The species here figured was first discovered by Mr. E. E. Galpin at Lottering Bush, Zitzikama (Galpin No. 4698), and re-collected at Knysna by Miss A. V. Duthie, who sent corms to the National Botanic Gardens, where they flowered in March, 1919 (No. 239/18).
The general name of “pijpie” is applied to almost all species of Watsonia and also to some species of Gladiolus.
Description:—Corm 2 cm. in diameter, depressed-globose, oblique at the base. Stem 75 cm. long, racemose. Leaves 4-8, radical, up to 35 cm. long, 1-1·5 cm. broad, linear, acute, acuminate, with the median and marginal nerves somewhat subprominent. Inflorescence simple or branched. Spathe-valves herbaceous or submembranous at the apex; the outer 0·6-3·2 cm. long, lanceolate, setaceous acuminate; the inner 0·8-1·4 cm. long, ovate or broadly ovate, acuminate. Perianth-tube 2 cm. long, constricted about the middle; the lower half filiform, scarcely 1·5 mm. in diameter; the upper half infundibuliform, 7 mm. in diameter near the throat; lobes spreading, 1·5 cm. long; the outer up to 8 mm. broad, suboblong, subacute, minutely apiculate; the inner 1 cm. broad, oblong-obovate. Stamens almost as long as the perianth lobes; anthers 9 mm. long. Ovary about 5 mm. long, subobconic; style 2·9 cm. long; primary branches 9 mm. long; stigmas about 2 mm. long. Fruit 1 cm. long, obconic.
Mrs. Bolus remarks, “Distinguished from the rest of the section ‘Eu-Watsonia’ by the more slender habit, the smaller spathe-valves, the shorter perianth-tube and relatively long segments.”
Plate 45.—Fig. 1, flower, perianth laid open; Fig. 2, portion of fruiting spike; Fig. 3, capsule, dehisced, about natural size; Fig. 4, seed × 2.
F.P.S.A., 1922.