Plate 97.
SYNNOTIA metelerkampiae.
Cape Province.
Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae.
Synnotia, Sweet.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 709.
Synnotia Metelerkampiae, L. Bolus in Annals Bolus Herb. vol. iii. p. 77.
The genus Synnotia is one of the endemic genera of the family Iridaceae, and has hitherto only been represented by two species. The species here figured is a new record for the genus in South Africa. On Plate 60 we figured a species of Sparaxis, and a comparison of that plate with the present one will show that the two genera Sparaxis and Synnotia are nearly related: the rootstock, inflorescence, and spathe valves are the same in both, but the former has regular flowers, while in the latter genus the flowers are irregular.
The species is found near Eendekuil in the Clanwilliam Division, and the original description was prepared from specimens flowering in the garden of Mrs. F. Metelerkamp. We are indebted to the Curator of the Bolus Herbarium for lending us the illustration from which the accompanying plate was prepared.
Description:—A glabrous herb, 16-25 cm. high. Corm 1·6 cm. long, 1·2 cm. in diameter, ovoid, with rigid tunics prominently nerved and with the nerves reticulated. Stem erect. Leaves 6-7 to each stem, 5-8 cm. long, 1-1·2 cm. broad, equitant, adscending, linear, obtuse, apiculate or acute, with inconspicuous nerves. Inflorescence racemose, laxly 9-12-flowered, with the flowers almost erect. Bracts clasping, about 2 cm. long, ovate; bracteoles united beyond the middle, setaceous-acuminate, almost equalling the bracts. Perianth-tube 4-4·5 cm. long, 1-2 mm. in diameter, oblique and expanding to 7 mm. in diameter above; segments unequal; the lower smaller than the upper; the outer segments 1·2 cm. long, 4-6 mm. broad, ovate-oblong, subacute; the inner segments subclawed, obtuse, and with obscurely undulate margins; the uppermost 1·4 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, ovate; the lower 5 mm. broad. Filaments 1·2 cm. long; anthers 3-5 mm. long, with purple pollen. Style 4·6 cm. long with spathulate branches 3 mm. long. Capsule 1·5 cm. long. Seeds many, 2 mm. in diameter, subglobose (Bolus Herb. Cape Town 16039).