Plate 43. HESSEA Zeyheri. Cape Province, Little Namaqualand.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amaryllideae.

Hessea, Herb.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 720.

Hessea Zeyheri, Baker, Handb. Amaryllid. p. 23; Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 191.

This is a very rare species here figured for the first time. It was discovered by Carl Zeyher at Hardeveld in little Namaqualand about the year 1847, and appears to have been unrecorded since then until recently collected by Mr. E. B. Watermeyer. The genus Hessea is endemic to South Africa, and contains nine species found in the Cape Province, Little Namaqualand, and one species from the Transvaal. Hitherto none has been recorded from Natal or the Orange Free State. Our specimen differs slightly from the original described in the “Flora Capensis” in having three rather shorter leaves contemporary with the flowers. At first the style is short, but elongates as the flowers mature.

Our illustration was prepared from a drawing by Miss M. Page of specimens which flowered in April at the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch (No. 1157/16), and collected by Mr. E. B. Watermeyer, Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia Division. The drawing has been kindly loaned by the Curator of the Bolus Herbarium.

Description:—Bulb 5 cm. long, 3·5 cm. in diameter, sub-globose, produced above into a short neck. Leaves 3, contemporary with the flowers, 5·5-11·5 cm. long, 0·8-16 cm. broad, strap-shaped, obtuse, narrowing and channelled at the base. Peduncle arising at the side of the leaves, about 10 cm. long, flattened. Spathe-valves 2 cm. long, linear, acuminate. Inflorescence an umbel of about 25 flowers. Pedicels 2-3 cm. long. Perianth tube 3 mm. long; segments about 1 cm. long, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, united to the staminal tube by the midrib. Stamens of two different lengths, the filaments united below into a tube 4 mm. long; free portions of filaments 8 mm. and 5 mm. long; anthers of long stamens globose, of short stamens oblong. Ovary 1·6 mm. in diameter, globose; style short in bud, lengthening to 15 mm. in older flowers.

Plate 43.—Fig. 1, section through perianth × 3; Fig. 2, lobe of perianth × 3.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

K. A. Lansdell del.