Sparaxis
(from sparasso, to tear; alluding to the lacerated spathes), ORD. Irideae. A genus comprising (according to the authors of the "Genera Plantarum") five species of pretty, greenhouse, bulbous plants, natives of South Africa. Flowers one to a spathe, sessile, rather large; perianth yellow, with a short tube and six erectopatent lobes; stamens affixed near the base of the throat; bracts much narrower than the spathe, bidentate; spathes few, scattered, sometimes solitary, broad, scarious, striated or often marked with brown lines, fimbriatetoothed at apex. Leaves few, flat, ensiform or broadly linear, erect or falcate. Stem simple or slightly branched. The best species and varieties are described below. They require precisely similar treatment to that recommended for Ixia (to which this genus is allied). S. bulbifera (bulb-bearing), fl. three to five, alternate, distant; perianth yellow, funnel-shaped, the segments ovate-oblong, 1in. long; spathe valves purple-striped at apex; scape simple or branched, leafy, 1ft. to 2ft. high. May. l. lanceolate-ensiform, distichous, acute, five lines broad. 1758. SYN. Ixia bulbifera (A. B. R. 48; B. M. 545).
S. grandiflora (large-flowered).* fl. three to five, alternate; perianth purple, white, or variegated, 2in. long, the segments equal, stellately spreading, oblong-cuneate, rounded at apex; scape simple or dichotomous, terete, leafy, 1ft. to 2ft. high. April. l. distichous, lanceolate-ensiform, acute, five lines broad. 1758. (B. M. 779.). SYNS. Ixia aristata (A. B. R. 87), I. grandiflora (B. M. 541).
S. g. Liliago (Liliago). fl., perianth white, 2in. deep; spathe whitish, sub-diaphanous, equalling the tube. l. finely striated, shorter than the stem. (B. R. 258.) S. g. lineata (red-lined). fl., perianth throat yellow; segments longitudinally marked with a red line, more or less tinged with pink, yellow at base, having a brown mark near the middle, the upper part white; scapes two to four-flowered. l. 5in. to 8in. long. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 131, under name of S. lineata.) S. g. stellaris (star-like). fl., perianth rich purple, rather paler externally; tube short, filiform, exserted; mouth within of a deeper purple, and surrounded by a broad, irregular, starry, white band. l. erect, acute. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 383, under name of S. stellaris.) S. pendula (pendulous).* fl. lilac, veiny, secund, sessile, within somewhat lacerated spathes; perianth segments oblong, obtuse, spreading; spikes on capillary peduncles, one-sided, six or seven-flowered, pendulous, with two capillary leaves at the base of each peduncle; scapes erect 4ft. high, pendulous at the end, branched. June. l. linear, acute, straight, shorter than the scapes. 1825. (B. R. 1360.) This species is now regarded by Mr. Baker as belonging to Dierama, and its proper name is D. pendula. S. pulcherrima (very pretty). fl. pendulous; perianth dark sanguineous-purple, equal, 1 1/2in. long, campanulate; bracts at the base of the branches 1 1/2in. long; scape attaining 6ft. in its native habitat, the branches remote, capillary, 3in. to 6in. long. October. l. narrow-ensiform, rather thick, about 1/3in. broad, gradually narrowed from below the middle to a very slender apex. 1865. (B. M. 5555; F. d. S. 1810.) Dierama pulcherrima is now the correct name of this species.
S. tricolor (three-coloured).* fl. three to six, alternate, distant, distichous-spicate; perianth orange, yellow in the throat, the segments oblong, 1in. long, with a triangular, black spot in the middle; spathe valves equal, fuscous-spotted, lacerate-cuspidate; scape 1ft. to 2ft. high, erect, simple, leafy. May. l. lanceolate-ensiform, erect, distichous, acute, striated, four lines broad. 1789. (B. M. 1482.) SYN. Ixia tricolor (B. M. 381).
S. t. blanda (charming). fl., perianth segments of a whitish ground-colour, flushed with rose, the throat being yellowish. SYN. S. t. subroseo-albida (B. M. 1482).
S. t. Griffinii (Griffin's). fl., throat yellow, with a dark blotch between the throat and the violet-purple upper portion of the segments. SYN. S. t. violaceo-purpurea (B. M. 1482).
S. t. versicolor (various-coloured). fl., perianth segments bright purple with lighter margins, more or less clouded or diluted, having near the base a dark mark, below which they are bright yellow; spathe striped with brown and purple. (S. B. F. G. 160, under name of S. versicolor.) VARIETIES. The following list comprises the most desirable garden varieties: ANGELIQUE, white, yellow centre; DELICATA, light yellow, centre spotted brown; GARIBALDI, rich crimson, yellow centre; JOSEPHINE, white, with yellow centre; LADY CAREY, French white, blotched purple; LEOPARD, primrose, yellow centre; white, blotched purple; LEOPARD, primrose, yellow centre; MACULATA, white, purple, and primrose; NAIN, white and crimson, primrose centre; TRICOLOR ALBA, white black, and yellow; TRICOLOR GRANDIFLORA, rich crimson; VICTOR EMMANUEL, red and yellow.