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Hypoxis (From hypo beneath somewhat)

(from hypo, beneath somewhat, and oxys, sharp; referring to the base of the capsule). ORD. Amaryllideae. A genus of greenhouse or nearly hardy dwarf-growing herbaceous perennial plants, not bulbous. Flowers yellow, star-shaped. Leaves grass-like. Hypoxis thrive in sandy loam and peat or leaf mould; and may be increased by offsets. Very few are worth growing, except for botanical collections.

H. elata (tall). fl. golden-yellow, 2in. in diameter; peduncles 1 1/2in. long, slender; scapes numerous, shorter than the leaves, bearing many-flowered racemes. June. l. very numerous, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, spreading and revolute, thinly villous above, thickly hairy below. Natal, 1862. (B. M. 5690.) H. erecta (erect). fl. yellow; scape four-flowered; peduncles twice as short as leaves. June and July. l. linear-lanceolate. h. 6in. North America, 1752. Plant hairy. (B. M. 710.) H. latifolia (broad-leaved). fl. bright yellow, large, green externally; peduncles axillary; racemes spicate, many-flowered. l., lower ones squamiform upwards, about 6in. long, broad-lanceolate, acuminated; upper ones narrowest, becoming gradually elongated, 2ft. long. Natal, 1854. (B. M. 4817.) H. longifolia (long-leaved). fl., perianth golden-yellow within; outer segments lanceolate, sub-acute, green and villous on the back; inner rather broader, with a dorsal green villous midrib; umbel four or five-flowered; scapes several, much shorter than the leaves. August. l. numerous, the outer 2ft. long, spreading on the ground; the inner sheath sub-erect; sheath broad, membranous, 2in. to 4in. long; blade grass-like, very slender, flaccid, bright green, with a few scattered hairs on the margin and keel. Stems tufted. h. 1 1/2ft. Algoa Bay, 1871. (B. M. 6035.) H. stellata (star-like).* fl. white, blue; scape one-flowered, shorter than the leaves. april to June. l. linear-lanceolate, loose-keeled. h. 9in. Cape of Good Hope, 1752. (B. M. 662.) The variety figured in B. M. 1223 is elegans.