ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx 0. Corolla infera, 6-petala, petalis staminiferis.
No Calyx. Corolla beneath, 6-petalled, with the petals staminiferous.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
Melanthium, foliis subrotundis prostratis sulcato-striatis, floribus spicatis.
Melanthium, with roundish prostrate sulcato-striated leaves, and spiked flowers.
Descriptio. Folia duo humi appressa, subrotunda, viridia, acumine obsoleto recurvato, striisque sulcatis parallelis circiter 12; subtus glabra pallidiora. Flores in spica perbracteata ut in Eucomide. Scapus clavatus teres. Bracteæ ovato-acuminatæ, magnæ; superiores paulo minores. Flores sessiles, bracteis multoties breviores, virides. Corolla hexapetaloidea, vix aperta, petalis sublanceolatis, obtusis, erectis, apicem versus incurvis. Filamenta brevissima, compressa, collo corollæ imposita, basi confluentia. Antheræ erectæ obsoletæ. Germen alato-triangulare, desinens in stylos 3 obsoletissimos, subulatos, et fere adnatos.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A floral leaf.
2.The corolla cut open.
3.A back view of the same.
4. The seed-bud and obsolete styles
This singular plant appears to us to be a new, but somewhat anomalous species of the Genus Melanthium; which, as it at present stands, unquestionably contains several Genera. It is a native of the Cape, and a Green-house plant; and prior to flowering possesses altogether the appearance of a Massonia, and thrives very well with the treatment of one. Our drawing of it was taken from fine plants in the Hibbertian collection in the month of March.[Pg 17]