
Our particular reason for giving a figure of this plant was,
because it is so seldom seen with two flowers on the same
scape, which was the case with ours, and another scape
with a single flower produced from the same bulb, at the
Nursery of Mr. Dennis, Grosvenor Row, Chelsea; where
we have since seen two other bulbs, producing two flowers
on a scape, but no other scape. We see the same
thing in Dillenius Hortus Elthamensis, above referred to : and
the Hon. and Rev. W. Herbert mentions in his account of the
genus that he had seen it twice with a two-flowered scape.
The present plant will endure our winters in the open ground, if planted
about four inches deep, and covered with a mat or some litter in severe
weather, particularly by the side of a dry w a ll; or the bulbs may be taken
up and dried in Autumn, and planted again at the latter end o f February
or beginning of March, if the weather allow.
This genus was first named by Heister, in the work already quoted, in
honour o f Baron M. De Sprekelsen, sometime Secretary to the Republic
ot Hamburgh, a great promoter of Botany, and is also adopted by the
Hon. and R ev . W . Herbert.
1. Th e 6 Stamens inserted into the base o f th e perianthium, showing their long red
maments, and the two-lobed linear anthers and their insertion. 2. Ovarium terminated
ny tne h ty le , and 3 -cle ft blunt pustulose Stigma. 3. Cross cut o f the Ovarium to show how
tlie ovula are imbedded in the 3 valves. 4 . S lic e cut o ff the outside to show how the ovula
are placed on the septums.
I i '