Description:—A stemless succulent herb. Leaves pale glaucous-green, 40-50 in a dense rosette, 50-70 cm. long, 10-13 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate-ensiform, erect, distinctly incurved, rather flat above, convex beneath, beset on the margins with small deltoid black prickles about 2 mm. long and about 6-8 mm. apart. Inflorescences often 2-4 from the same rosette, spreading. Peduncle laterally compressed, naked, with usually two lateral branches, branches arcuateerect, clothed with pale brown scariose broadly ovate-acuminate bracts. Raceme dense-flowered, 17-20 cm. long, conical-cylindric. Bracts reflexed, 5-6 mm. long, ovate-cuspidate, scariose, pellucid. Pedicels recurved, 3-4 mm. long. Perianth 3·5 cm. long, cylindric-ventricose; outer segments free for 16-17 mm., obtuse and recurved at the apex, 3-5-nerved; inner segments obtuse and recurved, 3-nerved. Stamens projecting 11 mm. beyond the perianth and slightly recurved. Style stout, strongly recurved. Fruit 2·5 cm. long, 1·3 cm. in diameter, oblong-ovoid.
Plate 41.—Fig. 1, entire plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, raceme; Fig. 3, portion of leaf; Fig. 4, transverse section of leaf; Fig. 5, bract; Fig. 6, open flower; Fig. 7, fruit showing remains of perianth attached.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
M. Page del.