HAEMANTHUS Katharinae.
Natal, Transvaal.
Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.
Haemanthus, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 730.
Haemanthus Katharinae, Baker in Gard. Chron. 1877, vol. vii. p. 656;
Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 231.
On Plate 32 of this work we figured a species of Haemanthus (H. natalensis) which differs from the present species in having the involucral-bracts erect instead of spreading. Haemanthus Katharinae, with its spreading involucral-bracts and perianth-segments, is unique in this respect amongst the South African species of the genus. On the inflorescence figured was an odd flower with 8 perianth-lobes and 8 stamens.
The species was introduced into England in 1877 by Mr. Keith, who was then Superintendent of the Durban Botanic Gardens. In 1884 an excellent figure (Plate 6778) appeared in the Botanical Magazine, made from plants which flowered at Kew from bulbs sent by Mr. W. B. Lyle of Kirkly Vale Estate, Natal.
We are indebted to Mr. P. S. Follwell, Isezela, Natal, for our specimen, which was cultivated at the Division and flowered in January 1923.
Description:—Stem up to 18 cm. long. Leaves 5 to 6 to a plant, contemporary with the flowers, 20 to 30 cm. long, 10 to 13 cm. broad, oblong, shortly mucronate; petiole 3 to 4 cm. long, channelled above. Peduncle lateral, terete, up to 40 cm. long. Inflorescence a many-flowered umbel. Bracts 6, membranous, spreading or reflexed. Pedicels slender, 2·5 to 4 cm. long. Perianth-tube 2 cm. long; lobes 2·5 cm. long, linear-lanceolate, spreading or reflexed. Stamens inserted at the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments 4·5 cm. long, erect; anthers 3 mm. long. Ovary ellipsoid; style up to[{68}] 6 cm. long; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2837.)