Plate 194.
Reading edition
ORNITHOGALUM ODORATISSIMUM. Cape Province. Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae. Ornithogalum, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 815.
Ornithogalum odoratissimum C. A. Smith, sp. nov. Bulbus ovoideo-globosus, 2 cm. diam., tunicis brunneis membranaceis. Folia 2-6, 6-10 cm. longa, anguste linearia, basi leviter dilatata, glabra. Pedunculus ad 14 cm. longus, cylindricus, glaber. Inflorescentia ad 6 cm. longa, pauci-vel multiflora. Bracteae 1-1·8 cm. longae, ovato-acuminatae, membranaceae. Pedicelli 0·5-1 cm. longi, teretes. Segmenta perianthii 1·5 cm. longa, oblonga, apice inflexa pubescentia obtusa. Filamenta 0·5-1 cm. longa, basi 2 mm. lata; antherae oblongae. Ovarium 5 mm. longum, sessile. Stylus 1·5 cm. longus, teres, apice minute capitatus, penicillatus. Fructus trigonus.
This Plate should be compared with that of O. Roodeae figured on Plate 75, as the two species are no doubt closely related though differing much in the colour of the flowers and the shape of the leaves. Like O. Roodeae the flowers are very sweet-scented, a character not usually met with in the genus, and a single inflorescence is sufficient to saturate a large room with a pleasant scent, and even when planted out in the garden the strong perfume is noticeable for a considerable distance from the plant. The plant has been compared with Jacquin’s figure of O. suaveolens, from which it differs in being much smaller, and as it has been figured it was thought better to describe it than to definitely state that it is O. suaveolens.
We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood of van Rhynsdorp for the specimens.
Description:—A simple erect herb. Bulb 2 cm. in diameter, 2·5 cm. high, ovoid, with brown tunics. Leaves 2 to 6, 6 to 10 cm. long, 2 to 3 cm. broad at the base, linear to linear-lanceolate, deeply channelled, glabrous. Peduncle up to 14 cm. long, terete, glabrous. Raceme few to many-flowered, up to 6 cm. long. Bracts 1 to 1·8 cm. long, ovate-acuminate, membranous, dry, partly sheathing the pedicels. Pedicels 0·5 to 1 cm. long, cylindric, erect-spreading. Perianth-segments 1·5 cm. long, oblong, inflexed obtuse and pubescent at the apex, white with a broad green 3-nerved band. Stamens slightly shorter than the perianth-segments; filaments 2 mm. broad at the base; anthers 2 mm. long, oblong, versatile. Ovary 5 mm. long, sessile; style subequalling the perianth-segments, sub-capitate and penicillate at the apex. Fruit (immature) deeply and bluntly 3-lobed. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2941.)
Plate 194.—Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, cross-section of ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
