DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 3-4 cm. in diameter, ovoid; tunics brown, membranous. _Leaves_ 2-6, erect, contemporary with the flowers, 20-30 cm. long, 0·9-2 cm. broad, linear, obtuse, narrowed to the base, glabrous. _Peduncle_ reddish-brown near the base, longer than the leaves, sub-terete, hollow. _Inflorescence_ a 4-10-flowered umbel. _Spathe-valves_ 2, green, spotted with reddish-brown marks when young, at length withering, 2·5-3·5 cm. long, 4-7 mm. broad, lanceolate, acute. _Flowers_ sub-erect, pure white with yellowish throats. _Floral-bracts_ linear. _Pedicle_ 0·8-1·5 cm. long, terete. _Perianth-tube_ 3-3·5 cm. long, 7-9 mm. in diameter at the throat, gradually widening from the base upwards; lobes spreading, 6-7 mm. long, 5-6 mm. broad, ovate, the 3 outer cucullate at the apex; the 3 inner emarginate. _Stamens_ sub-sessile, in 2 whorls below the throat of the perianth tube; anthers oblong. _Ovary_ sub-trigonous; style exserted; stigmas spreading, oblong-linear, tufted at the apex. _Fruit_ a trigonous capsule.
PLATE 33.--Fig. 1, leaf and flowers, natural size; Fig. 2, perianth laid open; Fig. 3, apex of style showing stigmas.
WITSENIA, _Thunb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 701.
=Witsenia maura=, _Thunb. Nov. Gen._ pl. p. 34; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 46.
This interesting plant, the only species known in the genus, was first found by Dr. Carl Thunberg at Noordhoek and False Bay on the Cape Peninsula and described by him in 1782. It appears to be confined to damp habitats in the Cape Province, and has been found by the late Dr. Bolus at Houw Hoek in Caledon Division. It has also been recorded from the Tradouw Mountains in Swellendam Division, and this year (1920) Mr. T. P. Stokoe has discovered the plant on the Klein River Mountains near Caledon. It is a rare species and would only interest enthusiastic cultivators on account of its rarity.
We are indebted to Mr. Stokoe for the living specimens from which this plate was prepared. The plant is known locally as “Waaiertje.”
DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ woody. _Leaves_ distichous, about 18 cm. long, 5-7 mm. broad, linear, tapering to an acute point, amplexi-caul, glabrous. _Flowers_ in terminal heads. _Bracts_ 4·5 cm. long, boat-shaped, shorter than the flowers. _Perianth-tube_ 2·7 cm. long, brown below, becoming blue-black above; lobes 1·4 cm. long, 5·5 mm. broad, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, densely tomentose with yellow hairs outside, glabrous within, with a tuft of yellow hairs at the apex of the inner segments and marginal hairs round the apex of the outer segments. _Stamens_ inserted near the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments 5 mm. long, linear and slightly dilated at the base; anthers 6 mm. long, linear. _Ovary_ small; style 4 cm. long, slightly bifid at the apex.