Plate 66.
FERRARIA antherosa.
Cape Province.
Iridaceae. Tribe Moroeeae.
Ferraria, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 692.
Ferraria antherosa, Ker. in Bot. Mag. 751; Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 29.
Our species was first figured in Curtis’ Botanical Magazine in 1804 from a plant which was raised in Salisbury’s garden at Brompton, England. It is not at all a well-known plant, as it is only recorded in the Flora Capensis as having been collected by Zeyher in the Clanwilliam District, and by Ecklon at Groenkloof in the Malmesbury District. The plant from which our plate was prepared was sent to the Division of Botany, Pretoria, by Mrs. E. Rood from Van Rhynsdorp. The genus Ferraria is represented in South Africa by six species, and by one species in Angola. The flowers last only for a very short time after opening, but a succession of flowers appears on each plant. None of the species can be called ornamental from a gardener’s point of view, but the structure of the flower is very beautiful and the colouring quaint. Plants would only be grown as a botanical curiosity, and not for their beauty. Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1471).
Description:—Corms several arranged one on top of the other, discoid, about 3·5 cm. in diameter. Plant about 23 cm. high. Leaves three, 17-26 cm. long, linear and 1 cm. broad above, subacute, equitant and clasping the stem below. Bracts subtending the inflorescences, resembling the leaves. Bracts subtending the ultimate inflorescence 5-8 cm. long, 1·6-2·6 cm. broad, elliptic, boat-shaped, with membranous margins. Perianth segments 2·5 cm. long, forming a campanulate portion 1·5 cm. long and 1·3 cm. in diameter, then spreading into a horizontal portion; the spreading portion 1·4 cm. long, 1·4 broad, ovate, subacute, with frilled margins. Staminal tube 1·6 cm. long, cylindric, anther lobes diverging. Ovary cylindric, with a beak 3 cm. long; stigmas long-fimbriated.