Chapter V: Dicotyledoneae (6)

9. Ovary 2-celled with 1 ovule in each cell. Fruit ovate. Filaments glabrous. Petals red or yellow. Inflorescence a panicle.--Species 9. Tropical and South-east Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Floscopa= Lour.

Ovary 3-celled. 10

10. Ovules 4-10 in each cell. Fruit oblong. Filaments glabrous. Petals whitish. Inflorescence a panicle.--Species 2. Central Africa. =Buforrestia= C. B. Clarke

Ovules 1-2 in each cell. Fruit ovoid or globular. Stamens hairy. Inflorescence spike-, head-, or umbel-like. 11

11. Ovules 2 in each cell; in the dorsal cell sometimes solitary. Fruit subglobular. Stamens with a narrow connective. Sepals herbaceous, green. Inflorescence spike-or head-like. Stem long.--Species 3. Equatorial West Africa. =Forrestia= A. Rich.

Ovule 1 in each cell. Fruit ovoid. Stamens with a broad connective. Sepals subpetaloid. Inflorescence umbel-like and surrounded by an involucre of two bracts. Stem short.--Species 1. West Africa (Congo). =Rhoeo= Hance

SUBORDER PONTEDERIINEAE

FAMILY 29. PONTEDERIACEAE

Aquatic herbs. Flowers in spikes, racemes or panicles, without bracts, hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments 6, petaloid, white, yellow or blue, united below into a tube, rarely nearly free. Stamens 3 or 6, affixed to the perianth. Anthers oblong. Ovary superior, 1-or 3-celled, with numerous inverted ovules. Style simple. Fruit a loculicidal, many-seeded capsule. Seeds with a ribbed testa, a copious mealy albumen, and a long cylindrical embryo.--Genera 3, species 5. Tropics.

1. Stamens 3. Ovary 1-celled or incompletely 3-celled. Perianth funnel-shaped, with a distinct tube.--Species 3. Central Africa. =Heteranthera= Ruiz & Pav.

Stamens 6. Ovary 3-celled. Perianth blue or violet. 2

2. Perianth funnel-shaped, with a distinct tube; Filaments thread-like. Anthers attached by the back. Stigma entire or shortly lobed.--Species 1. Tropics. Used as an ornamental plant. =Eichhornia= Kunth

Perianth bell-shaped, with nearly free segments. Filament of the largest stamen toothed at the base. Anthers attached by the base. Stigma deeply cleft.--Species 1. Central Africa (Upper Nile and Kasai). Used as an ornamental plant, and in medicine. =Monochoria= Presl

FAMILY 30. CYANASTRACEAE

Herbs. Root-stock tuberous. Leaves elliptical or cordate, with curved main-nerves. Flowers in terminal racemes or panicles, provided with bracts. Perianth-segments 6, petaloid, shortly united at the base. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the perianth, more or less united below. Anthers linear, longer than the filaments, opening by short slits at the apex. Ovary slightly sunk in the receptacle, deeply lobed, 3-celled. Ovules 2 in each cell, ascending, inverted. Style simple, with a 3-lobed stigma. Fruit a 1-seeded nut. Seed with a thin testa, a copious albumen, and a transversely-ovate marginal embryo. (Under _PONTEDERIACEAE_ or _HAEMODORACEAE_.)

Genus 1, species 5. Central Africa. Some have edible tubers. (_Schoenlandia_ Cornu). =Cyanastrum= Oliv.

ORDER LILIIFLORAE

SUBORDER JUNCINEAE

FAMILY 31. JUNCACEAE

Leaves linear or reduced to the sheath. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments 6, free, stiff, usually green. Stamens 3 or 6. Ovary superior, 1-or 3-celled. Ovules 3 or more, inverted. Style 1; stigmas 3, elongated. Fruit capsular. Seeds with a straight axile embryo and abundant albumen.--Genera 3, species 55. (Plate 17.)

1. Stem woody. Leaves at its top, stiff, serrate. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 or few ovules in each cell. Style very short. Seeds with a large embryo and appressed testa.--Species 1. South Africa. It yields fibres and vegetables and is used for plaiting-work. “Palmiet.” (Plate 17.) =Prionium= E. Mey.

Stem herbaceous. Style thread-like. Seeds with a small embryo. 2

2. Ovary 1-celled, with 3 basal ovules. Leaves with a closed sheath and ciliate margins.--Species 10. North and South Africa and high mountains of Central Africa. “Wood-rush.” =Luzula= DC.

Ovary 1-3-celled, with numerous parietal or axile ovules.--Species 45. Some are used in medicine or for plaiting-work. “Rush.” =Juncus= L.

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 17._

J. Fleischmann del.

Prionium serratum Drege

_A_ Inflorescence. _B_ Branch of the inflorescence. _C_ Older flower. _D_ Younger flower cut lengthwise. _E_ Leaf.]

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 18._

J. Fleischmann del.

Dracaena Perrotetii Bak.

_A_ Flowering branch. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise.]

SUBORDER LILIINEAE

FAMILY 32. LILIACEAE

Perianth more or less corolla-like. Stamens 6, rarely fewer. Ovary superior, usually 2-5-celled, rarely 1-celled with parietal placentas. Seeds with a small embryo and abundant, fleshy or horny albumen.--Genera 79, species 1450. (Including _COLCHICACEAE_ and _SMILACEAE_.) (Plate 18.)

1. Underground part of the stem a bulb or a corm. 2

Underground part of the stem a rootstock or not distinctly developed. 41

2. Leaves all radical, rarely also some much smaller cauline leaves present. 3

Leaves distributed along the stem or crowded at its top. 31

3. Stem arising out of a corm, very short, underground during the time of flowering, bearing 1-3 flowers at the top. Perianth with a very long, sometimes split tube. Capsule opening septicidally. [Tribe COLCHICEAE.] 4

Stem arising out of a bulb. Flowers in racemes or umbels, very rarely solitary. Perianth with a not very long tube or without a tube. Capsule opening loculicidally. 5

4. Perianth-segments free.--Species 2. Algeria and Abyssinia. Used as ornamental plants. =Merendera= Ram.

Perianth-segments united below.--Species 5. North Africa. Poisonous and used as medicinal and ornamental plants. =Colchicum= L.

5. Flowers in cymose umbels or heads surrounded by 2-3 bracts. Scape distinctly developed. Leaves usually linear. Perianth-segments free or united at the base only. [Tribe ALLIEAE.] 6

Flowers in racemes, corymbs, or spikes, very rarely solitary, rarely in umbels or heads surrounded by 3 or more bracts, but then scape almost wanting, leaves oblong to ovate, spreading, and perianth-segments united to the middle or higher up. 8

6. Inflorescence surrounded by narrow bracts. Radical leaves 1-3. Perianth usually yellow.--Species 10. North Africa. =Gagea= Salisb.

Inflorescence surrounded by broad membranous bracts usually united at the base. 7

7. Perianth-segments united into a short tube at the base. Filaments dilated. Ovules in each ovary-cell 6-12. Smell not alliaceous.--Species 2. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in North Africa, the Mascarene Islands, and St. Helena. Ornamental plants. (_Milla_ Cav.) =Nothoscordum= Kunth

Perianth-segments free or nearly free. Ovules in each ovary-cell 2, rarely 3-6. Smell alliaceous.--Species 30. North Africa, Abyssinia, southern West Africa, and South Africa. Some of them (onion, leek, garlic) are cultivated as vegetables or pot-herbs, and yield also condiments, medicaments, and glue; others are used as ornamental plants. =Allium= L.

8. Anthers attached by the base. Stem or inflorescence branched or twining. Leaves vanishing before the time of flowering. [Tribe ASPHODELEAE, Subtribe ERIOSPERMINAE.] 9

Anthers attached by the back. Stem simple. [Tribe SCILLEAE.] 10

9. Inflorescence twining, bearing flowers on its upper branches only. Seeds oblong, with a small embryo.--Species 1. South Africa. Used as an ornamental plant. =Bowiea= Harv.

Inflorescence bearing flowers on all its branches or not branched. Seeds ovoid or globose, with a large embryo.--Species 7. South Africa to Angola. =Schizobasis= Bak.

10. Flowers in nearly sessile heads or umbels surrounded by an involucre. Perianth-segments united into a tube below. Leaves 2, oblong or ovate. 11

Flowers in racemes or spikes, rarely solitary. 12

11. Perianth-segments very unequal. Filaments free.--Species 3. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Daubenya= Lindl.

Perianth-segments subequal. Filaments united at the base.--Species 30. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Massonia= Thunb.

12. Perianth-segments free or nearly free. 13

Perianth-segments united into a tube below. 18

13. Seeds flattened or sharply angled, more or less distinctly winged. Perianth white, yellow, or green. 14

Seeds globose or obovoid. 15

14. Perianth persistent; inner segments somewhat shorter than the outer, connivent at the top, hood-shaped or crested.--Species 70. South and Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Albuca= L.

Perianth deciduous; segments subequal, spreading or connivent and bell-shaped.--Species 55. Some of them are poisonous or used in medicine or as ornamental plants. =Urginea= Steinh.

15. Inflorescence racemose, crowned by a tuft of leafy bracts. Perianth greenish.--Species 10. South Africa to Nyasaland. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Eucomis= L’Hér.

Inflorescence without a terminal tuft of bracts. 16

16. Perianth-segments convex, connivent at the top, whitish. Flowers in spikes or spike-like racemes, sessile or short-stalked, the uppermost abortive. Filaments broadened almost to the top.--Species 17. Central and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Drimiopsis= Lindl.

Perianth-segments spreading or campanulately-connivent at the base. Flowers in racemes, long-or short-stalked, in the latter case filaments thread-shaped or broadened at the base only. 17

17. Perianth-segments 1-nerved, blue or red, rarely whitish or greenish. Stamens affixed to the perianth; filaments thread-shaped or broadened at the base only.--Species 100. Some have edible bulbs or are used in medicine or as ornamental plants. “Squill.” (Including _Endymion_ Dumort.) =Scilla= L.

Perianth-segments obscurely many-nerved, white or yellow and usually striped, rarely brownish or greenish. Stamens usually free from the perianth and with flattened filaments.--Species 90. Some have edible bulbs. =Ornithogalum= L.

18. Perianth-tube cylindrical, linear or oblong in section. 19

Perianth-tube bell-, urn-, funnel-, or saucer-shaped. 23

19. Perianth-segments very short and broad, more or less ovate. 20

Perianth-segments narrow and more or less elongated. 21

20. Perianth falling off after flowering. Stamens inserted below the throat; filaments very short. Ovules numerous. Seeds flattened. Leaves awl-shaped. Flowers solitary or in pairs.--Species 1. South Africa. =Litanthus= Harv.

Perianth withering. Stamens inserted in the middle of the tube; filaments thread-shaped. Ovules 2 in each cell. Seeds thick. Leaves strap-shaped. Flowers in dense racemes.--Species 3. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Veltheimia= Gled.

21. Seeds flattened. Anthers linear. Perianth-segments unequal, the outer spreading, the inner erect, as long as or shorter than the outer. Leaves linear, usually more than 2.--Species 60. =Dipcadi= Medik.

Seeds thick. Anthers oblong. Perianth-segments equal or, if unequal, the inner usually longer than the outer. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, more rarely linear, usually 2. 22

22. Perianth-segments equal, lanceolate, shorter than the tube. Stamens inserted at the throat of the perianth. Leaves 2, oblong.--Species 10. South Africa. =Polyxena= Kunth

Perianth-segments more or less unequal in length, oblong or spatulate. Stamens inserted in the tube of the perianth.--Species 40. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Lachenalia= Jacq.

23. Perianth-segments very short, usually blue. 24

Perianth-segments half as long as the tube or longer. 25

24. Perianth urn-shaped. Ovules 2 in each cell.--Species 7. North Africa. Several species serve as ornamental plants; the bulbs are used in medicine and as a substitute for soap. =Muscari= Mill.

Perianth bell-shaped. Ovules 5-6 in each cell.--Species 1. Madagascar. =Rhodocodon= Bak.

25. Perianth-segments unequal, the inner longer. Leaves 2, rarely 3-5. (See 22.) =Lachenalia= Jacq.

Perianth-segments nearly equal. 26

26. Perianth with a very short tube and spreading segments. Filaments united at the base. Leaves 2, broad. Flowers in spikes.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Whiteheadia= Harv.

Perianth with a more or less elongated tube, very rarely with a short tube, but with erect segments. Leaves 2, narrow, or more. 27

27. Seeds globular or obovoid, turgid. Ovules 2-6 in each cell.--Species 12. North and South Africa, southern East Africa, and Madagascar. Some species are used in medicine, perfumery, or gardening. (Including _Bellevalia_ Lapeyr.). =Hyacinthus= L.

Seeds flattened or angular. Ovules 6 or more in each cell. Flowers whitish. 28

28. Perianth-segments erect or converging. 29

Perianth-segments spreading or bent back. 30

29. Perianth funnel-shaped; segments half as long as the curved tube. Stamens inserted at the throat. Ovary oblong. Style subulate. Leaves large, lanceolate. Raceme dense, about 100-flowered.--Species 2. German South-west Africa. =Pseudogaltonia= Kuntze

Perianth bell-shaped; segments as long as the tube or longer. Stamens inserted below the throat. Ovary ovate. Style short, columnar. Leaves short, linear. Raceme lax, 6-20-flowered.--Species 2. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Rhadamantus= Salisb.

30. Perianth withering; segments as long as the tube, the outer oblong, the inner obovate. Stamens inserted below the throat. Seeds angular.--Species 3. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Galtonia= Decne.

Perianth falling off after flowering; segments somewhat longer than the tube, linear or oblong. Stamens inserted at the throat. Seeds discoid.--Species 30. Southern and tropical Africa. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. =Drimia= Jacq.

31. (2.) Anthers turned outwards, opening outwards or laterally. Styles 3. [Tribe ANGUILLARIEAE.] 32

Anthers turned inwards, opening inwards or laterally. Style 1, sometimes very short, with 1-3 stigmas. Flowers solitary or in lax, few-flowered racemes or umbels. 37

32. Capsule opening loculicidally. Flowers long-stalked, solitary or in racemes, rarely short-stalked and then solitary and axillary. Perianth dark brown. 33

Capsule opening septicidally. Flowers sessile or short-stalked, in spikes, spike-like racemes, or heads, rarely solitary and terminal. 34

33. Perianth deciduous; segments without a gland at the base. Stamens with thickened filaments. Flowers solitary, axillary.--Species 10. Tropics and northern South Africa. =Iphigenia= Kunth

Perianth persistent; segments with a gland at the base. Stamens with thread-shaped filaments. Flowers in racemes.--Species 3. South Africa, southern Central Africa, and Madagascar. Used as ornamental plants. =Ornithoglossum= Salisb.

34. Perianth-segments united below, persistent. Stigmas capitate. Flowers in spikes, without bracts.--Species 4. South Africa and mountains of Central Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Wurmbea= Thunb.

Perianth-segments free, clawed. Flowers in heads or racemes, rarely solitary or in spikes; in the latter case perianth deciduous and stigmas on the inside of the styles. 35

35. Flowers in spikes, without bracts. Perianth deciduous, whitish. Ovary 3-lobed, obovate.--Species 3. South Africa (Cape Colony). (Including _Neodregea_ Wright). =Dipidax= Salisb.

Flowers in heads or racemes, rarely solitary, provided with bracts. Perianth persistent. 36

36. Flowers in racemes or solitary. Stigmas lateral. Ovary triangular-cylindrical. Perianth yellow or red. Stem distinctly developed.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Baeometra= Salisb.

Flowers in heads. Stigmas minute. Ovary usually ovoid.--Species 20. South, East, and North Africa. (_Erythrostictus_ Schlecht.) =Androcymbium= Willd.

37. Flowers large, usually solitary. Perianth deciduous, bell-or funnel-shaped, usually white or reddish. Anthers linear or oblong. Stigma usually 3-lobed. [Tribe TULIPEAE.] 38

Flowers rather small, usually umbellate. Perianth persistent, finally more or less wheel-shaped with spreading segments, usually yellow. Anthers ovate or oblong. Stigma usually simple. 40

38. Perianth funnel-shaped, white; segments recurved at the apex. Anthers attached by the back. Flowers in racemes.--Species 1. North Africa. Used as an ornamental plant. “Lily.” =Lilium= L.

Perianth bell-shaped, usually reddish; segments more or less erect, not recurved. Anthers attached by the base. Flowers usually solitary. 39

39. Flowers drooping. Perianth-segments with a nectar-bearing pit or spot at the base. Style long.--Species 2. North-west Africa (Algeria). Used as ornamental plants. =Fritillaria= L.

Flowers erect, sometimes slightly drooping before flowering. Perianth-segments without a pit, but often with a nectar-bearing spot at the base. Style very short.--Species 2. North-west Africa (Algeria). Used as ornamental plants. “Tulip.” =Tulipa= L.

40. Perianth funnel-shaped, whitish, with oblong-ovate segments. Style short; stigma 3-lobed.--Species 1. North Africa (Cyrenaica). =Lloydia= Salisb.

Perianth wheel-shaped, usually yellow and with lanceolate segments. (See 6.) =Gagea= Salisb.

41. (1.) Branches leaf-like, but often awl-shaped. Leaves scale-like. Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs, more rarely in fascicles, umbels, or racemes. Fruit a berry. [Tribe ASPARAGEAE.] 42

Branches not leaf-like; stem usually simple. Leaves well developed. 44

42. Flowers inserted at the base of the usually linear leaf-like branches. Perianth-segments free or slightly united at the base. Stamens 6, with free filaments.--Species 80. Some of them are used as vegetables, medicinal-, ornamental-, or hedge-plants. (Including _Myrsiphyllum_ Willd.) =Asparagus= L.

Flowers inserted on the surface or margin of the lanceolate or broader leaf-like branches. Stamens with united filaments. 43

43. Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments united high up. Anthers 6. Ovary 3-celled. Style distinctly developed; stigmas 3.--Species 1. Canary Islands, Madeira, and Azores. =Semele= Kunth

Flowers dioecious. Perianth-segments free. Anthers 3. Ovary 1-celled. Style very short; stigma lobed.--Species 2. North Africa. Used as ornamental and medicinal plants. =Ruscus= L.

44. Flowers solitary, axillary. Anthers turned outwards. Fruit capsular. [Tribe UVULARIEAE.] 45

Flowers solitary but terminal or collected into various inflorescences. Anthers turned inwards. 47

45. Perianth-segments free, spreading or reflexed. Style bent downwards at the base.--Species 5. Tropical and South Africa. Poisonous and used as medicinal and ornamental plants; some of them yield starch. =Gloriosa= L.

Perianth-segments united below or connivent. Style not bent downwards. 46

46. Perianth-segments free or almost so, with a nectar-bearing cavity at their base.--Species 6. Tropical and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Littonia= Hook. fil.

Perianth-segments united almost to the top into a pitcher-shaped tube, with a short spur at the base.--Species 1. South-East Africa. Used as an ornamental plant. =Sandersonia= Hook. fil.

47. Flowers solitary, in 2-3-flowered heads, in axillary cymes, or in umbels, the latter sometimes arranged in racemes. 48

Flowers in spikes, racemes, or panicles, which are sometimes contracted into many-flowered heads or consist of fascicles or cymes. 52

48. Stem herbaceous. Leaves radical, linear, parallel-veined. Inflorescence terminal. Fruit a capsule. 49

Stem woody at least at the base, usually climbing. Leaves cauline, oblong or broader, net-veined. Inflorescence axillary. Fruit a berry. 51

49. Flowers solitary or in groups of 2-3, surrounded by an involucre of 5-7 bracts, sessile. Perianth-segments free. Ovary-cells with a single ovule.--Species 1. North Africa. [Tribe APHYLLANTHEAE.] =Aphyllanthes= L.

Flowers in umbels enclosed by 2 bracts. Perianth-segments united below. Ovary-cells with many ovules. [Tribe AGAPANTHEAE.] 50

50. Perianth with a long tube and a corona at the throat. Style short, columnar.--Species 20. South Africa and southern Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Tulbaghia= L.

Perianth with a short tube, without a corona. Style filiform. Seeds winged.--Species 3. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Agapanthus= L’ Hér.

51. Flowers in cymes, hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments united below into a long tube.--Species 1. South Africa. [Tribe LUZURIAGEAE.] =Behnia= Didrichs.

Flowers in umbels, dioecious. Perianth-segments free.--Species 9. Some of them are used medicinally. [Tribe SMILACEAE.] =Smilax= Tourn.

52. Perianth-segments free or almost so, more or less spreading. Stem herbaceous. Ovary 3-celled. [Tribe ASPHODELEAE.] 53

Perianth-segments evidently united at their base or connivent into a long tube, rarely almost free and not connivent into a tube, but then stem woody, very seldom herbaceous plants growing upon trees and having a 1-celled ovary. 66

53. Anthers attached by the base or between the lobes of the base. 54

Anthers attached by the back. 62

54. Anthers opening by terminal pores, sometimes prolonged into slits. Filaments thickened. Perianth blue, rarely white. Fruit a berry. Leaves 2-ranked, linear. Flowers in lax panicles.--Species 2, one native in Madagascar and the neighbouring islands, the other one naturalized in the Island of St. Helena. They are used as ornamental and medicinal plants; the berries are poisonous. [Subtribe DIANELLINAE.] =Dianella= Lam.

Anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Fruit a capsule. Leaves in several ranks or 1-2 only present. Flowers usually in racemes. 55

55. Anthers without a pit at the base. Perianth more or less campanulate. Seeds woolly. Root-stock tuberous. Leaves 1-3, usually a single leaf.--Species 50. South and Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. [Subtribe ERIOSPERMINAE.] =Eriospermum= Jacq.

Anthers attached to the filament in a small pit at the base. Perianth more or less rotate. [Subtribes ANTHERICINAE and ASPHODELINAE.] 56

56. Perianth spirally twisted after flowering, blue violet or red. Ovules 2 in each ovary-cell. 57

Perianth not twisted, usually white. Ovules 4 or more in each ovary-cell. 58

57. Stamens free or the inner attached to the perianth; filaments flattened. Perianth blue. Stem very short, 2-3-flowered.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Nanolirion= Benth.

Stamens attached to the perianth; filaments thread-shaped. Stem long, many-flowered.--Species 4. South Africa and Madagascar. =Caesia= R. Br.

58. Ovules many in each cell. Filaments short and broad. Perianth funnel-shaped, with erect segments.--Species 3. West Africa. (_Debesia_ Kuntze). =Acrospira= Welw.

Ovules 4-8 in each cell. Filaments thread-shaped or slightly broadened in the middle. 59

59. Stamens as long as or longer than the perianth. Flowers almost sessile. 60

Stamens shorter than the perianth. Flowers distinctly stalked. 61

60. Perianth-segments erect. Leaves broadly elliptical.--Species 1. Southern West Africa. =Verdickia= De Wild.

Perianth-segments spreading. Leaves linear or lanceolate.--Species 15. Central Africa. (Under _Chlorophytum_ Ker). =Dasystachys= Bak.

61. Fruit deeply 3-lobed or acutely angled. Seeds discoid.--Species 80. Tropical and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Chlorophytum= Ker

Fruit not distinctly lobed, obtusely angled. Filaments thread-shaped.--Species 120. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (_Phalangium_ Juss.) =Anthericum= L.

62. (53.) Anthers attached to the filament in a small dorsal pit. 63

Anthers without a dorsal pit. 65

63. Perianth wheel-shaped, with spreading 5-nerved segments, white on the inner face, violet or red on the outer. Filaments woolly. Seeds globular or ovoid.--Species 1. North-West Africa. Used in medicine. =Simethis= Kunth

Perianth bell-or funnel-shaped, with more or less connivent, 1-nerved segments. Seeds triquetrous. 64

64. Perianth yellow. Filaments distinctly unequal, bent downwards. Stem bearing leaves to the middle or higher up.--Species 2. North Africa. Used as ornamental or medicinal plants. =Asphodeline= Reichb.

Perianth white or reddish. Filaments subequal. Stem bearing leaves at the base only.--Species 10. North Africa, northern East Africa, and Mascarene Islands. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants or for preparing glue. =Asphodelus= L.

65. Filaments glabrous. Ovules 2 in each ovary-cell. Perianth white or yellow.--Species 9. South Africa. =Bulbinella= Kunth

Filaments bearded. Ovules 3 or more in each ovary-cell. Perianth yellow, rarely whitish.--Species 30. South and Central Africa. Some are poisonous to cattle. =Bulbine= L.

66. (52.) Stamens free from the perianth, rarely (_Lomatophyllum_) slightly attached to it at the base. Anthers attached to the tip of the filament in a small pit. Perianth-segments evidently united or connivent into a narrow tube at the base. Fruit a capsule which is rarely fleshy. Leaves leathery and all radical, or more or less fleshy. [Tribe ALOINEAE.] 67

Stamens attached to the perianth, rarely almost free, but then anthers without a pit, perianth-segments almost free, spreading or globosely-connivent, fruit a berry, and leaves not fleshy. 75

67. Leaves leathery, minutely toothed or entire, radical or nearly so. Inflorescence terminal, simple, densely racemose, upon an almost naked stalk. Perianth usually yellow or red; limb regular or nearly so, not 2-lipped. [Subtribe KNIPHOFIINAE.] 68

Leaves fleshy and usually prickly, generally inserted on a woody stem, rarely leathery, but then inflorescence subcapitate or loosely racemose or perianth with a 2-lipped limb. Inflorescence axillary, but often apparently terminal. [Subtribe ALOINAE.] 69

68. Perianth campanulate, with a short and wide tube. Flowers spreading, rarely erect.--Species 5. South Africa to Angola. =Notosceptrum= Benth.

Perianth cylindrical, with a long and narrow tube. Flowers more or less drooping, rarely erect.--Species 65. South and East Africa to Katanga and Madagascar. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Kniphofia= Moench

69. Perianth-segments erect or converging. Flowers usually large and red or yellow. 70

Perianth-segments spreading or bent back. Flowers usually small and whitish. 72

70. Perianth-tube long, curved, swollen below, cylindrical above. Perianth usually red. Stamens shorter than the perianth. Stem short. Leaves not toothed. Racemes lax, one-sided.--Species 40. South Africa. Most of them are used as ornamental plants. =Gasteria= Duval

Perianth-tube straight or almost so, cylindrical or campanulate. Perianth usually reddish-yellow. Stamens as long as the perianth or somewhat longer. 71

71. Flowers small, erect, whitish, with minute bracts. Perianth-segments free. Stamens exserted. Filaments thread-shaped. Leaves not awned.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). (Under _Aloë_ L.) =Chamaealoë= Berg.

Flowers large, spreading or drooping, yellow or red, rarely small erect and whitish, but then bracts large, filaments flattened, and leaves long-awned.--Species 160. They yield fibre, vegetables, dye-stuffs, vermin-poison, and medicaments, and are often used as ornamental plants. =Aloë= L.

72. Perianth with a 2-lipped limb. Stamens shorter than the perianth. Fruit dry. 73

Perianth with a regular, stellate limb. Stem woody. 74

73. Ovary and fruit conical, acuminate. Leaves leathery, jointed, dilated at the base and forming a bulb.--Species 4. South Africa to Angola. (Under _Haworthia_ Duval) =Chortolirion= Berg.

Ovary and fruit rounded at the top. Leaves fleshy, not jointed and not forming a bulb.--Species 60. South Africa to Angola. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Haworthia= Duval

74. Perianth with short segments, whitish. Stamens equalling the perianth-tube. Fruit dry.--Species 9. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Apicra= Willd.

Perianth with long segments, red or green. Fruit fleshy.--Species 3. Mascarene Islands. Used as ornamental plants. =Lomatophyllum= Willd.

75. (66.) Anthers attached to the tip of the filament in a pit at their back. Ovary 3-celled with many ovules in each cell. Fruit a leathery capsule. Flowers yellowish-red, large, panicled. Leaves all radical. [Tribe HEMEROCALLEAE.] 76

Anthers without a pit. Ovary 3-celled with 1-8 ovules in each cell, or incompletely 6-celled, or 1-celled. Fruit a berry, rarely a fleshy capsule or a nut. Flowers usually whitish. 77

76. Leaves herbaceous. Inflorescence few-flowered. Seeds ovate, angled.--Species 1. Naturalised in the Mascarene Islands. A garden-plant. “Day-lily.” =Hemerocallis= L.

Leaves leathery. Inflorescence many-flowered. Seeds oblong, winged.--Species 1 (_Ph. tenax_ Forst., New-Zealand-flax). Cultivated in South Africa and the Mascarene Islands. Yields fibre and is used as an ornamental and medicinal plant. =Phormium= Forst.

77. Perianth-segments globosely-campanulately converging, slightly cohering at the base. Stamens with the filaments thickened at the apex and with sagittate basifixed anthers. Ovary 3-celled, each cell with an incomplete partition and numerous ovules. Leaves serrate, crowded at the top of the woody stem.--Species 2. Cultivated and naturalised in the Mascarene Islands and the island of Zanzibar. They yield fibre and starch and are used as ornamental plants. [Tribe YUCCEAE.] =Yucca= L.

Perianth-segments spreading towards the tip. Stamens with thread-like filaments or with dorsifixed anthers. Ovary 3-celled with 1-8 ovules in each cell, or 1-celled. [Tribe DRACAENEAE.] 78

78. Ovary 1-celled with numerous ovules. Style short or wanting. Anthers attached at or near the base, opening laterally. Flowers polygamous, in panicles formed of spikes. Leaves all radical.--Species 1. Mascarene Islands. It yields fibre and is used as an ornamental plant. =Astelia= Banks & Soland.

Ovary 3-celled with 1-8 ovules in each cell. Anthers attached by the back. 79

79. Ovules 4-8 in each ovary-cell. Style short and thick. Perianth-segments almost free. Flowers in repeatedly branched panicles. Stem woody.--Species 2. Mascarene Islands. Used as ornamental plants. (Under _Cordyline_ Commers.) =Cohnia= Kunth

Ovules solitary in each ovary-cell. Style long and slender. Perianth-segments evidently united. 80

80. Leaves all radical, springing from a short root-stock, cartilaginous. Flowers in racemes composed of fascicles. Ovary sessile with a large base. Fruit an achene with a membranous pericarp. Seed-coat fleshy.--Species 25. Tropical and South Africa. Many of them yield fibre and are used as ornamental plants. “Bowstring-hemp.” (_Sanseverinia_ Petagna). =Sansevieria= Thunb.

Leaves springing from a sometimes very short woody stem, herbaceous or leathery. Fruit a berry.--Species 65. Tropical and South Africa and Canary Islands. Several species yield a resin (dragon’s blood) employed medicinally and industrially; some are used for plaiting-work or as ornamental plants. =Dracaena= Vand.

FAMILY 33. HAEMODORACEAE

Herbs. Leaves narrow, 2-ranked. Flowers in racemes or panicles, rarely solitary, hermaphrodite. Perianth yellow; segments 6, petal-like, free or shortly united at the base. Stamens 3, opposite the inner perianth-segments and attached at their base. Anthers turned inwards. Ovary 3-celled; two cells sometimes sterile. Style simple, with a simple stigma, rarely 3-parted. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds flat. Embryo small, enclosed by the base of the albumen.--Genera 4, species 6. South Africa.

1. Ovary superior, 1-3-celled, with 1 ovule in each cell. 2

Ovary inferior, 3-celled. Flowers regular. 3

2. Ovary with 1 fertile cell. Flowers regular, glabrous, in racemes.--Species 1. Natal and Kaffraria. =Barberetta= Harv.

Ovary with 3 fertile cells. Flowers irregular, hairy, in panicles.--Species 2. Cape Colony. Used as ornamental plants. The roots contain a red dye-stuff. =Wachendorfia= L.

3. Ovary with 1 ovule in each cell. Flowers hairy, in panicles.--Species 2. Cape Colony. =Dilatris= Berg

Ovary with numerous ovules in each cell. Flowers glabrous, solitary.--Species 1. Cape Colony. =Pauridia= Harv.

FAMILY 34. AMARYLLIDACEAE

Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth corolla-like. Stamens 6, rarely (_Gethyllis_) more. Anthers introrse. Ovary inferior, rarely half-inferior or (_Walleria_) almost superior, 3-celled, with slightly projecting axillary placentas. Ovules inverted. Embryo small, straight, lateral, enclosed by the fleshy albumen.--Genera 33, species 310. (Including _HYPOXIDACEAE_.) (Plate 19.)

1. Underground part of the stem a bulb or a corm, rarely a short root-stock. Leaves all radical. Flowers solitary or in umbels; inflorescence surrounded by a spathe. [Subfamily =AMARYLLIDOIDEAE=.] 2

Underground part of the stem a root-stock. Flowers in spikes, racemes or panicles, rarely solitary or in umbels, but without a spathe. 27

2. Perianth furnished with a corona, which sometimes is reduced to a narrow ring or a crown of hairs. [Tribe NARCISSEAE.] 3

Perianth without a corona. [Tribe AMARYLLIDEAE.] 8

3. Stamens inserted within the corona. Corona cup-or ring-shaped or consisting of 12 scales. [Subtribe NARCISSINAE.] 4

Stamens inserted on the edge of the cup-or funnel-shaped corona; corona rarely reduced to a crown of hairs. 6

4. Corona of 12 free scales. Perianth tubular, red. Fruit a berry.--Species 2. Central Africa (British East Africa and Angola). =Cryptostephanus= Welw.

Corona cup-or ring-shaped, undivided or lobed. Perianth bell-, funnel-, or salver-shaped, usually white or yellow. Fruit a capsule. 5

5. Perianth funnel-shaped, with a very short tube, yellow. Corona little developed, 6-or 12-lobed.--Species 1. North-West Africa. (_Carregnoa_ Boiss.) =Tapeinanthus= Herb.

Perianth salver-or bell-shaped, with a more or less elongated tube.--Species 10. North Africa. Used as ornamental plants, in the preparation of perfumes, and in medicine; some species are poisonous. (Including _Aurelia_ Gay and _Corbularia_ Haw.) =Narcissus= L.

6. Perianth salver-shaped, with a cylindrical tube and linear segments, white. Corona funnel-shaped. Ovary with 2 ovules in each cell.--Species 1. West Africa. Used as an ornamental plant. [Subtribe EUCHARIDINAE.] =Hymenocallis= Salisb.

Perianth funnel-shaped. Ovary with many ovules in each cell. [Subtribe PANCRATIINAE.] 7

7. Flowers white, regular. Corona large, cup-shaped. Stigma 1.--Species 8. Northern and tropical Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants, for the preparation of starch, and in medicine. =Pancratium= L.

Flowers red, slightly irregular. Corona reduced to a crown of hairs. Stigmas 3.--Species 2. Naturalised in the West African islands St. Thomas and Princes Island. Ornamental plants. =Hippeastrum= Herb.

8. (2.) Ovules 1-6 in each cell of the ovary. Perianth-segments free or united below into a short tube. [Subtribe HAEMANTHINAE.] 9

Ovules many in each cell of the ovary. 14

9. Perianth divided nearly or quite to the ovary. Spathe consisting of two narrow bracts. 10

Perianth with a distinct tube. Spathe of two broad bracts or of more than two bracts. Anthers oblong, attached by the back. 11

10. Anthers globose, attached by the base. Ovules 1-4 in each ovary-cell. Perianth red.--Species 10. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Including _Carpolyza_ Salisb.) =Hessea= Herb.

Anthers oblong, attached by the back. Ovules 5-6 in each ovary-cell.--Species 5. South Africa. =Strumaria= Jacq.

11. Ovules 5-6 in each ovary-cell. Perianth reddish-yellow, funnel-shaped. Spathe of more than 2 bracts. Leaves linear.--Species 3. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Clivia= Lindl.

Ovules 1-4 in each ovary-cell. 12

12. Spathe consisting of 2 bracts. Pedicels long. Perianth red, salver-shaped. Fruit a capsule. Leaves linear.--Species 4. South Africa and southern Central Africa. Used for the preparation of arrow-poison, in medicine, and as ornamental plants. =Buphane= Herb.

Spathe consisting of more than 2 bracts. Pedicels short or rather short. Fruit a berry. 13

13. Filaments shorter than the anthers. Perianth-tube very short. Umbels rather few-flowered. Leaves very long and narrow, strap-shaped.--Species 1. West Africa (Congo). =Demeusea= De Wild. & Th. Dur.

Filaments as long as or longer than the anthers. Perianth-tube long. Umbels many-flowered. Leaves rather short.--Species 45. South and Central Africa. Some are poisonous or are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (Including _Choananthus_ Rendle) =Haemanthus= L.

14. Perianth divided nearly or quite to the ovary. 15

Perianth with a distinct tube. 19

15. Perianth divided to the ovary, white, rarely reddish. Flowers regular, middle-sized, solitary or in few-flowered umbels. [Subtribe GALANTHINAE.] 16

Perianth with a short tube, usually red. Flowers more or less irregular, in umbels. [Subtribe AMARYLLIDINAE.] 17

16. Perianth-segments spreading, whitish. Anthers deeply sagittate at the base. Flowers erect, in umbels.--Species 1. North-west Africa. =Lapiedra= Lag.

Perianth-segments converging. Anthers slightly sagittate at the base. Flowers drooping.--Species 3. North-west Africa. Used as ornamental plants and in medicine; the bulb is edible. =Leucoium= L.

17. Filaments thickened at the base. Stigma 3-lobed. Fruit obtusely angled, 3-valved.--Species 17. South Africa to Damaraland. Some are used as ornamental plants. (_Imhofia_ Heist.) =Nerine= Herb.

Filaments thread-shaped, free. Stigma entire. 18

18. Ovules sunk in the placentas. Ovary oblong. Fruit obtusely angled, bursting irregularly. Perianth-segments oblong. Flowers drooping.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony); also naturalised in the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores. Used as an ornamental plant; the bulb is poisonous. =Amaryllis= L.

Ovules not sunk in the placentas. Ovary top-shaped. Fruit acutely angled, 3-valved.--Species 10. South Africa and southern Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Brunsvigia= Heist.

19. Flowers solitary. [Subtribe ZEPHYRANTHINAE.] 20

Flowers in umbels occasionally reduced to a single flower. [Subtribe CRININAE.] 22

20. Perianth with a short tube, funnel-shaped, yellow. Filaments long. Anthers oblong, attached at the back near the base. Scape above-ground.--Species 1. North-west Africa (Algeria). Used as an ornamental plant. =Sternbergia= Waldst. & Kit.

Perianth with a long tube. Filaments very short. Anthers linear, attached at the base. Scape underground. 21

21. Perianth salver-shaped, yellow or whitish. Stamens in a single row.--Species 9. South Africa (Cape Colony). The fruit of some is eaten or used in medicine. =Gethyllis= L.

Perianth funnel-shaped, white or reddish. Stamens in 2 rows.--Species 5. South Africa. =Apodolirion= Bak.

22. Perianth-tube perceptibly shorter than the limb. 23

Perianth about as long as or longer than the limb. 26

23. Flowers rather small, yellow or yellowish-white, almost regular. Perianth-segments lanceolate, slightly longer than or twice as long as the tube. Stigmas 3.--Species 2. South and East Africa. =Anoiganthus= Bak.

Flowers large, red, reddish-yellow, or reddish-white. Stigma 1, simple or 3-lobed. 24

24. Flowers almost regular. Perianth-segments elliptical, about twice as long as the tube. Umbels 6-9-flowered. Fruit oblong.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). Used as an ornamental plant. =Vallota= Herb.

Flowers distinctly irregular. Perianth-segments 3-4 times as long as the tube. 25

25. Umbels 2-4-flowered. Scape hollow. Perianth hairy within. Fruit globose. (See 7.) =Hippeastrum= Herb.

Umbels many-flowered; spathe of 2 bracts. Scape solid.--Species 2. South Africa to Damaraland. =Ammocharis= Herb.

26. Ovules sunk in the placentas, usually few in each ovary-cell. Stigma very small, capitate. Anthers linear. Scape solid.--Species 60. Tropical and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (Including _Stenolirion_ Bak.) (Plate 19.) =Crinum= L.

Ovules not sunk in the placentas, many in each ovary-cell. Stigma more or less distinctly 3-lobed or 3-parted. Anthers oblong. Scape hollow.--Species 25. South and East Africa and Angola. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Cyrtanthus= Ait.

27. (1.) Leaves fleshy, very long (1-2 m.), in a rosette at the base or the top of the stem. Very tall plants. [Subfamily =AGAVOIDEAE=.] 28

Leaves not fleshy and not very long. Smaller plants. [Subfamily =HYPOXIDOIDEAE=.] 30

28. Filaments longer than the perianth. Flowers in spikes or panicles, usually greenish or yellow. Leaves at the top of a very short stem.--Species 2. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in North and South Africa and some tropical islands. They yield fibre, fodder, drinks, medicaments, and a substitute for soap, and are also used as hedge-or garden-plants. =Agave= L.

Filaments shorter than the perianth. 29

29. Filaments strongly thickened at the base. Flowers in panicles, white. Fruit ovoid. Leaves at the top of a short stem.--Species 1. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in North and South Africa and some tropical islands. It yields fibre, and is used as a hedge-or garden-plant, also in medicine. (_Furcraea_ Vent.) =Fourcroya= Schult.

Filaments slightly thickened at the base. Flowers in capitate spikes, red. Fruit oblong or club-shaped. Leaves at the base of a long stem.--Species 1. Naturalised in the island of St. Helena. An ornamental plant. =Doryanthes= Correa

30. Ovary inferior with many ovules in each cell. Perianth yellow, rarely white or red. Leaves all radical, usually hairy like the peduncle. [Tribe HYPOXIDEAE.] 31

Ovary inferior with 2 ovules in each cell or half-inferior or almost superior. Perianth blue, red, or whitish. Leaves usually radical and cauline. 32

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 19._

J. Fleischmann del.

Crinum abyssinicum Hochst.

_A_ Plant in flower. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise.]

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 20._

J. Fleischmann del.

Barbacenia aequatorialis Rendle

_A_ Inflorescence. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise.]

31. Ovary beaked. Fruit a berry. Flowers solitary or in dense spikes or heads.--Species 6. Tropical and South Africa. They yield fibre and are used medicinally and as ornamental plants; some have an edible root-stock. =Curculigo= Gaertn.

Ovary not beaked. Fruit a capsule. Flowers solitary or in lax racemes or umbels.--Species 60. Southern and tropical Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Including _Ianthe_ Salisb.) =Hypoxis= L.

32. Ovary almost inferior with 2 ovules in each cell. Anthers attached by the back, bursting lengthwise. Perianth with a distinct tube. Fruit 1-seeded. Flowers in panicles. Stem, leaves, and inflorescence woolly.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). [Tribe CONOSTYLIDEAE.] =Lanaria= Ait.

Ovary half-inferior or almost superior, with several or many ovules in each cell. Anthers attached at the base or near it, bursting at or towards the apex. Perianth divided nearly or quite to the ovary. Stem, leaves, and inflorescence glabrous. [Tribe CONANTHEREAE.] 33

33. Ovary half-inferior. Stamens more or less unequal. Flowers usually without bracteoles, solitary and terminal or arranged in racemes or panicles. Leaves, all or most of them, crowded at the base of the stem.--Species 7. South Africa to Damaraland. Some have edible root-stocks or are used as ornamental plants. =Cyanella= L.

Ovary almost superior. Stamens equal. Flowers blue, with bracteoles, solitary or in pairs and axillary, or arranged in panicles. Leaves scattered along the stem.--Species 5. Southern tropical Africa. Some have edible root-stocks. =Walleria= Kirk

FAMILY 35. VELLOZIACEAE

Leaves linear. Flowers solitary, terminal, without bracteoles, regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments free or nearly so, petaloid, usually white. Stamens 6. Anthers attached by the base. Ovary inferior, 3-celled. Placentas projecting and peltately dilated. Ovules numerous. Style simple; stigma 3-lobed. Fruit a capsule. Seeds black, compressed. Embryo very small, enclosed by the albumen. (Under _AMARYLLIDEAE_.) (Plate 20.)

Genus 1. Species 25. Tropical and South Africa. (_Xerophyta_ Juss., under _Vellozia_ Vand.) =Barbacenia= Vand.

FAMILY 36. TACCACEAE

Herbs with a tuberous root-stock. Leaves all radical, large, stalked, twice pinnately divided. Flowers in an umbel-like inflorescence on a leafless scape, regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth greenish-brown, bell-or urn-shaped, with a short tube. Stamens 6. Filaments hooded. Anthers turned inwards. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with parietal placentas. Ovules numerous, inverted. Style short, umbrella-shaped, 6-lobed. Fruit a berry. Seeds compressed. Embryo small, enclosed by the albumen.

Genus 1, species 2. Tropics. Used as ornamental plants and for plaiting-work; the tubers yield starch (arrowroot) and are edible when cooked. =Tacca= Forst.

FAMILY 37. DIOSCOREACEAE

Root-stock tuberous. Stem twining. Leaves alternate, net-veined, usually cordate. Flowers in racemes, inconspicuous, regular, unisexual. Stamens 6. Ovary inferior, 3-celled. Ovules 2 in each cell, superposed, inverted. Styles or style-branches 3. Embryo enclosed in a horny or cartilaginous albumen.--Genera 2, species 45. (Plate 21.)

Fruit a berry. Seeds not winged.--Species 3. North Africa. The tubers are eaten and used in medicine; the berries are poisonous. (_Tamnus_ Juss.) =Tamus= L.

Fruit a capsule. Seeds winged.--Species 40. Tropical and South Africa. Some are cultivated for their edible tubers (yams) or used in medicine; others are poisonous. (Including _Testudinaria_ Salisb.) (Plate 21.) =Dioscorea= L.

SUBORDER IRIDINEAE

FAMILY 38. IRIDACEAE

Herbs or undershrubs. Inflorescence terminal. Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth with 6 petaloid segments. Stamens 3, inserted opposite the outer perianth-segments. Anthers turned outwards. Ovary inferior, 3-celled, rarely (_Hermodactylus_) 1-celled. Style-branches usually divided or dilated. Ovules numerous, inverted. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Embryo enclosed by the horny albumen.--Genera 39, species 600. (Plate 22.)

1. Flowers solitary, terminal, sometimes surrounded by several axillary flowers, each flower with a spathe. Perianth regular; inner and outer segments nearly equal. Leaves not exactly 2-ranked. Stem short or almost wanting. [Subfamily =CROCOIDEAE=.] 2

Flowers in various inflorescences, rarely spathes solitary, but 2-or more-flowered or (if 1-flowered) the outer perianth-segments very different from the inner ones. Leaves 2-ranked, folded one above the other, rarely (_Geosiris_) reduced to scales. Stem distinctly developed. 5

2. Stem underground, very short. Perianth-tube very long. 3

Stem partly above ground. Perianth-tube short or moderately long. 4

3. Style-branches undivided, stigmatose inside. Perianth red or violet, rarely white with red streaks.--Species 6. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Syringodea= Hook. fil.

Style-branches many-lobed or many-parted, stigmatose at the top.--Species 3; one of them only cultivated. North-West Africa. Used as ornamental plants; the tubers are edible. The cultivated species (_C. sativus_ L.) yields the saffron, which is used as a condiment and for dyeing. =Crocus= L.

4. Leaves crowded at the top of the very short stem. Perianth with a rather long tube, yellow or violet. Filaments united into a tube. Style-branches dilated above, petal-like.--Species 3. South Africa (Cape Colony). Used as ornamental plants. =Galaxia= Thunb.

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 21._

J. Fleischmann del.

Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) Pax

_A_ Flowering branch. _B_ Male flower from above. _C_ Male flower cut lengthwise. _D_ Group of fruits.]

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 22._

J. Fleischmann del.

Lapeyrousia Fabricii Ker

_A_ Plant in flower. _B_ Flower. _C_ Ovary cut lengthwise.]

Leaves scattered along the stem or crowded at its base. Filaments free, rarely united, but then perianth with a very short tube. Style-branches not petal-like.--Species 50. South and North Africa and mountains of Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (_Trichonema_ Ker). =Romulea= Maratti

5. (1.) Spathes 1-flowered, in spikes. Style-branches well developed, generally alternate with the anthers, thread-shaped or thickened at the top, more rarely dilated and almost petal-like, but undivided. Flower usually more or less irregular. Stem leafy. [Subfamily =IXIOIDEAE=.] 6

Spathes 2-or more-flowered, rarely 1-flowered, but then style-branches either reduced to short teeth, or opposite the anthers, petal-like, and 2-lobed. Flowers regular, but the inner perianth-segments often very different from the outer ones. [Subfamily =IRIDOIDEAE=.] 23

6. Style-branches 2-parted. [Tribe WATSONIEAE.] 7

Style-branches undivided. 10

7. Flowers small. Perianth with a short tube, red or blue. Ovules 2 in each ovary-cell.--Species 2. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Micranthus= Pers.

Flowers large or rather large. Perianth with a long or rather long tube. Ovules many in each ovary-cell. 8

8. Perianth-tube straight or nearly so. Filaments short, inserted at the throat of the perianth.--Species 40. South and Central Africa. Some have edible tubers or serve as ornamental plants. (Plate 22.) =Lapeyrousia= Pourr.

Perianth-tube curved. Filaments long, inserted below the throat of the perianth. 9

9. Spathes short, scarious. Perianth yellowish, with unequal segments.--Species 2. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Freesia= Klatt

Spathes rather long, rigid. Perianth red or white, with almost equal segments.--Species 15. South Africa, Madagascar, and Mascarenes. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Watsonia= Mill.

10. (6.) Flowers distinctly irregular. [Tribe GLADIOLEAE.] 11

Flowers regular or almost so. Filaments and style straight. [Tribe IXIEAE.] 18

11. Perianth curved. 12

Perianth straight. 13

12. Perianth-tube longer than the limb, filiform below, cylindrical above. Stamens inserted in the basal part of the tube. Spathes small.--Species 20. South and Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Including _Anisanthus_ Sweet). =Antholyza= L.

Perianth-tube as long as or shorter than the limb, funnel-shaped.--Species 120. Some of them have edible bulbs, others are used in medicine or as ornamental plants. =Gladiolus= L.

13. Leaves folded, usually hairy. Perianth with a long tube.--Species 30. South Africa and Island of Socotra. Several species have edible bulbs or are used as ornamental plants. =Babiana= Ker

Leaves flat, glabrous. 14

14. Perianth-segments almost free, thinly acuminate, yellowish-green. Ovules 2-3 in each ovary-cell. Inflorescence paniculate.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Melasphaerula= Ker

Perianth-segments evidently united below, obtuse or shortly mucronate. Ovules usually numerous. 15

15. Perianth-tube funnel-shaped (distinctly widened above). Style-branches filiform. Spathe-bracts lacerated. 16

Perianth-tube more or less cylindrical (slightly or not widened above). Style-branches usually dilated. Spathe-bracts entire or toothed. 17

16. Perianth 2-lipped, with a long or rather long tube, yellow or violet. Style-branches short.--Species 3. South Africa (Cape Colony). Used as ornamental plants. =Synnotia= Sweet

Perianth regular, with a short or rather short tube, yellow, red or variegated. Style-branches long.--Species 3. South Africa (Cape Colony). Used as ornamental plants. The bulbs are edible. =Sparaxis= Ker

17. Spathe-bracts long, green, entire. Inflorescence spicate. Perianth nearly always with a long tube.--Species 20. South and Central Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Acidanthera= Hochst.

Spathe-bracts short, brown, toothed at the top. Inflorescence spicate or paniculate. Perianth with a short or rather short tube.--Species 35. South and Central Africa. Many of them are used as ornamental plants; some yield edible bulbs or a substitute for saffron. (Including _Crocosmia_ Planch., _Montbretia_ DC., and _Tritonixia_ Klatt). =Tritonia= Ker

18. (10.) Style-branches club-shaped. 19

Style-branches linear or subulate. 20

19. Stigmas notched. Flowers white or yellow. Spathe-bracts lacerated. Leaves short.--Species 2. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Streptanthera= Sweet

Stigmas entire. Flowers white or red. Spathe-bracts entire. Leaves long.--Species 2. South and East Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Dierama= C. Koch

20. Style-branches linear, slightly dilated, short. Outer spathe-bract brown.--Species 20. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Including _Morphixia_ Ker). =Ixia= L.

Style-branches subulate. Spathe-bracts green or brown at the tip. 21

21. Style long, with short branches.--Species 35. South Africa, southern Central Africa, and Madagascar. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. =Geissorrhiza= Ker

Style short, with long branches. 22

22. Underground part of the stem a root-stock. Perianth red. Filaments as long as or longer than the anthers.--Species 2. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Schizostylis= Backh. & Harv.

Underground part of the stem a corm. Filaments short.--Species 35. South Africa and mountains of Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Hesperantha= Ker

23. (5.) Style-branches undivided, very short or thread-shaped or somewhat broadened at the top, but not petal-like, nearly always alternate with the stamens. 24

Style-branches more or less divided or petal-like, opposite the stamens. Perianth with a short tube or without a tube. Fruit not enclosed by the spathe. 32

24. Perianth with a distinct tube. Filaments free. Style-branches very short. Fruit, wholly or for the greater part, enclosed by the spathe. [Tribe ARISTEAE, Subtribe ARISTINAE.] 25

Perianth divided nearly or quite to the ovary. Style-branches usually long. Fruit not enclosed by the spathe. [Tribe SISYRINCHIEAE.] 30

25. Perianth-segments very unequal, the inner much larger than the outer, blueish, the outer black; tube short. Spathes 2-3-flowered, solitary or in corymbs.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Cleanthe= Salisb.

Perianth-segments almost equal. 26

26. Stem and leaves without green colour. Leaves short, scale-like. Flowers in umbel-like cymes. Perianth white, with a short tube.--Species 1. Madagascar. =Geosiris= Baill.

Stem and leaves green. Leaves long, linear or sword-shaped. Perianth blue, rarely yellowish or whitish. 27

27. Spathes 3-or more-flowered, solitary or in spikes, racemes or corymbs. Herbs. Perianth with a short tube.--Species 30. Southern and tropical Africa. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. =Aristea= Ait.

Spathes 1-2-flowered. Undershrubs. 28

28. Perianth with a short tube and clawed segments, blue. Filaments long. Spathes in heads.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Klattia= Bak.

Perianth with a long tube. Filaments short. 29

29. Perianth blue, glabrous, with a cylindrical tube. Filaments awl-shaped. Anthers small. Spathes solitary or in corymbs.--Species 2. South Africa (Cape Colony). Used as ornamental plants. (Under _Aristea_ Ait.) =Nivenia= Vent.

Perianth greenish-yellow, hairy outside, with a funnel-shaped tube. Filaments flat. Anthers large. Spathes surrounded by empty bracts and arranged in heads.--Species 1. South Africa (Cape Colony). Used as an ornamental plant; the stem contains sugar. =Witsenia= Thunb.

30. Filaments united into a tube. Perianth blue.--Species 1. Naturalised in the Mascarene Islands. An ornamental plant. [Subtribe SISYRICHINAE.] =Sisyrinchium= L.

Filaments free or nearly so. Perianth yellow or red. [Subtribe LIBERTINAE]. 31

31. Stem leafy. Spathes in lax corymbs. Perianth orange-coloured. Style filiform, with club-shaped, erect or spreading stigmas.--Species 1. Naturalised in the Mascarene Islands. An ornamental and medicinal plant. =Belamcanda= Adans.

Stem leafless. Spathes solitary or in heads. Perianth pale yellow. Style very short, with thread-shaped, recurved stigmas.--Species 6. South Africa. =Bobartia= Ker

32. (23.) Stigmas at the tip of the style-branches. Inner and outer perianth-segments almost equal. Filaments united. Underground part of the stem a bulb. [Tribe TIGRIDIEAE, subtribe CIPURINAE.] 33

Stigmas on the underside of the dilated style-branches. Inner and outer perianth-segments unequal. [Tribe MORAEEAE.] 36

33. Style-branches simple or one of them forked. 34

Style-branches divided. Perianth-segments usually crisped. 35

34. Perianth white, divided to the ovary.--Species 1. South-east Africa (Natal). =Keitia= Regel

Perianth yellow or brownish-red, with a short tube.--Species 12. South Africa; one species also naturalised in St. Helena. Used as ornamental plants. =Homeria= Vent.

35. Perianth yellow, divided to the ovary, twisting up in fading. Style-branches cylindrical, glabrous.--Species 2. South Africa (Cape Colony). =Hexaglottis= Vent.

Perianth greenish brownish or red, with a short tube. Style-branches dilated, fringed on the margin.--Species 8. South Africa and southern West Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Ferraria= L.

36. Style-branches broadened, but not petal-like. Perianth blue; segments free, the inner with the edges rolled inwards and the tip recurved. Filaments free. Scape flattened.--Species 1. Angola and islands of equatorial West Africa. Used as an ornamental plant. [Subtribe MARICINAE.] =Marica= Ker

Style-branches winged, petal-like. [Subtribe IRIDINAE.] 37

37. Perianth-segments free, not bearded. Filaments usually united.--Species 60. Southern and tropical Africa. Several species have edible root-stocks, others are poisonous, many are used as ornamental plants. (Including _Dietes_ Salisb. and _Vieusseuxia_ Delaroche). =Moraea= L.

Perianth-segments united at the base. Filaments free. 38

38. Ovary 1-celled with parietal placentas. Inner perianth-segments linear, acuminate.--Species 1. North-west Africa (Algeria). =Hermodactylus= Adans.

Ovary 3-celled, with axile placentas.--Species 15. North Africa. Many of them are used as ornamental plants, some are poisonous; the root-stock of several species (orris-root) is edible and yields tanning materials, perfumes, and medicaments. =Iris= L.

ORDER SCITAMINEAE

FAMILY 39. MUSACEAE

Tall herbaceous plants. Leaves with a large, oblong or ovate, penni-nerved blade. Flowers subtended by large bracts and arranged in usually spicate rows or cymes, irregular. Perianth corolla-like. Fertile stamens 5, rarely 6. Filaments free. Anthers 2-celled. Ovary inferior, 3-celled. Style free from the stamens, 3-6-lobed. Seeds with a straight embryo and mealy albumen.--Genera 4, species 25. (Under _SCITAMINEAE_.) (Plate 23.)

1. Leaves spirally arranged. Partial inflorescences consisting of 1-2 rows of flowers. Flowers monoecious or polygamous. Sepals and two of the petals united below. Fruit berry-like. Seeds without an aril.--Species 15, growing wild in the tropics, besides 4 (especially _M. paradisiaca_ L.) which are cultivated in various regions. They yield fibre (Manila hemp), tanning and dyeing materials, vegetables, and edible fruits (bananas and plantains), from which also starch, sugar, vinegar, and alcoholic liquor are made. Some species are used as ornamental plants. [Subfamily =MUSOIDEAE=.] =Musa= L.

Leaves 2-ranked. Partial inflorescences cymose. Flowers hermaphrodite. Sepals free or the lateral ones united with the petals. Fruit capsular. [Subfamily =STRELITZIOIDEAE=.] 2

2. Odd sepal posterior. Petals united at the base. Ovules solitary in each ovary-cell. Fruit opening septicidally. Seeds without an aril.--Species 1. Naturalised on the Canary Islands. An ornamental plant; the root-stock is edible. [Tribe HELICONIEAE.] =Heliconia= L.

Odd sepal anterior. Petals free, at least one of them. Ovules many in each ovary-cell. Fruit opening loculicidally. Seeds with an aril. [Tribe STRELITZIEAE.] 3

3. Petals very unequal, the two lateral ones elongated, connate on one side, provided with a wing-like appendage on the other, the third petal very short. Stamens 5. Aril yellow. Inflorescence few-flowered. Stem moderately tall.--Species 4. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Plate 23.) =Strelitzia= L.

Petals subequal, free, without an appendage. Stamens 6. Aril blue. Inflorescence many-flowered. Stem very tall. Species 1 (_R. madagascariensis_ Sonn., traveller’s tree). Madagascar and Mascarene Islands. The leaves are used in house-building; their sheaths retain much water; the sap also furnishes a drink. The seeds are edible and yield a fat. =Ravenala= Adans.

FAMILY 40. ZINGIBERACEAE

Herbs. Stem simple, springing from a root-stock. Leaves stalked or provided with a sheath, oblong or lanceolate. Flowers in spikes racemes heads or panicles, more or less irregular, hermaphrodite, very rarely dioecious. Perianth consisting of a calyx and a corolla. Sepals united below. Petals subequal, united below. Fertile stamen 1. Anther 2-celled, opening by longitudinal slits. Staminodes 1-3, petal-like, at least one of them (the lip). Ovary inferior, more or less completely 3-celled. Ovules numerous. Style enclosed in a groove of the filament. Stigma funnel-shaped. Fruit a capsule or a berry. Seed with a straight embryo and mealy albumen.--Genera 11, species 120. Tropical and South-east Africa. (Under _SCITAMINEAE_.) (Plate 24.)

1. Leaves spirally arranged; sheath at first closed, articulated with the petiole. Filaments petal-like. Lateral staminodes wanting. Epigynous glands none. Stem and leaves not aromatic.--Species 35. Central Africa. Some of them are used as ornamental or medicinal plants and in the preparation of rubber. (Including _Cadalvena_ Fenzl). [Subfamily =COSTOIDEAE=.] =Costus= L.

Leaves two-ranked; sheath split open, not articulated with the petiole. Epigynous glands present, often style-like. Stem and leaves aromatic. [Subfamily =ZINGIBEROIDEAE=.] 2

2. Lateral staminodes petal-like, but sometimes adnate to the lip, which then appears 3-lobed. [Tribe HEDYCHIEAE.] 3

Lateral staminodes linear, tooth-like, or wanting; in the latter case lip not distinctly 3-lobed. [Tribe ZINGIBEREAE.] 5

3. Connective spurred. Lateral staminodes adnate below to the filament of the fertile stamen.--Species 1 (_C. longa_ L.). Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in the tropics. The root-stock yields starch, condiments, medicaments, perfumes, and dyeing-materials (turmeric); the leaves are used for plaiting-work. =Curcuma= L.

Connective not spurred. Lateral staminodes free from the filament of the fertile stamen. 4

4. Connective with a crest-like appendage. Filament short. Lateral staminodes broad.--Species 15. Central and South-east Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Kaempfera= L.

Connective without an appendage. Filament long. Lateral staminodes narrow. Inflorescence terminating the leafy stem.--Species 3, two of them natives of Madagascar, the third naturalised in the tropics. Ornamental plants; the tubers yield condiments, perfumes, and medicaments. =Hedychium= Koen.

5. Connective with a distinct appendage. Flowering stem separated from the leafy stem. 6

Connective without a distinct appendage. 8

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 23._

J. Fleischmann del.

Strelitzia Reginae Banks ex Ait.

_A_ Plant in flower. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise. _C_ Stamens and inner petals.]

_FLOW. PL. AFR._

_Pl. 24._

J. Fleischmann del.

Aframomum Laurentii (De Wild. & Dur.) K. Schum.

_A_ Leaf. _B_ Inflorescence. _C_ Flower cut lengthwise. _D_ Lower part of the flower cut lengthwise.]

6. Connective with a grooved beak. Lip 3-lobed.--Species 2. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in the tropics. The root-stock is used as a condiment, especially for the preparation of liquors, and in medicine. “Ginger.” =Zingiber= L.

Connective with an oblong or 3-lobed, not grooved appendage. Lip not distinctly 3-lobed. 7