The illustration depicts such characteristic plants as the arborescent _Aloe Marlothii_, Berg.; the handsome _Aloe Wickensii_, Pole Evans (in the centre); _Aloe aculeata_, Pole Evans; the neat _Aloe Peglerae_, Schönland; _Cotyledon orbiculata_, Linn.; _Encephalartos Altensteinii_, Lehm; and some arborescent euphorbias.
Although most of the plants just mentioned are typical of the vegetation of the Transvaal, an endeavour will be made in our magazine to depict in each volume as far as possible an equal number of floral representatives from all the Provinces.
As the authority for colour nomenclature, _Colour Standards and Colour Nomenclature_, by R. Ridgway, Washington, 1912, has been adopted.
_Cape Province_, _Natal_, _Orange Free State_, _Basutoland_, and _Transvaal_.
AGAPANTHUS, _L’Herit_; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 798.
=Agapanthus umbellatus=, _L’Herit. Sert. Angl._ 17; _Fl. Cap._ vi. 402.
This well-known garden plant, commonly called the “Agapanthus” or “Blue Lily,” was introduced into cultivation in England from the Cape as far back as 1692, and was figured by Commelin of Amsterdam in 1697.
In South Africa the plant is characteristic of the vegetation found on high mountain ranges. It usually occurs on well-drained slopes.
It is a herbaceous plant with a tuberous rootstock from which 6-10 broad strap-shaped leaves arise. The lower stalk is about a metre high, and bears an umbel of 20-50 handsome blue flowers.
DESCRIPTION:--_Rootstock_ short, tuberous, with fleshy cylindric roots. _Leaves_ dark green, 6-10, basal, 20-60 cm. long, 2-4 cm. broad, strap-shaped, obtuse, glabrous. _Peduncle_ O·25-1 metre high, terete, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a many-flowered umbel. _Spathe-valves_ 2·5 cm. long, 2 cm. broad at the base, ovate, acuminate, withering in the mature inflorescence. _Floral-bracts_ 2·7 cm. long, linear. _Pedicels_ about 6 cm. long, terete, jointed at the apex. _Flowers_ blue; perianth-tube 1·7 cm. long, 6 mm. in diameter; lobes 2-5 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, oblanceolate, obtuse. _Stamens_ inserted at the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments 2·5-3 cm. long, arcuate; anthers oblong. _Fruit_ a triquetrous capsule.
ALOE, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 776.