[Belamcanda Adans. Fam. PI. 2: 60. 1763.]

[Pardanthus Ker, in Konig & Sims, Ann. Bot. 1: 246. 1805.]

An erect perennial herb, with short stout rootstocks and iris-like leaves. Flowers in terminal bracted clusters, rather large, orange and purple-mottled. Perianth of 6 oblong spreading nearly equal withering-persistent segments, distinct very nearly to the summit of the ovary. Stamens inserted on the bases of the segments; filaments distinct; anthers linearoblong. Style very slender, enlarged above, the 3 slender undivided branches alternate with the anthers. Capsule fig-shaped, obovoid, thin-walled, loculicidally 3-valved, the valves recurving, finally falling away, exposing the mass of black fleshy seeds, borne on a central axis.

A monotypic genus of eastern Asia, based on Ixia chinensis L.

I. Gemmingia Chinensis (L.) Kuntze. Blackberry Lily

Fig. 1342

Ixia chinensis L. Sp. PI. 36. 1753.

Belamcanda chinensis DC. in Red. Lil. 3: pl. 121 1807.

Pardanthits chinensis Ker, in Konig & Sims, Ann. Bot. 1: 246. 1805.

G. chinensis Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 701. 1891.

Stem rather stout, 1 1/2°-4° tall, leafy. Leaves pale green, nearly erect, equitant, folded, 8'-10' long, 8"-12" wide, the two sides united above the middle; bracts lanceolate, much shorter than the leaves, the upper ones scarious; flowers several-or numerous, 1 1/2-2' broad; perianth-segments obtuse at the apex, narrowed at the base, persistent and coiled together on the ovary after flowering, mottled with crimson and purple on the upper side; capsule about 1' high and rather more than 1/2 in diameter, truncate or rounded at the summit; mass of globose seeds erect, resembling a blackberry, whence the common name.

On hills and along roadsides, Connecticut to Georgia, Indiana and Kansas. Naturalized from Asia. Leopard-flower. Dwarf tiger-lily. June-July. Fruit ripe July-Sept.