long, connivent and imbricate at the base, perfectly smooth,
the tliree outer ones green behind, inner three broader,
marked behind with three green ribs, veiny and slightly
plaited. Stamens 6, about half the length of the perianthium.
Filaments awl-shaped, compressed, glabrous, yellow, dilated
towards the base; those opposite the 3 outer sepals shorter
and narrower. Anthers about one-third the length of the
filaments, linear-oblong, obtuse, attached by the base, erect,
composed of two parallel, connate cells, opening lengthways.
Pistil shorter than the stamens. Ovarium 3-sided, greenish,
attenuated at the apex into an elongated, rather stout, and
triangular, yellow style. Stigma truncate, slightly 3-lobed.
This pretty bulbous plant is frequent on the rocky banks
of the Irtysch and other streams which descend from the
Altai Mountains. It was originally discovered by Laxman,
who has given a figure and description of it in the Peters-
hurgh Transactions for 1773. It appears from the Hortus
Kewensis to have been first introduced by Baron Alstroemer
in 1781 ; but the plant had been long lost to our collections
until again introduced by our worthy friend Mr. Anderson,
from bulbs received from Professor Ledebour last year.
Our drawing was taken at the Chelsea Botanic Garden in
the beginning of March.
I have followed the suggestion of Professor Ledebour in
removing this species and oxypetalum from amongst the
Ornithogala, with which they have been hitherto generally
associated. They appear to form, along with Rhinopetalum,
the connecting link between the Liliacece proper and Aspho-
delece. They have entirely the habit and many of the characters
of Tulipa, from which they are principally distinguished
by their distinct and elongated style. The present species
has been even referred to Tulipa itself by Gefter, under the
trivial name of altaica, and indeed it is so like the singleflowered
specimens of T. biflora, that it might readily be
overlooked for that species, which moreover exhibits in the.
attenuated apex of its ovarium a striking approximation to
the style of this genus.
The oxypetalum differs chiefly in its much smaller size,
narrower "leaves and sepals, longer anthers, and slenderer
style.
To this denizen of the northern regions of Asia I have
applied the name of Orithyia, the fabled wife of Boreas.
D. Don.