Sowerbaea
(named in honour of James Edward Sowerby, 1759-1828, an eminent botanical artist). ORD. Liliaceae. A small genus (three species) of greenhouse, tufted perennials with fibrous roots, limited to Australia. Flowers pink, in a terminal, globular umbel; perianth persistent without twisting, of six oblong or ovate segments, all free, or the inner ones shortly connate at base; stamens three; scapes or stems leafless, simple or rarely branched at the base. Leaves at the base of the stem linear-loriform. Two of the species are grown in this country. They thrive in a mixture of sandy loam and peat. Young plants are easily obtainable by divisions. S. juncea (Rush-like). fl., perianth segments oval-oblong; umbel many-flowered. May. l. at base of stem somewhat distichous, linear-filiform, terete, all short or some nearly as long as the stem, bordered at base and sometimes up to 2in. with scarious, sheathing margins. Stem simple, slender, 1ft. to 2ft. high. 1792. (A. B. R. 81; B. M. 1104; T. L. S. v. 6.) S. Iaxiflora (loose-flowered). fl, perianth segments about 1/4in. long, much narrower than in S. juncea; umbels loose. June. l. crowded at the base of the stem, but sometimes extending some way up, the sheath less prominent and not at all scarious. Stems 1ft. to 2ft. high, sometimes slightly branched at the base. 1839. (B. R. 1841, 10.)