PLATE 3.--Fig. 1, portion of ray-floret; Fig. 2, pappus-scale of ray-floret; Fig. 3, disc-floret; Fig. 4, pappus-scale of disc-floret; Fig. 5, apex of style showing the stigmas; Fig. 6, fruit; Fig. 7, involucral-bracts (all enlarged).
CYRTANTHUS, _Ait._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 729.
CYRTANTHUS _contractus_; _Bulbus_ 4-6 cm. diametro, ovoideus, brunneus. _Folia_ 2-3, adscendentia, 30-50 cm. longa, 8-12 mm. lata, linearia, longe et acutissime acuminata, basi in petiolum teretem angustata, glabra. _Pedunculus_ 18 cm. vel ultra longus, ad 1 cm. diametro, teres, fistularis, glaber, purpurascens, ad apicem 4-10-florus. _Bracteae_ 4·5-5 cm. longae, basi 8 mm. lati, lineari-attenuatae, membranaceae. _Pedicelli_ adacendentes, 2-4 cm. longi, rubri. _Perianthium_ nutante, coccineum; tubus 5-6 cm. longus, ad medium leviter ventricosum et circa 8 mm. diametro, basi longe et valde contractus et circa 1·5-2 mm. diametro; lobi 1·3 to 1·5 cm. longi, 7 mm. lati, elliptico-ovati, acuti. _Stamina_ perianthii lobis breviora; antherae luteae. _Ovarium_ 1 cm. longum, ovoideum. _Stylus_ inclusus, stigmatibus recurvis. _Semina_ complanata, atrata.--N. E. BROWN.
Transvaal: on kopjes near Mooi Plaates farm, in the vicinity of Pretoria, _Miss J. Stuart_.
The specimens from which our drawing was made were collected by Miss J. Stuart of Pretoria, on the slopes of stony kopjes near the farm “Mooi Plaates,” about 5 miles out of Pretoria. During the spring months the plant is very conspicuous on the kopjes when it flowers freely, usually after the grass has been burnt off, and from this it derives its common name of “Fire Lily.”
DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 4-6 cm. in diameter, ovoid; tunics brown, membranous. _Leaves_ 2-3, contemporary with or appearing after the flowers, 30-50 cm. long, 0·8-1·2 cm. broad, linear, acuminate, acute, tapering to a terete petiole above the flattened base, glabrous. _Peduncle_ vandyke red (R.C.S.), 18 cm. long, lengthening in the fruit, 10 mm. in diameter, terete, hollow, glabrous. _Spathe-valves_ 4·5-5 cm. long, 8 mm. broad near the base, linear, acute, membranous, glabrous. _Inflorescence_, a 4-10-flowered umbel. _Flowers_ pendulous, scarlet-red to carmine (R.C.S.), faintly scented; pedicels 2-4 cm. long, strawberry-pink (R.C.S.), jointed at the apex; perianth-tube 5-6 cm. long, tubular, narrowed at the base, with an inflated portion about the middle; lobes 1·3-1·5 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, ovate-ellipsoid, acute, with a small tuft of white hairs on the inner surface just below the apex. _Stamens_ inserted just below the throat, a little shorter than the perianth-lobes; anthers chrome-yellow (R.C.S.), oblong. _Ovary_ 1 cm. long, 0·5 cm. in diameter, ovoid; style about the length of the perianth-tube, included; stigmas recurved. _Seeds_ black, flattened.--E. PERCY PHILLIPS.