This species of Lachenalia was amongst some of the earliest of the Cape introductions into the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, having been sent by Masson in 1774. About the same time, or probably earlier, it was introduced into the gardens of Holland, and was eventually imported into England from Holland. In 1801 an excellent figure appeared in the Botanical Magazine (Plate 590).
Lachenalia pendula is a robust species of the genus, and is easily cultivated. It flowers freely under cultivation, and makes a very effective display.
Our plate was prepared from specimens grown by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., from bulbs supplied by Lady Smartt.
Description:—Bulb globose, 3·5 cm. in diameter, covered with thin membranous white tunics. Leaves 2, clasping the base of the stem, up to 16 cm. long, up to 6 cm. broad below the middle, ovate, bluntly apiculate. Peduncle (including the flowers) up to 27 cm. long, 8 mm. in diameter, terete. Bracts small, broadly ovate, membranous. Pedicels 6 mm. long. Flowers arising from small pockets on the peduncle, first almost erect, then horizontal and at length pendulous. Perianth-tube slightly gibbous and oblique at the base; outer segments 3·3 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, oblong-linear, obtuse, with an outstanding ridge on the back near the apex, of one only; inner segments longer than the outer, 3·5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad near the apex, obovate-oblong, almost truncate at the apex. Stamens of two different lengths; the longer[{156}] equalling the inner perianth-segments; the shorter slightly included; filaments terete, glabrous; anthers oblong. Ovary 5 mm. long, ellipsoid; style slightly exceeding the longer stamens, minutely capitate at the apex.
Plate 158.—Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 2, part of outer perianth-segment showing transverse ridge; Fig. 3, part of inner perianth-segment; Fig. 4, stamen; Fig. 5, upper portion of style; Fig. 6, ovary; Fig. 7, portion of peduncle with bracts and pockets from which the flowers arise.
F.P.S.A., 1924.