PHORMIUM.  The  four  species  which
have  at  different  tiroes  been  ascribed  to
this  genus  of  LiliaeecB  are  now  combined
into  one  variable  species,  P.  tenax,  the  New
Zealand  Flax,  which  is  conflned  to  New
Zealand  and  Norfolk  Island.  This  plant
forms  large  tufts,  and  has  sword-shaped
leaves  growing  in  opposite  rows  and  clasp-
ing  each  other  at  the  base ;  those  of  one
variety  being  from  five  to  six  feet  long,  of
a  bright  green  above  and  glaucous  under-


Digitized  by  GoOglc


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Death,  and  those  of  another  only  half  as
long  and  palerin  colour.  Its  flower-spikes,
which  are  large  and  alternately  branched,
rise  np  ont  of  the  centre  of  the  leaves;
those  of  the  large-leaved  variety  reaching
the  height  of  sixteen  feet  and  bearing  deep
orange-red  flowers,  while  thoseof  the  other
are  not  more  than  six  feet  high,  and  have
yellow  flowers  tinged  with  red.  The  flow-
i  CTB  have  a  tubular  perianth  of  six  erect
pieces,  the  three  inner  of  which  spread  ont
at  the  tip ;  six  stamens  projecting  beyond


Pbonnlam  tenaz.
the  perianth,  and  alternately  shorter;  and
a  three-celled  ovary  bearing  a  three-sided
style  and  simple  stigma,  ripening  into  a
iong  bluntly  triangular  three- valvcd  cap-
nile,  contsiining  tworowi^of  small  flatten-
ed black  seeds  in  each  cell.
