CYRTANTHUS McKenii.

Natal.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Cyrtanthus, Ait.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 729.

Cyrtanthus McKenii, Hook. fil. in Gard. Chron., 1869, p. 641, with fig.; Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 225; Wood, Natal Plants, vol. i. t. 51.

The species of Cyrtanthus, which with one exception are confined to South Africa, have always received notice from gardeners. Our plant was described in 1869 from specimens sent to Europe by Mr. McKen, and a coloured drawing appeared soon after (1873) in one of the illustrated botanical publications. As far as our records go, this species is confined to Natal, where it is known as the “Ifafa Lily.” The specimens from which our illustration was made were gathered by Miss K. A. Lansdell on the banks of the Ifafa River near Port Shepstone, the original locality in which Mr. McKen first discovered the species. The flowers are strongly scented.

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.