This note gives the origin of _F. refracta_ var. _alba_, Baker, _Handb. Irid._ p. 167, which should now be called _F. Sparrmannii_ var. _alba_, for it certainly is not the same as the true _F. refracta_, and Thunberg’s original name must be upheld.
The plant here figured is doubtless the pale golden form mentioned by MacOwan, and it differs from the yellow-flowered _F. xanthospila_ by the very long slender part of its perianth-tube.--N. E. BROWN.
Our illustration was made from specimens grown in the Gardens of the Division of Botany from bulbs presented by Mr. J. Shand, of Ladismith, Cape Province.
DESCRIPTION:--_Corm_ about 4 cm. long, 3 cm. in diameter, produced into a short neck and densely covered with fibres. _Leaves_ basal, 6-8 cm. long, ·5-1 cm. broad, acute, somewhat sheathing at the base, glabrous. _Peduncle_ 9·5 cm. long, with the upper portion bent at a right angle. _Spathe-valves_ 1 cm. long, ovate, subacuminate, acute, membranous in the upper portion. _Perianth-tube_ 5·2 cm. long, 1·2 cm. in diameter above, campanulate in the upper portion and becoming slenderly tubular in the lower half, yellow; lobes 1·2 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, ovate-oblong, or subrotund, rounded above, yellow. _Style_ 5-6 cm. long, filiform, 6-lobed; lobes 5 mm. long, linear, somewhat spathulate at the apex.--E. PERCY PHILLIPS.
PLATE 11.--Fig. 1, anther; Fig. 2, style arms.
CRASSULA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 657.
=Crassula falcata=, _Wendland, Bot. Beobachtungen_, p. 44 (1798), _Willd. Enum._ p. 341 (1809); _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 338.
Among rock plants there are few which equal this fine _Crassula_ for brilliant colouring. It is easy to propagate and flowers freely. The species is common in the Eastern Province, and is found in flower during the month of June. The specimen from which our illustration is made was collected by Mr. P. J. Pienaar at Grahamstown and flowered in the Gardens of the Division of Botany.
DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ succulent, 30-55 cm. high, simple. _Leaves_ connate at the base, fleshy, 6-9 cm. long, 1·5-2·5 cm. broad, decreasing in size upwards, obliquely falcate, obtuse, glaucous. _Peduncle_ reddish in colour. _Inflorescence_ a dense trichotomous cyme. _Calyx-lobes_ 3 mm. long, ovate or oblong, obtuse, canescent. _Petals_ 1 cm. long, connate at the base; lobes linear-lanceolate, subobtuse. _Stamens_ nearly as long as the petals. _Styles_ 5, subulate. _Squamae_ minute.