Plate 184.
Reading edition
LACHENALIA RUBIDA var. TIGRINA. Cape Province. Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae. Lachenalia, Jacq.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 807.
Lachenalia rubida, Jacq. var. tigrina, Bkr. Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 424.
On Plate 158 we figured a species Lachenalia pendula belonging to the same subgenus (Eulachenalia) as the species here described. Lachenalia rubida is a graceful little plant, though not so handsome as some species of the genus. It was figured by Jacquin between the years 1786-1793, from plants cultivated in Europe, so that it has been known for over 130 years to botanists.
The species appears to be confined to the Clanwilliam, Calvinia and van Rhynsdorp Districts of the Cape Province, and as far as our records go does not appear to have been frequently collected.
We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood of van Rhynsdorp for the specimens from which our Plate was prepared.
Description:—Bulb 1·5 cm. in diameter at the base, ovoid, white. Produced leaves 1 or 2, as long or slightly longer than the naked portion of the peduncle, with the free portion 1·8 to 2·2 cm. broad, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, obtuse, with dark brown blotches on a dark green background, sometimes the spots absent, convolute and clasping the peduncle for the greater portion of its length. Peduncle with maroon-coloured spots on a yellowish background; in concolorus leaves peduncle almost uniformly coloured. Inflorescence 6-7-flowered. Bracts forming small pockets from which the flowers arise. Pedicels 3 mm. long. Outer perianth-segments O·5 cm. shorter than the inner, slightly gibbous at the base, thickly speckled with red spots on a yellowish background; inner perianth-segments oblong, obtuse. Stigma capitulate. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2901.)
Plate 184.—Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 2, single flower; Fig. 3, anthers; Fig. 4, pistil.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
