This is not such a conspicuous plant as some other species of the genus, yet the brilliant colouring of the perianth is sufficient to warrant attention being given to this species in collections.
Our plate was figured from specimens grown by Mr. Wickens from bulbs collected in the Transkei, where it is known as the “Red Dobo-lily.”
DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ ovoid, 3 cm. in diameter, produced into a neck about 3 cm. long, with fleshy cylindrical roots from the base. _Leaves_ 4, 16-30 cm. long, 1·7 cm. broad, strap-shaped or linear-lanceolate, tapering to the apex, keeled beneath, channelled above, glabrous. _Peduncle_ arising at the side of the leaves, 14 cm. long, terete, solid, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ an umbel of about 11 flowers. _Bracts_ 2·5 cm. long, ovate, acuminate. _Pedicels_ 1·7 cm. long, terete, glabrous. _Perianth-tube_ 2·5 cm. long, 6 mm. in diameter at the throat, funnel-shaped, reddish-scarlet; lobes 5 mm. long, 5 mm. broad, elliptic or sub-orbicular, with a minute apiculus; the 3 outer lobes with a glandular structure at the apex. _Stamens_ inserted near the throat of the perianth-tube; anthers in 2 rows, sessile, 4 mm. long. _Ovary_ 4 mm. long, ellipsoid; style 2·2 cm. long, filiform; stigmas 3 linear.--E. PERCY PHILLIPS.
PLATE 37.--Fig. 1, leaf and flowers, natural size; Fig. 2, bulb and base of leaves; Fig. 3, perianth laid open; Fig. 4, portion of style showing the stigmas.
OROTHAMNUS, _Pappe_; _Benth. et Hook. f._ vol. iii. p. 171 (under Mimetes).
=Orothamnus Zeyheri=, _Pappe in Bot. Mag._ t. 4357; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. 1, p. 650.
This species is another _rara avis_ of the Cape Flora. It was figured for the first time in 1848 (_Botanical Magazine_ t. 4357) from a painting sent by Dr. Pappe to Kew. Carl Zeyher discovered the species on the Hottentots Holland Mountains, and for very many years afterwards it remained unknown to botanists in the fresh state. Mr. E. J. Steer, of Cape Town, some years ago purchased specimens from a coloured flower-seller and photographed it, and this year (1920) it was met with more than once exposed for sale among the wild flowers in Adderley Street, Cape Town. Every effort of botanical collectors to discover the locality in which the species grows has up to now proved unsuccessful, and no information can be obtained from the coloured flower-pickers. The plant has no local name as far as we have been able to ascertain, and we propose the name “Zeyher’s Orothamnus” for this species.